oooh this was one tasty read. this is a book you over read. to the point you realise you need to go live life a little, ha! but yes, i started this book and just kept nipping back to keep reading right until the end.
this story gives us Alice Storm who has managed to flee the family of dysfunction long ago. she would never go back, shed never put herself in that household again. that is until the choice is taken from her when he father dies. but this is her father, so she wont just be going back for a funeral than quickly fleeing out the back door. no, no, this man will of course of done his own thing and so hes created an inheritances challenge which all kids have to stay and completed to get their inheritance.
so back in Rhode Island she goes and things are set to be made harder because shes being watched. and those eyes are from a Mr Jack Dean her dads second in command and right hand man. this man is stern and cold looking but somehow still good looking and magnetic. and when he in Alice have there interactions we all go swooooooooooon.
once home the family dynamics start to show or degrade away again. the secrets and hidden selves comes up to the surface. but these are the times to move on, the time to find themselves and in doing so they might find they find out much more about each other than they first thought or assumed.
the storm family had me fully invested in their story. i wanted to know their past,present and futures both together and apart. and i kind of fell in love with this family. i really cared what happened to them and for them. their personalities were described beautifully. i felt there feelings and could hear those thoughts.
this book was divine. just the kind of book i love to read. and when done like this its a joyous moments when im smiling through it at my own privilege of finding such a book.

More than a little bereft to have finished this book. It's an absolute joy! "Succession" but for people who have to like the characters and the mention of sexy forearms within the first few chapters.
Alice is returning to her childhood home after the unexpected death of her billionaire, tech pioneer father, Franklin. She has been estranged from him and the rest of the family for the last 5 years. Add in the further complication of Franklin's fixer, Jack (him of the sexy forearms) and you've got yourself this luscious tale of a family who have never been allowed to simply be together without the complications of money and societal expectations. The frustration in their communication felt realistic to anyone who hasn't felt their best self in their core family setting. I loved the exploration of what it means to love someone and how inherent it is (even when you don't always like them), especially when you share a long history.
The only slight criticism I feel I should mention is that the "storm" metaphors can come across as a little heavy handed. I'm not mad about it though, the rest of the book is that good!

Such a great novel that includes mystery and family dynamics. Perfect for the beach or book club. I highly enjoyed this one!