Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read and review this ARC. Full review to be found on Goodreads and on my website.

I missed the boat on this one by a million miles. I'm sure some people will say there is a lot to get out of Summer Cannibals. They will tell you the genius of Melanie Hobson's novel is her use of literary devices, comparisons, allegories, etc. But here's the thing; that only works if the story is remains interesting.

Realistic
The one thing that Summer Cannibals does have is realism. These are real people, and yes they exist. Whether you find them shallow, snobby, or otherwise abhorrent; the reality is that there are lots and lots of people out there like this. People who are just not happy; even though they have a lot of money, stuff, family, etc. These are hard people to feel bad for at the end of the day.
Now, before we knock these people, I think it's worth taking a look around you, a serious look, and determining if you have most of those things too. Probably most of us do and yet still believe in our right to complain. And I think you can complain about anything you like. Whether I will be your audience or not is an entirely different conversation. And with Summer Cannibals I wish I had disengaged from the conversation sooner.

The Characters
I didn't like anyone in this story. Except maybe the unborn child; because at least it didn't demand anything, yell, cry or feel bad for itself (so far as know, lol). This is the hardest part of Summer Cannibals is there is very little I could find that made any of the characters even moderately appealing people. Flawed characters can still be solid and loved by your reader; just because you have an imperfect character doesn't mean they are always a monster. Hobson missed making a connection with me as the reader and I think will miss the mark for most with her selfish family.

The Twist
Yes there is a twist. Is it shocking? I dunno... I wasn't too surprised by the events. I was a little surprised by the outcome. But mostly by the time I got to the twist I was just thankful that meant the book was only a few pages away from being over...

Overall
Maybe it's because I just recently watched the incredibly well done family dynamics in NetFlix's Haunting of Hill House, or maybe it's because I wanted the people in Summer Cannibals to find a small spark of good in each other; either way it was a disappointment to feel so disconnected from this story and it's characters.
I'm sure there is some literary magic here (that is boring) that I'm missing. If that's the case I'm okay with not getting it; because if getting it makes me as snobby and insufferable as the characters in Summer Cannibals then I don't want to get it.

PS: There are no actual cannibals in this book. Disappointing right? (lol)

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

If I had to label Summer Cannibals, I would probably classify it as a family drama about a family in crisis. David and Margaret Blackford's mansion is on the shores of Lake Ontario. They have summoned their three adult daughters (George, Jax, Pippa) to spend a four day weekend at their family home. Each daughter comes with her own emotional baggage, which is nothing compared to the parents' outlook on life. The word cannibal very well describes these people. It was difficult to spend time reading about such an unlikeable, intense, unpleasant family. Each member seems to have little regard for the others. The development of the plot is slow and becomes more and more unrealistic. However, Melanie Hobson writes beautifully: her prose is descriptive and poetic. The cover is a work of art. This is a first novel for Melanie Hobson and I look forward to reading future books by her. Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"They were handsome and they knew it to be true, and theirs was a world that rewarded such things" (Hobson). 

Summer Cannibals is an enthralling story of control, power and selfishness. It follows the Blackford family as they navigate 4 days together again in their childhood home, bringing them back to their original tendencies. 

The novel starts off with an early memory of their calm, joyful past, before throwing us into the tumultuous present that is their lives. 

I have to say, the book was fairly interesting and the plot possibly the only reason I kept reading. As fucked up as the story was, that's what made me want to continue on, to see what would happen next. I felt as though the multiple story lines were put together haphazardly and the flow of the plot was disrupted many times. 

The characters, while relatable in some aspects, were wildly controversial and disturbed. Their underlying qualities and values were recognizable, however their actions in most cases were linked to some very obvious mental instability to the level of needing to be medicated. I didn't find them to bring much to the table in terms of keeping a reader around, as there was no one to be empathetic of. 

We were treated to some very strong themes, such as power and dominance. Those stood out to me in the character's thoughts and actions, as well as how the plot played out. I found it enjoyable and entertaining, another reason why I kept reading. I wanted to see where it would take me. 

I found that the author used to many commas in her sentences. She tried too hard to over complicate things that could have been said easily, or through 3 sentences, not jammed together in a confusing jumble. 

The ending left me confused and defeated. I was hoping for a certain outcome, rooting for it, but it never came and in fact the ending was so neutral and up to interpretation that I felt anyone could pull what they wanted from it. I appreciated the ambiguity that the novel left me with. 

I think that this novel was interesting but also very disturbing and dark. If it were a bit better constructed I think I would have liked it better, but despite that, it kept me captivated and brought to light some very serious and intense emotions that aren't brought up often. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

2.5 stars.

I wasn’t deterred by the low Goodreads ratings for The Summer Cannibals because they seemed to be based on many reviewers’ dislike for the characters. I don’t mind novels with difficult or unpleasant characters as long as the writing is good and the story makes sense. Hobson is a very talented writer but I didn’t end up enjoying the characters or story much. The story started off well, with David and Margaret’s three adult daughters returning home to deal with a crisis involving youngest daughter Pippa. But I found that the story soon started veering off course. Both parents and their three daughters are self obsessed to the point of absurdity — and many absurd and disturbing things happen throughout. It felt like the author was seeking to shock for the sake of shocking rather than for the sake presenting an interesting and complex story. I am not squeamish and I am not a prude. But I like to understand the behaviour of characters. And here, regretfully, I didn’t. I’m rounding up to 3 stars because Hobson writes really well. I hope she uses her talent to write a more compelling story next time round. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.

I really wanted to like this book — the premise was appealing and the cover is fantastic. Unfortunately, none of the characters were interesting or at all likeable. I enjoy following flawed characters, but these three siblings and their parents gave me nothing to latch on to. Pippa and Jax felt like ciphers we didn't fully get to know. Margaret and David were appalling. And the turn the book takes at the end was just strange.

I have finished this book with mixed feelings. It depicts a family battleground of strong personalities locked in a toxic dynamic. I understand it intends to provoke and disturb. At times the writing is excellent and compelling. I picked it up for the local setting and out of curiosity eager to discover new talent. I found the characters and the family quite repulsive and I persevered reluctantly in this, what seemed at times an Edward St. Aubyn territory, but I finished the novel unsatisfied. The garden tour, which is the best part, could have set the tone for an excellent satire, did not continued in that vein and became a disturbing family drama. I had trouble getting invested in the troubled characters and their pursuits. Thank you NetGalley for the reader’s copy.

I put off writing this review for a week after I finished the book and I'm still not sure my thoughts about it are in any way cohesive. Summer Cannibals made me feel disgusted, hurt, traumatized, and generally unpleasant. There are zero happy feelings associated with this book for me personally. The dysfunction apparent in all of the characters lives, separate and together is just too much. It's not unrealistic but oof, this will not be on my reread list even though I do not regret reading it in the first place.

Overall, the tone and pacing of the novel was very airy and light even as the happenings ground the reader into a harsh reality. It's like watching a car crash in slow motion, filtered through a sepia tinged lense. Summer Cannibals was at once in the present while also feeling oh so long ago in that house on the hill filled with antiques and generally useless junk.

SPOILERS

A few thoughts on the characters follow here, the plot is there but in a meandering way. Some would say that nothing truly happens in this novel as everyone just ends up going back to how they were before, except possibly Margaret. I disagree with this idea as the minutia of everyday life tends to compound into a series of strange and, yes, unfortunate, events.

Hobson, in her debut novel, created a cast of characters who I found wholly unlikable. Maybe Pippa was okay? But the decisions she makes and the thought that another baby will fix the issues she has with her life is just so very backwards. Jax is wholly selfish, and instead of recognizing that her marriage isn't working for her anymore she sleeps with an exboyfriend. Doesn't decide to separate from her husband, no, just has this twisted sense of revenge. Then there is Georgiana who is unhappy with her academic career but doesn't do anything to change her position just pushes all of her insecurities onto everyone else under the guise of being the older sister taking care of everyone. She has no options because she doesn't allow herself to make any choices.

Then there are the parents from which all of these horrible traits of their children stem. Margaret is passive and unhelpful, seeing what her children should be doing for her instead of how she as a mother should be helping them. in crises she works well but even then it is for her own selfish motivations. To be clear, I realize she is in an extremely abusive situation and she has tried to leave but she needs to get help and just doesn't. David is a disgusting human and should never have been allowed to reproduce. He is self-centered, self-righteous and wholly misogynistic. He is abusive, repulsive, and narcissistic. There is nothing redeemable about him, and he has poisoned the lives of his children because of his personality.