Hollow Bones

Jodi Picoult has always been one of my go-to favorite writers. I’ve loved so many of her books that, years later, I still think about them. I don’t know whether my tastes have changed or this particular book simply wasn’t for me, but Hollow Bones too long and overstuffed. The story begins in the aftermath of 9/11, when Eloise disappears and is presumed dead, leaving behind her husband, Adam, and their two-month-old daughter, Molly. Eloise’s best friend, Evie, steps in as Molly’s surrogate mother and eventually marries Adam. Twenty-five years later, their lives are still shaped by what happened. The premise is compelling, and the book’s exploration of survival, grief, and postpartum psychosis is genuinely interesting. As always, Picoult’s writing and character development are excellent. The problem (editing?) is that there are so many characters and storylines, each with such an extensive backstory, they sometimes feel like separate books. They eventually connect, but much of the detail felt unnecessary, and were unrealistic. At 464 pages, the book dragged considerably. In the beginning I was completely invested, but somewhere around the halfway point, it began to lose me. I wish the story had been tighter and more focused. Thanks Netgalley for the early peek. Releases in September. ⭐⭐⭐