I'm not really sure what I just read. 

At the end of the day, all this book did was serve to remind me why I stay away from books classified as "chick-lit". If we're being honest, I picked it up because I was in the mood for something fluffy. I figured between the cover and the fact that the book is set in Hawaii, I'd get lots of fluff. I did get some fluff. Right up until about the last 30% of the book, there was all kinds of fluff. Then at the 70% mark, the book completely went off the rails of the crazy train. In more ways than one. 

Nancy made me want to pull my hair out. I just can't abide bad mothers. I know they exist. I know there's nothing I can do about it. That doesn't mean they can't still drive me bonkers. Nancy drove me bonkers. She completely ignores her teenage twins (Which, as a mother of twins, I can tell you that's a mistake at any age. They are crafty little turds.) and then gets upset when they start misbehaving. Really? 

Ana. Pronounced On-a by the way. But don't worry if you can't remember that. The author takes several opportunities to remind you. Don't even get me started on Ana. I guess the thing that irritates me the most is that Ana is clearly suffering from one (or several) mental illness(es). The author had an opportunity with Ana to bring attention to mental illness and instead she decided to go all Fatal Attraction on the reader. I guess we are just suppose to accept that people act this way and it's completely normal. 

It's all my fault really. I should just stick to my guns and stay away from "chick-lit".

When Nancy and her family arrive in Kona, Hawaii, they are desperate for a fresh start. Nancy's husband has cheated on her; they sleep in separate bedrooms and their twin sons have been acting out, setting off illegal fireworks. But Hawaii is paradise: they plant an orange tree in the yard; they share a bed once again and Nancy resolves to make a happy life for herself. She starts taking a yoga class and there she meets Ana, the charismatic teacher. Ana has short, black hair, a warm smile, and a hard-won wisdom that resonates deeply within Nancy. They are soon spending all their time together, sharing dinners, relaxing in Ana's hot tub, driving around Kona in the cute little car Ana helps Nancy buy. As Nancy grows closer and closer to Ana—skipping family dinners and leaving the twins to their own devices she feels a happiness and understanding unlike anything she's ever experienced, and she knows that she will do anything Ana asks of her. A mesmerizing story of friendship and manipulation set against the idyllic tropical world of the Big Island, The Goddesses is a stunning psychological novel by one of our most exciting young writers.

This could be classified as an adult coming of age book in a way, and was quite strange.

I was expecting more magical realism, but this was far more psychological than anything else. I wanted it to be more of a thriller, and I think it could have succeeded more if it embraced this category over women's fiction.

The fascinating look at a sort of mid-life crisis going on was quite poignant, and the best part about this book was definitely seeing how Nancy's relationship with her husband evolved in relation to her own space in the world.

The end made the book worth it, and the sort of sad feeling, but the lack of regret (to be ambiguous without spoiling) added more of an honest note to the novel.

Overall, though, this book felt wondering, and I couldn't quite get absorbed into why I should care about what was going on.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"Denial, I have learned, is not the act of lying to yourself. Denial is not an act, it‘s a state. It’s the state of not knowing you are a liar.” I was fixated on a certain picture of my life, and that picture was reflected on the surface of everything I saw. We do not choose to be blind, and when we are blind, we don’t know that. We see as much as we can bear to see, and we assumed that’s all there is.”

What comes in Part Two and Three is Mind-Blowing!Catherine finds herself questioning everyone around her. Delicious scandalous dark secrets!

Razor sharp, haunting, contemporary, and psychologically astute. With clever shocking twists and turns, vivid descriptions, mixed with humor—Huntley grabs you and takes you for a wild ride.

The diaries/journals/letters between Mae (nanny) and Catherine’s mom, are nicely done from the seventies. A nice twist with the Alzheimer’s, adding an unreliable intriguing mood.

What is real beauty? What we see in people, places, things, and our lives? Sometimes we do crazy things, tangled in a maze, and take detours in our lives, in order to land on the right path.

Fans of Paula Daly, Liane Moriarty, and Heather Gudenkauf will enjoy the complex psychological twists. Well-developed characters, and smartly plotted; hard to believe, this is a debut! Can’t wait to see what comes next. Huntley is a talented author to follow.

Highly entertaining! A great summer escape.