How is this for a book opening?

“When I was in eighth grade my sister helped kill another girl.

This story is not a whodunit but an exploration of why the murder happened

It’s 2009, and the Oliviera family of three is moving yet again, to a long sitting empty house in Ashaway, R.I. The house is across from the Line & Twine, the town’s old, now abandoned mill. In this new arrangement Marie and her older sister, Angel now get to have their own room. Marie is not happy about it, since she idolizes everything about Angel. Angel is funny, pretty and can do spins on roller skates. She's tall with pale skin tones, like their mother. Their Mother, Carol, was a bombshell in her earlier days. On the other hand, Marie looks more like their part-Portuguese father, Frank. Frank now lives a sad and lonely life in his own little apartment. Marie describes herself as chubby and klutzy. Carol promises her daughter she’ll find her own special talent one day, but Marie is skeptical.
Marie claims her mother’s talent is finding new boyfriends and new places for them to live. Carol's taste in men does leave a lot to be desired and these men are never good for the girls. For example, her newest boyfriend, Russ, is a firefighter, is kind of old and reminds Angel of Papa Smurf. The last one, Wes, necessitated a 911 call and still isn’t entirely out of the picture.
Yet, Carol is portrayed as one who demonstrates tenderness for her girls and attentiveness at her nursing job. This spills over into the girl's life as she frets over her girl's well being. Still, she is unable to stop chasing the last vestiges of her own youth.

Almost as if in opposition to her mother’s perceived irresponsibility, Angel has been steadfastly committed to her first love who is a rich, guitar-strumming boyfriend. She and Myles Parrish have been an item for three years. When Angel goes with him on visits to his family’s summer house just up the coast, she fits right in and even helps out with the chores. For this reason, she develops a fleeting pride of ownership. However, Myles plans to go off college next year, she’s sure she’ll lose him to some rich girl and she will be forgotten. Myles does head off to college and Angel continues working at her dead end job after graduation.
As expected he meets a girl and she threatens their relationship, but she isn’t rich like Myles. Birdy Alves is a petite high school senior who works at the local D’Angelo. (a New England chain of sandwich shops) She lives with her widowed mother and is a good student. Byrdy already has a boyfriend, but all she really wants is Myles. Myles takes Byrdy alone with him to the summer house where she melts under his attention.
So Myles is now cheating on Angel with Birdy, the victim-to-be. Both girls are frustrated and obsessing over a boy who doesn’t seem worth it.
This tragedy is set in 2009 with Social media serving as the ugly vehicle leading up to the event fueled by and the truly destructive force of jealousy.

Not the best crime novel I’ve ever read, but it was good audio with a talented narrator.

This is a high 3-Stars for me. I loved the idea that we knew who was killed and who the killer was at the very beginning. Such a unique framework for a mystery. It made me really sad because Birdy was my favorite character. I just wanted a little MORE. However, this was a solid read and the narrator was great. I maybe would have preferred three different narrators to better distinguish when we switch POVs….but thats just a personal preference.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and the author for an advance listener’s audiobook of Ocean State in exchange for an honest review. I listened on my iPhone from 3/23 - 3/26.

I was really excited to be approved for this ALC (which was published earlier this month) on 3/23... four days before it was set to archive. I sprung into action to get it done and reviewed on time!

As for the book itself: I must say, I feel a little bamboozled and led astray by the description. Don’t get me wrong, the book’s description is technically accurate except the “incredible momentum” part. It just wasn’t the fast-paced scorned lovers murder thriller I had expected. Nothing at all really happens in this book until it is 70% over which is when the murder occurs, although there still isn’t much detail about it. The entire story just consists of a lot of filler and not a lot of exciting plot.

As for the narration: I am pretty picky with narrators for audiobooks and I had no issues with this one. My only complaint about the narration being that since the book was written from different perspectives/points of view (the victim, the murderer, the little sister of the murderer, the mother) but only had one narrator.. sometimes I found myself not remembering who exactly was supposed to be the one speaking if I zoned out temporarily. The chapters were also labeled interestingly on my ALC. I am not sure if it was intentional to go back and forth between chapter numbers and chapter titles, but I found it odd.

Overall, I would rate this audiobook 3/5 stars. It was okay, but not my favorite. It had a little bit of entertainment value. I would still recommend to others if they are into slow burns.

Thank you again for the opportunity to read and review!

I received a reviewer audio copy of Ocean State by Stewart O'Nan from the publisher Dreamscape Media from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: This book largely follows two girls Angel and Birdy who are seeing the same boy. We know from the beginning that Angel was arrested for killing Birdy in the fall of 2009, then the author takes us on a journey to discover what happened. We get perspective from both Angel and Birdy, as well as Angel's mother and sister.

What I Loved: This book is propulsive and addicting. I listened to it in one afternoon and I'm not a huge thrillers person. I guess this wouldn't be considered a thriller but I thought it was unputdownable and a fantastic literary mystery. We follow these two teenagers through their respective lives both have trauma and challenges surrounding them and we get to know them. Angel, the girl whose parents are more caught up in their lives and who ends up taking care of her little sister. And Birdy, a girl who lost her father recently and feels a bit isolated at school. I thought this quiet book describing how their lives interlocked played perfectly against the knowledge that Birdy would die and Angel would be the one who killed her. The characters stood out.

What I didn’t like so much: The ending was a bit less well crafted, it felt rushed and I wish we'd either gotten it more rushed (ie: just closed it down after the night of the murder) or gotten more detail and time to get to know the other characters surrounding the after math. I wish we'd gotten some of Birdie's family's perspective. And I could have done without the afterward/epilogue.

Who Should Read It: People who want a smart literary mystery. People who like short propulsive books.

General Summary: A tale of murder looms in a New England town over the fall.

A little sister named Marie admires her sister and want to be like her but something is changed when her sister helped killed another girl.

The book talks about teenage love and how far you can go to prove your love. Angel and Birdy, two different girls with different personalities who loved the same boy named Myles. Myles is the root of everything, he cheated on his girlfriend and catches them on red handed. What happened to Birdy on that particular day was never elaborated but she was found dead and we can all have a definite conclusion to it as to who did it. After the case and got arrested and served their time, I wonder what happened to Myles after he everything that ever happened. He wasn't mentioned in the end of the story but her sister changed and live her life away from them.

And Marie grows up into a fine woman but she never changed. She's still the same and she can't move out from their town because there are still unfinished business for her or maybe she can't find herself moving out from it because she knows everything but then they've kept her away from the light, from everything.

Its a great read. Finished the story but I'm left with unanswered questions. What happened to Myles after he served his time? And what happened to Angel inside the jail that made her changed? I wonder what happened in all those years.

I very much wanted to read/listen this book in part because I am originally from the Ocean State. The story sounded intriguing and multilayered.

Often in mysteries, there is a murder and the reader waits to find out “whodunnit.” In Ocean State, listeners know from the start that there was a murder and who committed the crime. The book goes on to tell the story of the family of the teen murderer from multiple points of view.

The narration for Ocean State is crisp and clear. The reader tells the story well.

I am sad to say though that I did not have enough time to hear the whole book before the expiration date. I will follow up by either purchasing or requesting this one from the library.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are m

Marie is in 8th grade when her older sister Angel murders a classmate. This story goes over the lead up and after math of the fall night that changed it all. Love really can make you do crazy things, and this is that tale…a love triangle gone wrong. It is told in the perspective of Marie, Angel, their mom Carol, and Angel’s classmate Birdy.

I absolutely adored this book. The writing was raw and blunt. Nothing was sugar coated and the relationships (romantic and not) and conversations were so authentic. The inner dialogues were so well done and the characters had so much depth. I’m also a resident of Massachusetts so hearing all of the Rhode Island references was so cool!

This story gets five stars from me and I cannot wait to read more books on this author’s backlist. Stewart O’Nan did an amazing job capturing the angst of those tumultuous teenage years. I highly recommend this book.

Sometimes, a book comes along that is touched with a reality that shakes you to the core. OCEAN STATE is a book, as a parent, you think There but for the grace of God go I. This is a modern American family with their dark underbelly exposed. From the opening, you know the killer, but the story that gets you there is an unflinching examination of us. One of the best audiobooks of the year. Terrific narration.

Although I do not usually read much YA fiction, this book proved to be an OK exception.
A story about young life, and young love, impulsivity, and emotions that go unchecked and the consequences that go with all that.
Although the story is from the point of view of little sister, I enjoyed how the author tries to show the situation from the other character’s points of view as well. While on the surface, the story appears to be about a high school love triangle that involves the older sister, there’s also a story of the generations of females in the family of the little sister. And how they are all in different states of their life. The author shows how, even though three of these females live in the same home at the same time, their lives and what they think of you each other, and each other’s lives at that moment, and how those though are all completely and vastly different.
When the author is showing each one’s viewpoints on their own life, they each think they are doing their best. However, when you see the situation from the other’s point of view we see their frustration and irritation with those characters, they feel that person isn’t doing enough, or they need to do more, be better.
On that aspect alone, I enjoyed the story, as a reminder that we, inside the bubble of our own lives, need to know that other do not see us or our lives as we do…. And sometimes that’s a good thing, to see an outsider perspective.
It may have changed the outcome of the story if any of these characters had actually had real conversations with the important people in their lives, and not kept all the secrets.
They all kept secrets.

As I spent three years living in Rhode Island, the title initially drew me to this book. This is a not whodunit because you know the murderer and the victim on the first page. But, it’s a story of a teenage love triangle, a murder, and the lead up and repercussions felt on several families in a small Rhode Island town.

The teenage characters are naïve and shallow and I didn’t find myself liking any of them, but I think that was by design. However, conjuring up my teenage self, I could sympathize to the relational drama and being caught up in new love. I do wish that the author had included more details about Miles and Angel. If I have one complaint about the book, it’s that they came off as one dimensional or psychotically detached, especially after Angel was arrested.

I listen to a lot of audio books, and the narration in this book is especially well done. The narrator evenly paces the book, has good inflection, and makes it easy to differentiate between the numerous characters in the book.

Overall, this book was an engrossing read and an intriguing look at the effects of a horrific decision on the people surrounding the crime and the town they live in. Would recommend to anyone who loves a good family drama.

Many thanks to Dreamscape Media and Net Galley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you #NetGalley for the advance copy. I really enjoyed this one. Although I’m familiar with the author Stewart O’Nan, this is the first book of his I have read. I will now search out others after reading this. It’s a good one and would be a thought-provoking book club read. It is filled with triggers - eating disorder, divorce, alcoholism, abuse, plus a lot more - but it just touches on them, kind of superficially, and doesn’t go into detail or get too deep. They are underlying problems for the characters, not the main subject of the story. The book tells the backstory, as well as the aftermath, of the families involved in the murder of a teenage girl.

Stewart O'Nan captures the pain and joy of love -- and its possible deadly consequences -- in "Ocean State," audiobook with clear and effective narration. The author introduces listeners to two sisters and a mom, all just trying to get by. Angel, the older teenage daughter, is sharing the affections of a classmate with a girl named Birdie. When Birdie is murdered, it doesn't take long for authorities to pinpoint Angel and her boyfriend. The story is much more than a simple murder mystery, though. It illustrates the turmoil and pain that comes from violence, secrets and consequences. The narrator's tone and voice are a perfect match for this coming of age/coping with life novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Two teenage girls in love with the same boy and one is murdered. Angel has been dating Myles for three years; she lives with her lonely little sister, Marie and their love obsessed mother, Carol. Myles is being unfaithful with the victim Birdy, but what lead to these lovestruck teens to commit murder?

The story is told through the perspective of Angel, Marie and Carol. I had the audio book version and while narrated well it was extremely hard to tell who was speaking and became very confusing. It may have been easier to tell who was speaking in a written version but this was frustrating and not enjoyable. I found this story and characters to be flat and it was lacking in suspense or mystery. It was full of teenage drama and that was about as interesting as it ever got. The book was narrated by Sara Young who was enjoyable to listen to but again I don't think the text translated well.

This book grabbed me from the beginning and didn't let up until the conclusion. The story is told from multiple points of view so the reader gets many perspectives on what is going on in the story. I think this is what made the book come alive for me. Also, it brought back memories of when I was that age and how your feelings seem so much more heightened at that time. The narrator did a great job making the characters come to life on the audio book. I will definitely be looking for other books that she has narrated.

I received a complimentary copy of this audio book from Dreamscape Media through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This audiobook was classified under Mystery/Thriller which I believe is a mistake. If it’s listed as Literary Fiction, it will do better. There really is not a mystery and there is not a thriller element. What there is, is an exceptional story that it beautifully written.

I’m a big fan of Stewart O’Nan. I was hooked after reading The Night Country and The Good Wife. No one writes about everyday life better. Especially when everyday life is influenced by bizarre circumstances.

This is absolutely a five star read for me, but I definitely would not pitch it to anyone as a thriller or mystery. It’s a great story. The narration on the audio was excellent as well.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape for an audio version of this book. This is my honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for gifting me an audio ARC of the newest book by Stewart O'Nan, narrated by Sara Young. 4 stars!

From the opening sentence, we learn that Marie's sister has helped kill someone. From that opening, we hear the story from the perspectives of Angel (Marie's sister); their mother, Carol; the victim, Birdy; and Marie. Birdy and Angel are both obsessively in love with the same boy, Myles.

There's no mystery in this book since we know what happened from the beginning, but there is so much character study to delve into. The pervasive feeling of struggle and sadness running through these families in this small town feels like a character as well. The book studies the impact this crime has on all those involved. You'd like to think that as a society we would have taught women that no man or boy is worth this kind of fighting for, but teenage girl hormones are a beast themselves. It was a compelling read, made more so by excellent narration.

Ocean State
by Stewart O'Nan
Pub DAte: March 15, 2022
Dreamscape Audio
Thanks to the author, Dreamscape Audio and Netgalley for this ARC audiobook. I love listening to books, but possibly this one would be a better "read."?
In the first line of Ocean State, we learn that a high school student was murdered, and we find out who did it. The story that unfolds from there with incredible momentum is thus one of the build-ups to and fall-out from the murder told through the alternating perspectives of the four women at its heart. Angel, the murderer, Carol, her mother, and Birdy, the victim, all come alive on the page as they converge in a climax both tragic and inevitable.
This is not who-done it, but instead literary fiction, with a focus on the exploration of teenagers growing up in dysfunction, leading to a tragedy.
I'm not convinced the author brought anything new to the table. Maybe I missed something? While I love the author’s writing, this story left me cold.
3 stars

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

This story wasn’t at all what I initially thought it was going to be, but I was pleasantly surprised. The narrator was excellent but being that the point of view switched around between a mother and two daughters, it was difficult to tell who was speaking at times. I’m not sure if it would have come across the same way in a tradition book, but I’d be interested to check it out. The story was interesting and complex, but felt a bit disjointed at times. Like key parts were purposely left out and had me wanting more. This was a quick read, about 5 hours in audiobook format, and I’m glad that I stumbled across it. I would definitely pick up another book by this author as this is the first of theirs that I’ve read.

I’m a fan of Stewart O’Nan, having loved every book of his that I’ve read.

I often ask myself when I finish a book: what was the author’s purpose and did he/she accomplish it?

In this case I’m not sure. This is a well-written book, as you would expect of the author, but the subject matter involves a murder, angst, and drama among teenagers who themselves are the product of parents who struggle with their own demons.

This is not a mystery/thriller, but literary fiction, with a focus on the exploration of teenagers growing up in dysfunction, leading to a tragedy. Nothing new here, and a distasteful storyline. Which leaves me with the question of the author’s purpose in writing his story. Maybe I missed something? While I love the author’s writing, this story left me cold.

I’m still a fan and look forward to his next book.

4.5⭐️
Wow just wow!!!!!
Even though I saw it coming I was still shocked. I was on pins and needles waiting and waiting. The whole thing made me so nervous (in a good way) and it brought back to the desperate, over dramatize love I felt at that age. It always felt so final. Like I could die from the feelings.
So here’s the thing….
When you’re desperate, when you’re hurt and when you’re a liar, you make bad decisions.
I’m not going to give anything away but I will tell you this. It was good. I couldn’t stop listening. The author has talent. It told from 4 povs and for me, it added more suspense and realism and I highly recommend it.
I chose to listen to this book on audiobook that’s 5 hours and 45 minutes long. Sarah Young narrated it and she did a great job.
Thanks Dreamscape Media via NetGalley.

I’m leaving my review on FB/ Instagram/Goodreads/Bookbub/Barnes&Noble