Ocean State by Stewart O'Nan

 

A solitary beach house becomes the focal point of this riveting novel set in Rhode Island. As always, O’Nan has his finger on the pulse of working class folks and it’s what makes an already gripping story stand out because of excellent characterization. Provoked by jealously, high-schooler Angel commits murder but the novel does not spend much time on gory details. Instead it brilliantly explores the effects of that crime – and of a sibling’s separate and closed-off life – on Angel’s younger sister, Marie. Throw in high school manipulations and classism, and you have the recipe for a hit beach read.