This family drama is set against the vivid backdrop of Rincón Bay near the Arizona–Mexico border, the novel brings together four adult siblings—Corina, Pete, Becca, and Kathy—for a beach vacation that may be their last time all together.

Each sibling arrives carrying the weight of unresolved issues: Corina is grappling with a recent Alzheimer’s diagnosis, Pete is living with the long-term consequences of addiction, Becca is reeling from her teenage son’s struggles, and Kathy, the eldest, returns to a place tied to painful memories and a crumbling marriage. As the family gathers—joined by spouses and Corina’s caregiver—they’re forced to confront old wounds, deep-seated resentments, and the complicated bond that still holds them together.

That said, this book ultimately wasn’t for me. While the premise had real potential ( siblings - gah!), I found the story skimmed the surface of so many subjects without diving deep enough to create the emotional impact I usually look for. I wanted to resonate with someone—anyone—in the story, but that connection never came. Just as it felt like the narrative was starting to build depth or momentum, it would abruptly shift to another storyline or character. I found the constant jumping disorienting; I was getting literally dizzy from how often the focus shifted. It kept me from fully grasping or caring about any one thread.

The writing style didn’t align with my preferences either. The humor didn’t land—I couldn’t tell if lines were meant to be sarcastic, blunt, or genuinely funny—and all four siblings shared such a similar tone that I struggled to differentiate their voices. And by the end, nothing really tied together. The ending felt abrupt, disconnected, and unearned. I walked away feeling like I’d gained nothing from the story.

I’m never here to diminish the hard work of an author—writing a novel is no small feat—but this one just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to Net Gallery and the Publisher ‘She Writes Press’ for letting me read this book that’s being released on July 22nd.

I imagine that lovers of quirky TV family dramedies like "This Is Us" will appreciate this tale of an ill-advised sibling road trip. Unlike most family saga, Tiny Vices spend Little time with matriarchs, patriarchs, and who will inherit the legacy. Instead, it focuses on a group of grown siblings and their well-worn lifelong snits and mishaps, incorporating how they support each other through chronic physical and mental illness, addiction, and other trials as well as how they deal with sibling hierarchies and rivalries. The road trip to Mexico also affords the opportunity to follow the story of an immigrant caregiver to the sibling with early-onset Alzheimer's, and I'm glad to say that this thread proved compelling and relatable—my fears that it would peter into flatness among the stories of the gringo siblings was unfounded.