Reading this book almost made me feel like I had a sister myself. The relationship between Bee and Audrina was believable and touching. Our Little World is a tough look at how tragedy touches families and ripples out to neighborhoods and communities and an accurate portrayal about coming of age in the 1980s. The characters are flawed but complex and forgiveable. I will look for more by the author in the future.

I had a bit of a hard time reading this book, but it’s not because it’s not a good book. It’s actually quite good. It’s just that I get restless easily, and this is the kind of book that’s more about the characters and their emotions than events. Actually, change that: this book is more about how a single event affects the characters, their emotions, and their relationships over the course of what seems like a lifetime to the main character and narrator, but what, in reality, is just a little over a year. Books like this take quite a bit longer for me to read than other books because they seem to sit quite still in a way, lingering in its own thoughts in a way I never do, and then I get distracted for a while before I remember to come back to the book.

So it’s not a fast read. Not at all. But it’s a worthy and good read.

I’d like to say I’ve got a good grasp on what to write for this review, but I don’t. Since it’s literary fiction and I don’t really identify with the main character in any way it’s not like I can tap into that. I guess here’s what I think I can say:

Sometimes things happen when we’re young and in our formative years that affect us and our decisions for the rest of our lives. It can skew our decisions, perspective, emotions, and relationships in innumerable ways for the rest of our lives. And Karen Winn does an amazing job in not only writing with sincerity and compassion how those ripple in the pond play out, but she doesn’t leave anyone out, either. I think her decision to set this story in a sleepy little town and to concentrate the story even further on one small suburban neighborhood was very wise, because it allowed her to concentrate all her energy and talent on ensuring that same sincerity and compassion was extended to every character involved in the story. Some authors might have felt compelled to add more to the story to make it a little funnier or a little more dramatic or to add more romance, but Winn made a decision to stick with what she had and it paid off. To add anything more to this story would have taken away from it.

My only sincere complaint was the epilogue. I didn’t think it was needed, at all. I would’ve rather the book been left alone, as it was, sans epilogue. If you go to read this book, maybe try reading the book and stopping at the end and then waiting a while before you read the epilogue. Sit with the story for a while before you go read the epilogue. Savor the story for what it is before reading it. I recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for early access to this title in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thank you, Dutton Books, for the gifted copy of Our Little World 🏡

Genre: Fiction
Trope: Coming of Age
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 5.3.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆.5

"How had I not realized this by now? The impact of small things. Small-very-big things. Each-in-the-moment decision leading to the next. Like rungs on a ladder."

I've gone back and forth on how to write this review because while I do think that it was a fascinating book, it failed to live up to the expectation/direction that I anticipated the story to go. Maybe that's my fault, I read the synopsis and didn't read many reviews, but I had the impression that there would be more of a mystery to Our Little World. There is some mystery as a child goes missing, and the two Kocsis sisters spend time debating what happened to Sally. But, it was not the focus of the book.

I also struggled with the tedious nature of the book and the dialogue between the sisters. While it is briefly addressed in the book, I had trouble that these girls acted like women and not children. The way they communicated with one another would've led me to believe that they were in their late teens (not in seventh grade). Maybe I'm looking into it too much, but it got under my skin a few times.

Our Little World is a coming-of-age novel involving a tragic event that inevitably shapes the sister's lives. It was a deep look into their lives and the cracks in their family following Sally's disappearance. It was a beautifully written debut, and I will be reading the next book that Winn writes.

⏮ 80's nostalgia
👯‍♀️ Sister bonds
👧🏼 Missing child
📖 Coming of age (with very little mystery)
🤍 Debut novel

❌ - missing child - I've had several people message me about the graphic nature of Sally's disappearance. While it is unsettling, I never felt like Winn went into a lot of detail about what happened to her. I don't want to give anything away, so DM me, and I'll explain if you're looking for more detailed information.

Sally Baker, a sweet little four-year-old, went missing in a blink of an eye. She disappeared from the beach where Bee Kocsis, her sister Audrina, and friends spent the summer of 1985.

Sally’s disappearance rocks the close-knit town. It’s easy to point fingers as to who should have been watching Sally, the mother, the older brother, or the community as a whole. Now people are on edge.

Bee becomes more popular at school as kids want to know the sordid details of the day Sally went missing. But Bee has a secret that is gnawing at her. She found part of Sally’s charm bracelet in the sand and didn’t tell the police that day.

When Bee is found to be hiding the bracelet, her family relationships become strained, even more than they already are, and it will be something she forever regrets.

As much as this is a mystery, I found it a compelling coming-of-age story layered with family drama. Told from Bee’s perspective, as a seventh-grader, you get the nostalgia of growing up with the raw emotions caused by fear, guilt, and sorrow.

Thank you @duttonbooks for the gifted ebook and @PRHaudio for the audiobook.

DNF at 25%

I'm really sorry, I wanted to like this one.

I was initially intrigued by the coming-of-age character driven story set in the 80's, as well as the comparison to Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng.

The main viewpoint coming from Bee was interesting, I liked the way she pieced together the gravity of the situation of Sally going missing, by listening in on her mother's phone conversations, basing her opinion of Sally's mother on outside influences, etc.

My main complaint with the story was that it was very repetitive; it felt like I was in a dryer cycle going round and round with the same thought process. Granted, I didn't make it very far into this but that was a big reason I ended up not wanting to pick it back up. I guess I expected it to be more of a mystery surrounding Sally's disappearance, and I can appreciate that it's more about what happens to the people surrounding Sally, but I just couldn't get into it.

Interesting, Intriguing, a quick read. will be recommending this book to others.
I was moved by this book and has moments I could relate to the characters.
Thank you for this ARC.

Amazing debut! I will be reading this again when the physical book comes out! I grew up in the 80's so this really takes me back to my childhood. Great story, very intriguing.

The relationship between siblings is always littered with land mines. The love/hate dynamic is part of any family with more than one child. Always reminded that they must care for one another no matter what, Bee and Drina also long to find their own separate ways in their little world.

How much responsibility do we bear for our siblings? Why is the older one always supposed to be more responsible and why is the younger one always considered less capable? Why do parents - consciously or not - view their children through the lens of their own desires rather than see the individual children as they really are? When children grow into adult size humans, do they need less parental guidance or more? And who is there to save the children when the parents are wearing blinders, too centered on the difficulties in their own lives?

All these questions and more are addressed in this novel. No one is immune to these family dynamics and this is perhaps most easily seen when drawing the curtain back from the privacy of the ore affluent suburbs. Large yards, separate homes, more places to hide.

Remember when you got to roam the streets, ride your trike outside, and just go to your friend's house whenever as long as you were home before dark? This book with transport you back to that world!

Our Little World is a very heavy story that explores the consequences of grief on an entire community. There was no happy ending here so don't go in expecting one.

Also, if this family was my family, I think I would absolutely lose my mind! lol

I love reading new authors and their debuts! This book will transport you to the 80s, when life was simpler…summer, roaming your neighborhood on a bike and hanging out with friends at the pool or lake. This was a time when innocence was bliss, siblings showed their fierce love/hate relationships and secrets were lurking but you were blind to it, until you weren’t. Secrets abound.

Character driven story about a small neighborhood that is rocked by the unthinkable and it’s effect on its inhabitants. Story deals with the complex relationship between sisters, who love fiercely, fight often, compete constantly. Struggles of growing up in each other’s shadows and what happens when parents are human and bad things happen, and the choices we make can haunt up forever.

Thanks to Ms. Winn, Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for this AR. Opinion is mine alone.

I really struggle to rate and review books which I think are well written, but did not like at all.

Such is the case with Our Little World, which was thoughtfully and smartly plotted, but also easily the most depressing thing I’ve read all year.

But mostly, this book just made me glad I don’t have a sister. Ir perhaps this particular sister. Or these particular parents.

And TW for child death (rape and murder) and child death (disease). Doesn’t this book just sound like a barrel of laughs?

Not every book needs to be, and I’m not a reader who necessarily requires a happy ending. But man, this was a real downer. Particularly when weighed against publishers summaries, which implied a very different tone. That’s not at all the fault of the author, but a common issue that is a real problem in the publishing industry.

On the positive side, the book is more enjoyable in the first half, where the content focuses more on coming of age and some fun 80s nostalgia.

If you love tragedies, you’ll probably like this more than I did. Though a bit overlong, it’s otherwise very well written, and Bee made for a lovely protagonist.

3.5 Stars!

This book is a wonderful journey to the summer of 1985 when Borka was 12 years old. Told in an alternating prospective, the intro and end chapters with her as an adult and the rest told as her younger self. She takes you through the journey of her neighborhood friend, a 4 year old from across the street, going missing one summer and her sister dying the following summer.

I loved the setting of 1985 in a small town. I also loved the characters. Some of the minutia was a little bit slow and then all things at the end were a bit rushed and I did not feel satisfied, I still have questions lingering.

A special thanks to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Dutton, and Karen Winn for providing me with an ARC.

I loved this book so much - what a touching, bittersweet story. Such a gripping novel that explores a very hard time. Thought the coming-of-age/teenage angst was so well done. This one will stick with me for a long time.

Remember when you were younger and you thought you had everything understood only to find out that nothing was what you thought? Yeah, this reminds me kind of like that. Bee feels safe in her world and is a typical pre-teen. That's all shattered when her friend across the street's sister disappears.

Tragic incidents such as this test bonds of family and friendship - and Bee is no exception. The book definitely had me in my feelings and I feel in love with Bee. I kept questioning the concept of whether the things we don't know hurt us, and I never came to a conclusion. Bee's safe little world has secrets.

This is perfect for lovers of books where the main character experiences growth.

This debut blew me away! I loved every single page of it.

July 1985 - New Jersey Bee Kocsis is enjoying her summer at Deer Chase Lake. Sure, she has some things on her mind - Sam her next-door neighbor and wondering if she will ever be as popular and loved as her dazzling younger sister Audrina. Then tragedy strikes when Sam's younger sister, Sally goes missing at the lake.

Things will never be the same again...

Bee gets lessons on the hardness/harshness of life. When innocence is shattered, when you discover your parent's secrets, deal with the ups and downs of sibling relationships, deal with puberty, your peer group, and your own inner thoughts - you know- growing up.

This book was nostalgic. It is also raw, it's about loss, growing up, change, loss, and grief. It's a coming of age and mystery all wrapped all into one.

I found this book to be engrossing, thought provoking, and evoking of emotion. From the very beginning, I did not want to put this book down. This book is well written and captivating.

Highly Recommend.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton, Dutton and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

A character driven storyline that went to places I wasn't expecting! There is so much rolled into this book and it all comes together perfectly. When I sit back and think about all of the events and what the author did with this book, I'm blown away. It's a lot, but I never felt like it was a lot! It's all rolled together into one interesting book that I couldn't put down. The setting made me incredibly nostalgic and I loved all of the references to Cabbage Patch dolls, lazy summer days with friends, Strawberry Shortcake, and more. This contains a shocking abduction, coming of age, family dynamics, sister relationships, diabetes.... I mean there's just SO much. It never feels like too much though. Kudos to the author for pulling it all together! I'm impressed by this debut author and can't wait to read more from her. 4.5 stars.

I am honestly not sure how I received a copy of this book, but I am absolutely glad I did. In the same vain as Celeste Ng’s Everything I Never Told You, this is the story about a family whose life is forever changed when a little girl from across the street goes missing one summer day.

Set in 1985, New Jersey, Bee is starting 7th grade. Her sister Audrina, a year younger, and one of her only friends are inseparable. When they are invited to go to the lake with their new neighbors and their two children, everything seems perfect, until the neighbors 4 year old mysteriously disappears.

We spend the next year with this family dealing with the aftermath, but also, everything that goes along with this family. The family faces another tragedy that rocks all them so hard, we are not sure if there is way for any of them to walk away unscathed.

This is a coming of age story at it’s core, but has a strong literary mystery. This is a powerful story that will give you a knot in your stomach as the story progresses. It can only be this way because of the way Winn makes you feel part of this family. I am not sure why I am not seeing this on must read lists, at least yet, but it definitely is in my opinion. Take a chance on this, I don’t think you will regret it.

Thank you NetGalley and Dutton for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

OMGoodness. What an angst filled tale of a family trying to deal with the loss of a neighbor’s little girl, health issues of a daughter and family members who refuse to talk about anything! The story is difficult to read, but I think worth the time.

Kudos to Karen Winn on her debut novel , ‘Our Little World’. A must read for anyone that has a sister, and can easily understand the ups and downs of a sisterly relationship. At the end of the day there is no bond stronger than the one you share with your sister(s). Ms. Winn, I look forward to your next novel.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Loved it! Such a great read. Really kept me interested, the story never slowed down, the 80's references were such a fun throwback. It really did a good job of making you feel like you were there. Would definitely read it again.