Family drama, the eighties, missing people, it really hits all the popular storylines of the day. Friendship was another major theme. Really more complex than most coming of age crime stories.

It's 1985 and Bee is basically living the parallel to my own 1980's childhood. She spends all her summer days and nights running with the kids in the neighborhood, going swimming and dealing with her annoying older sister. It's all so normal and so reminiscent of that magical childhood time, but we know from the beginning, the magic isn't going to last forever. And it all comes to a startling halt the day Sally goes missing.

Wow, just wow. Our Little World was all the 80's nostalgia, drama, sadness and mystery for this true crime/mystery junkie. It was a book that really has an atmosphere about it, if that's the right word. Winn did an amazing job portraying the true emotions that live inside every 12-year-old girl. This one was a true treat to read, I almost wish I could go back and read it again for the first time.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group Dutton for an advanced egalley in exchange for my honest review. This one is out now.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC of Our Little World by Karen Winn. This novel is about what happens when a child's perceived world of stability suddenly isn't so. Main character, Bee is at odds and somewhat jealous of her younger sister Audrina, while also developing a friendship with Max, who has moved in across the street. This story begins as a typical coming-of-age story until Max's sister goes missing. Everything Bee thought she knew and had built her life around suddenly is up for question. This book does remind me of several I have read over the past few years, but it still is one I would recommend.

Our Little World is a little novel that I won't be forgetting anytime soon! It is the best combination of family drama, mystery, and 80s nostalgia. Though I'm more of a 90s kid myself, the small town setting where everyone knows everyone and kids can play outdoors all day long took me back to my childhood. I loved reading about the sisterhood of Bee and Audriana, how it changed and grew over the events of one summer in particular. There was so much sadness in this novel, but also so much joy. It was very well written with great pacing to draw you in. Well done. I especially appreciated the epilogue and its reflection on the past. Lovely.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

Our Little World is Karen Winn’s remarkable debut novel, she is definitely an author you want to keep on your radar.

Our Little World takes place in 1985 in Hammend a small community in New Jersey. The story revolves around the Kocsis family and their new neighbors the Bakers who have recently relocate from Boston. On July 25th Hammend is about to get rocked when four-year-old Sally Baker vanishes while swimming at the public Deer Chase Lake. This event is the catalyst for what of what is about to happen to the two Kocsis sisters, Bee and Audrina. .. two sister that do but don’t get along, two sisters that are in competition for attention from their family and friends, there is jealously, sibling rivalry, bitterness, guilt and secrets .. but in the end the bond of sisterhood these sisters love each other.

Our Little World is a coming-of-age novel that is emotional and a heartbreaking journey to watch both these dysfunctional families cope with losing a child, watching another child suffering from a terrible anxiety and parents that love their children but ignorant to what is happening within their family. A reminder that life can come to a sudden abrupt end and hateful words cannot be taken back.

For a debut novel Karen Winn’s demonstrates her command of great storytelling and knows how to keep you engaged in a story with realistic and well develop characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Dutton and Karen Winn’s for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Release date for Our Little World is May 3, 2022.

Oh the emotions you’ll have while reading this book! You’ll feel it all. This was a wonderfully crafter emotional ride. A tad slow in parts but hang in there for the ending. The nostalgic 80s was the perfect t setting for this 5 star read!

The writing seemed verygood. Not sure what couldn’t elevated this more but I tried several times to get into it and each time put it down.

At the outset of this book (not a spoiler), an adult version of narrator Bee is thinking back to her sister who she says is dead, and that the first dead girl she encountered was her young neighbor Sally. The book then goes back in time to the summer of 1985 when Bee is 12 and she and her 11 year old sister Audrina meet the new kids across the street, Max and his four year old sister Sally. The rest of the book goes through the next year or two of their lives, all told as the adult Bee is thinking back to her young self.

Despite what the opening reference to two dead girls may suggest though, this book is not a mystery or a thriller, though there certainly is some suspense wondering what happened to Sally when she disappears, and what is going to happen to Audrina. But really, this is a coming of age story, about sisters, parents and daughters, fitting in, secrets, loss of innocence and more. And having grown up in NJ just a year younger than Bee, the little 1980s details are perfect as well. It’s a quietly sad book, but the writing is so excellent, very impressive for a debut novel. I will definitely keep an eye out for whatever Karen Winn writes next.

Special thanks to Penguin. Group Dutton and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

At first I thought, hmmm another child disappears around family and friends, but when I started reading, I really enjoyed it. The characters were fleshed out, it held my interest and the writing was superb.

I read this book in 3 days, I know that's not saying much, but I ha be a different doctor appointment very day.
I would recommend you pick this one up!

Oh I forgot it was set in the '80's, so a lot of nostalgia for me. 4 solid stars.

The prose of this book was so compelling, and the characters kept me wondering what would happen next. It was an absorbing read that I am still thinking about.

What a great twisty tale!
It is set in the 80s so there was definitely a nostalgic feeling to it.
Sally, a 4 year old, disappears from a day at the lake with neighbor siblings and no one can figure out what happened to her. There is navigation in the family surrounding the tragedy, There was a great deal of detail in the lives of the families that I really enjoyed. A solid quick read.

I found this coming of age story difficult to put down.
The mystery took a back stage to the family storyline, but in the best of ways.
Thank you for the e-galley and the introduction to this author.

OUR LITTLE WORLD by Karen Winn is a coming of age story about two little sisters that you will never forget. The novel takes place in the 1980’s in a small idyllic New Jersey town. The two sisters, Bee and Audrina, are equal parts love and envy, and their relationship fractures when a local girl goes missing. OUR LITTLE WORLD illustrates how we are marked by our youth and experiences and their lingering consequences.

Coming of age story about how people attempted to move on after tragedy. Heartbreaking and moving all at once, will be buying a copy of this one. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Our Little World by Karen Winn is a tragic tale set in New Jersey in 1985. It's a beautiful story about the sister dynamic between Bee and her younger sister Audrina during a summer when the sister of Bee's friend goes missing. I enjoyed the little details that put you right into the time period of the mid 80s. As someone raised with only brothers I liked reading about the sister dynamic. This is a book you'll remember long after you've finished reading it. Read and enjoy!

Bee Kocsis is about to start seventh grade. Her life revolves around friends, fun at Deer Chase Lake, and now the new boy next door Max.

Bee’s younger sister, Audrina, is easily liked by everyone. Bee has always felt like she was in her shadow. The relationship between Bee and Audrina has always been strained, but it is put to the limits after Mac’s sister, Sally, goes missing at the lake.

Our Little World tells the story of two sister, secrets and how a small town moves on after devastation.

I thought this was a great coming of age story looking at the relationships between sisters, children and their parents and navigating complicated friendships at the age of 12. Bee was probably one of the most selfish characters I have read in a while and I screamed at her more than once. A beautiful story of love and friendship even in a time of suffering.

I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion

I put this book down at 30% in. I just found myself struggling to pick it back up. I'm not sure if I was just in the wrong mindset, or the story just didn't appeal to me. I still find myself wanting to know what happens, so I'll pick it back up someday.

It took a while to get into this for me. Even though it was very slow paced, it was well written. I would definitely read more from this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

Round down to 3.5. I found this book slow-going; while I completely understand 13-year-old anguish and perplexity over being thrust into adult experiences, it seemed as though Bee (main character) turned over the same thoughts repeatedly.

Examining the relationships of sisters is worthwhile and well-done, at least from the perspective of a mother of two daughters. Still… I didn’t really care for either of the sisters, and their parents certainly weren’t intriguing. Perhaps that’s the point - just normal, every day, uninteresting people… but that’s not a lot to base a book on.

There were surprises. Well done.

I chose Our Little World by @kbookwriter! I chose this book because I love family dramas and it’s set in my beloved home state of New Jersey.

Borka (Bee) and her sister Audrina are looking forward to a summer of fun with the neighborhood kids. They have new neighbors, Max and his little sister, Sally that they have gotten close with. One day while swimming at the local lake, Sally goes missing and the whole town searches for her. Everyone’s emotions are heightened and people are quick with judgment. Besides the great tragedy of Sally, Bee and Audrina are growing up and subsequently growing apart. They each have their own friends and interests. Bee is jealous of Audrina and takes her big sister role of caring for her to an extreme. Audrina just wants to be a normal kid and pushed Bee away. Their parents are both acting strange and it’s just an odd time in the Kocsis family.

I found this book fascinating. Karen really got it right with what it was like in NJ during the 80s/90s in New Jersey. Bee and Audrina’s sister rivalry seemed very genuine to me (as someone who only has a brother.) I loved the coming of age story as Bee explores boys and making new friends. She also makes some bad judgment calls that happens when you are her age and only think of yourself. I’ve seen some reviews that said this was a suspense novel, but it’s more coming of age when some added suspense. It was a great book club discussion!

Thank you so much to @duttonbooks for my gifted book. I really enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to many more books by Karen Winn.