Lillian is in limbo. That strange period in your 30s-40s when life didn't quite pan out as expected in your teens and 20s, but you still feel too young to make major life decisions. Working as a supermarket cashier and semi-supporting her alcoholic mother, Lillian is contacted one day by Madison, her old roommate at prep school. Lillian was there on scholarship and Madison was her ambitious and wealthy roommate. After both girls are involved in an incident that Lillian takes the blame for, the two remain penpals over the years. It's not shocking that Madison contacts Lillian after all this time, but her request is unusual. Madison's new politician husband, Jasper, has a secret. Two children from a previous marriage, 10 year old twins Bessie and Roland, have the ability to spontaneously combust. The two are going to come live with Madison and Jasper because their mother recently passed away and Madison is at a loss for how to "tame" Bessie and Roland. As Madison explains to Lillian, Jasper is a senator with high hopes, and having half-feral fire children living apart from him simply will not do. Madison needs help and she turns to Lillian to make it better.

On the surface, this is a story about children who spontaneously combust. At it's core, this is also a story about female frenemies, power struggles, poverty, privilege, made families, healing, and the radical idea that we can forge our own paths. 'Nothing to See Here' is a tight, incendiary story that speaks to our ability to hope in spite of everything. To know ourselves and to still have the ability to be surprised. It packs a heavy emotional and satisfying punch that will leave me recommending this title for years to come. This is easily one of the most brilliant, unputdownable books that I have read this year.