Nothing To See Here by Kevin Wilson
(Format used for this read: Audiobook)
Kevin Wilson’s best book yet – a moving and uproarious novel about a woman who finds meaning in her life when she begins caring for two children with remarkable and disturbing abilities.
Lillian and Madison were unlikely roommates and yet inseparable friends at their elite boarding school. But then, Lillian had to leave the school unexpectedly in the wake of a scandal, and they’ve barely spoken since. Until now, when Lillian gets a letter from Madison pleading for her help.
Madison’s twin stepkids are moving in with her family, and she wants Lillian to be their caretaker. However, there’s a catch: The twins spontaneously combust when they get agitated, flames igniting from their skin in a startling but beautiful way. Lillian is convinced Madison is pulling her leg, but it’s the truth.
Thinking of her dead-end life at home, the life that has consistently disappointed her, Lillian figures she has nothing to lose. Over the course of one humid, demanding summer, Lillian and the twins learn to trust each other – and stay cool – while also staying out of the way of Madison’s buttoned-up politician husband. Surprised by her own ingenuity yet unused to the intense feelings of protectiveness she feels for them, Lillian ultimately begins to accept that she needs these strange children as much as they need her – urgently and fiercely. Couldn’t this be the start of the amazing life she’d always hoped for?
With white-hot wit and a big, tender heart, Kevin Wilson has written his best book yet – a most unusual story of parental love.
This was a collaboration pick for our next monthly book club meeting.
We didn’t have anyone commit to volunteering to host (which in turn lets you pick what we read) and the month was trickling by.
Our only “rules” for our group are to read the book AND we try to have the meetings within the first two weeks of the month.
Time was running out to be sure everyone had the chance to get something read in time, so I volunteered a restaurant to be our host and asked my girls Sara & Danielle for ideas.
Since our last read was Toni Morrison, they agreed we needed something not as heavy and also short to give everyone the time they needed to finish.
Sara sent me a blog post from someone that was something like “Top Book Club Picks that are Short Reads” and this was number one on the list.
Since I have been wanting to read another Kevin Wilson book since I read “Now Is Not The Time To Panic”, I was like “BOOM. Done. There is our pick.”
Yall…I SUPER loved the other Kevin Wilson read I had awhile back….and I ALSO super loved this one.
The vibe of this book wasn’t super light OR super heavy…just like the previous book of his I read…but it was just the right mix of both.
There were laughs and cries, frustrations and fears, rejoicing and recoiling.
I always enjoy stories where the concept of “what/who is family” is explored.
And also why we love who we love…and if we have any say in the matter.
And how we behave with it all….the good, the bad, the confusing, the exhilirating and all the things in between.
That is the whole gist of this book, yall and it is just SO GOOD.
The main character Madison isn’t exactly lovable….but you feel for the girl. She grows on you.
Even though something super out there and crazy is happening in this story—I mean you don’t normally see kids randomly bursting into flames for no reason—there is plenty in the pages that is very relatable and realistic.
I love authors who just NAIL IT with basic sentences. And Kevin Wilson does that and then some.
For example:
“You took care of people by not letting them know how badly you wanted your life to be different.”
“Honestly, Bessie? People don’t care about anyone but themselves. They don’t notice anything. They are never looking at what’s interesting. They’re always looking at themselves.”
“I started to care less about the future. I cared more about making the present tolerable.”
And this quote right here had me CRACKING the EFF UP:
“This is weird, Madison. You want me to raise your husbands fire children.”
Basic sentences made into bomb ass story telling.
Another endearing, “just enough” emotional book from Kevin Wilson.
Loved it.
Can’t wait to talk about it….