Book Review: “Getting Clean with Stevie Green” by Swan Huntley
Author: Swan Huntley
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Time to read: 7 days
At thirty-seven, Stevie Green has had it with binge drinking and sleeping with strange men. She’s confused about her sexuality and her purpose in life. When her mother asks her to return to her hometown of La Jolla to help her move into a new house, she’s desperate enough to say yes. The move goes so well that Stevie decides to start her own decluttering business. She stops drinking. She hires her formerly estranged sister, Bonnie, to be her business partner. She rekindles a romance with her high school sweetheart, Brad. Things are better than ever—except for the complicated past that Stevie can’t seem to outrun. ~ From the book blurb
I really related to this book in a lot of ways, especially with the main character, Stevie. At age 39 I moved home to be closer to my mum after living away for a long time. I have given up drinking in the last few years and I run my own business. I’d have to say it was these things that originally drew me to the book.
I really enjoyed that the story had a little bit of a mystery at it’s centre. There was a lot that had happened to and around Stevie earlier in her life and this was alluded to but not expressly explained until later in the book. Sometimes stories like this can drag it out for too long, but that didn’t happen in this novel.
I’m also attracted to Southern California as a setting for TV shows and books and I enjoyed the beach vibe this novel has.
And even though I’d probably never do it myself, I was tickled by the visual of Stevie standing in the Wonder Woman pose while chanting: “I am La Jolla’s number one decluttering guru. I am La Jolla’s number one decluttering guru. I am La Jolla’s number one decluttering guru.” The characters in the book did just enough personal development stuff that I would do to make them seem relatable and real.
However, I was disappointed with the lack of chemistry between any of the characters. It felt like everyone was being held at arm’s length from each other and no one really connected authentically. I think that stemmed from Stevie herself. She is undergoing a huge transformation throughout the book, including becoming sober so perhaps she wasn’t ready to wear her heart on her sleeve, or maybe the author didn’t want to let us get too close to her. Stevie felt very protected and distant even though the whole book centred on her.
I think this book is an easy read and I recommend it to anyone who likes contemporary fiction with a slight mystery at it’s centre.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐