This book starts with the death of young woman at a house party. The story could be set in any small town in America and I think that is why it is so compelling. The author tells the story from a fresh perspective with 10 different women telling their stories and their connection to what has happened. A worthy read.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

This book and I weren't a good fit.

The mothers were awful. The daughters were understandably screwed up. And the men... don't even get me started.

The stories lacked the depth I needed in order to care about anything that was happening, which wasn't actually much.

I'm sure many readers will love this one, but I'm moving on.

DNF

In the small, sparse town of Nashquitten, MA, a host of characters struggle with life as the town crumbles under the lies of its residents and a mystery. When a young high school girl dies at a house party, the murky tale of what happened starts to unravel. Through ten different female characters--each with a distinctive voice and personality--we slowly learn what happened.

At first I was a little frustrated with the switching narrators, but eventually I came to really like it. Grabowski does a wonderful job making each woman singular and complex. I will admit, at times I didn't like certain characters and the way they acted, but, eventually I realized it was real and true to the human experience. The mystery was engaging and the characters strong. My one complaint would be that at times the story dragged on, especially considering the mystery element. I wanted to be on the edge of my seat and, at too many moments, I wasn't.

If you're a fan of mysteries and complex, even at times unlikeable female characters, give this novel a try.

Thanks to Zando Publishing and NetGalley for the gifted eBook in exchange for a review.

This is different from what I usually expect in this genre, but the story was beautiful. It was a little harder to follow at first, but it did start to come together by the end.

I found myself absolute lost in this book. A captivating tale with unforgettable characters. Strongly recommend. Will pick up her other books.

Thanks Net Galley for the ARC. I was excited to begin this book & thought maybe it was a slow starting story. But the writing was very disjointed & I found myself spending too much time trying to figure out what was really going on. Also, by the end it seems like we are never sure what the big mystery was.

I so wanted to like this. I typically love anything Sarah Jessica Parker recommends, but this just doesn't work for me.

I thought the writing was confusing and at times was rushed. It was really hard for me to keep up and understand what exactly was happening. It moves really quickly and that made it hard to follow the characters,

When I finished I was confused.

Thank you NetGalley and SJP Lit for the arc.

Thanks, Zando and SJP Lit, for the advanced review copy via NetGalley. (Available now)

A teenage girl, Lucy, dies at a house party. Through ten different points of view (Lucy’s classmates, school employees, family, and connected people on her periphery), we catch glimpses of life in her rundown coastal town before and after Lucy’s demise.

The publisher called this debut novel a “literary puzzle,” and with 10 points of view and 40 characters, this puzzle feels like one of those 1000-piece ones. But also, like a good puzzle, I couldn’t stop picking up pieces to see where they fit, often feeling like the meat of the story was just beyond my fingertips. Even after finishing the book, I doubted I saw the whole picture. I was fascinated. Captivated. Curious. I just couldn’t get the story out of my head.

It was clear that I needed professional help, and I knew that @onelitchick was the perfect person to provide it. We met via Google Meeting to pick apart the interconnected storylines, friendships, frenemies, relationships, and broken dreams. The conversation helped me lock in my opinion: I loved this book. It challenged me and kept me engaged. I was fully invested in the characters, and they stayed with me long after I turned the last page.

I can’t wait to see what this debut author writes next.

I had a hard time sticking with this book and would set it aside for days at a time. The story seemed so disjointed that I would often go back and reread sections trying to figure out how it all went together. At the end, the book just stopped abruptly with no explanation. The characters, in and of themselves, were interesting and basically well written, but their stories seemed to go nowhere. It was just brief sketches of individuals & grief in a small town. Readers who like character studies might like this, but it just left me wanting way more.

Women and Children First by Alina Grabowski is a poignant exploration of grief and interconnectedness within a small Massachusetts town. The novel begins with the tragic death of Lucy Anderson, a local teenager, at a house party, sending shockwaves through the community of Nashquitten. Structured in ten chapters, the story alternates between "Pre" and "Post" Lucy's death, offering perspectives from various women and children in the town. Each chapter is narrated by a different character, from Lucy's grieving mother and best friend to the town's guidance counselor and the president of the PTA. The novel delves into themes of social class, ambition, family dynamics, friendship, gender identity, sexuality, abuse, guilt, and grief. While Lucy's death is the catalyst, the narrative focuses on how this tragedy impacts the lives of those left behind, revealing their personal struggles, secrets, and the interconnectedness of their small-town lives.

The novel's strength lies in its character-driven approach and the emotional depth with which each perspective is explored. Grabowski's powerful prose captures the essence of a community grappling with loss and the complexities of human relationships. However, the narrative's slow pace and the fragmented structure may not appeal to all readers. Some may find the first half disjointed and the ending abrupt, leaving unanswered questions. Despite these flaws, Women and Children First is an impressive debut that offers a thought-provoking and immersive reading experience. The portrayal of flawed, realistic characters and the atmospheric depiction of a coastal town in mourning make it a compelling read. I look forward to seeing more from Alina Grabowski in the future. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Normally I like books told from multiple viewpoints, but I had mixed feelings about this debut novel from Alina Grabowski. Perhaps there were just too many characters relating their personal connections, some of which didn't seem that relevant. It was hard to distinguish some of them from each other, so I often found myself looking back to figure it out. I also had to re-read conversations trying to determine who was saying what. Everyone's story just felt a bit unfinished to me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to try out a new author.

You probably never heard of Nashquitten, Massachusetts. It's a small coastal town and now that the fishing isn't there, getting smaller every year. It's the kind of place most kids can't wait to get out of. But Lucy Anderson won't get that chance. Bright and talented at art, she went to a drinking party and died there. There are rumors all over town about what happened but only a few know the truth.

We hear about Lucy's death and the rumors about that and the teenagers in general through the words of different girls and women. There is Lucy's best friend, the high school guidance counselor, the woman who was having an affair with Lucy's father. Her mother, the head of the PTA, the principal. There is the girl who stayed and tried to help Lucy and the ones that ran away. Each has another piece of the puzzle.

This is a debut novel although it's difficult to accept that such an accomplished work could be a debut. I loved the structure and the way that each woman's or girl's story had a hook that led easily into the next person's story. The death is the framework around which the story is built but there are lots of other stories as well. It's a story of disappointed lives and alienation both from the teenagers and the women who are adults and whose lives didn't turn out as they wanted. This book is recommended for literary fiction readers,

What a debut! The novel is told from 10 different perspectives, and each one adds a bit to the puzzle of what happened to a teenager that died at a house party. Through the different viewpoints of these 10 women, we get a great feel for the community and the interconnectedness of the characters. The book is split into before and after, and while the author did an excellent job of giving each character their own distinct voice, I found myself confused at times. Though I agree with categorizing it as a literary mystery, it is very character-driven and the mystery is not the prime objective. I really enjoyed Alina Grabowski's writing style and look forward to her next book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced e-galley of this novel. 4 stars.

The sudden death of a teen at a house party shakes a small MA town. Told through the perspectives of 10 women, I feel as if this makes the story more disjointed than interconnected. A novel that is so much about the characters, but you never get fully immersed in one before it jumps to another. The abrupt ending left me with more questions than answers.

Thank you NetGalley for the free e-galley.

This is the first book I have read from this author. I would look for more from her. I gave this one a four star, because I just wasn't into the book like I felt I should have been. I would still recommend this book.

While I went into this novel. expecting a little more suspense, I still enjoyed it. However, it's less suspense/mystery and more a slow burn where the reader learns details about Lucy's death from the perspective of various females of the town. A literary puzzle, a kaleidoscope of perspectives.

This was an intriguing read, looking at one town around one event through the eyes of ten women, it was such a unique and suspenseful read. We read from each of the 10 in turn (only once per character) and at first it was a bit confusing, I loved how much of the story came through that way. I would have loved to revisit some of the characters I liked best, but I really enjoyed this small town character study, heartbreaking and atmospheric.

“Women and Children First” is a debut mystery novel by Alina Grabowski. I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC but didn’t get a chance to read it until now.

Set in a fictional town in Massachusetts, the story unfolds through the perspectives of ten women in the wake of the mysterious death of a local teenage girl, Lucy Anderson. The first half of the book covers events before the incident, while the second half delves into its aftermath. Each woman is somehow connected to Lucy, weaving together a complex narrative that questions whether it was an accident, a medical emergency, suicide, or murder. These women recount Lucy’s short life from their unique viewpoints, with most being teenagers themselves, yet the book is maturely written.

Grabowski masterfully captures the essence of a small-town community, highlighting its gossip, guilt, grief, and the pervasive selfishness of society. The story is deeply moving, portraying how a single tragedy can forever alter a community. It delves into the intricacies of female friendships, showing how women can either enrich or traumatize each other. Themes of womanhood, class, ambition, sexuality and gender are skillfully explored through sharp yet beautiful prose. Grabowski’s insightful portrayal of women in society is compelling, with real and flawed characters that face the demons and consequences in the tragedy’s aftermath.

The novel is intricate, which made it a longer read for me. With so many perspectives to keep track of, I initially struggled to differentiate the characters. However, once I reached the halfway mark, the story truly gripped me, and I couldn’t stop reading. The final chapter, narrated by Lucy’s mother, was particularly poignant, capturing the desperate search for answers. As a mother myself, I was deeply moved by her pain and yearning.

“Women and Children First” is a remarkable debut by Alina Grabowski, showcasing her considerable talent. I will definitely keep an eye out for her future works.

Thank you to @netgalley and @zandoprojects for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a great book! I loved the ten different points of view in this book. Each view had me asking question and thoroughly engaged. Highly recommend

A young woman dies at a party and a town must try to figure out how and why this happened.

In a dying town in Massachusetts, a young girl dies at an illegal party. The story revolves around and is told by the people of the town who were somehow connected to her. Her mother, her teacher, her best friend and others trying to make sense of this tragedy. Each person has a connection but also a story to tell. It takes a little bit of work at first to make sense of the structure of the novel, but when it comes together it is an powerful and moving book that should be read more than once.