Subdivision by J. Robert Lennon is thus far my favorite surprise book from the Tournament of Books shortlist this year. I loved the peculiar world of the Subdivision, where we are dropped in with our unnamed narrator, with little context and lots of mysteries. She arrives at a guest house a meets an interesting cast of characters, including two former judges both named Clara who run the guest house, a lovesick truck driver, a little boy who appears to have no parents in sight. The narrator finds herself constantly under threat of seduction by the shapeshifting bakemono, and seems to slip into conversations continued from her memory at times. 

 

I loved the puzzling world of this book. Answers don’t really come until the very end. The way the story wrapped up was surprising but made sense. I am so glad I read it! I hadn’t heard of this author before seeing this book on the shortlist, and now I’m so glad I have, as this book was one of those completely original absorbing stories that feel rare and enthralling. I listened to the audiobook on @librofm and it was fantastic - I did not want to stop listening! If you like slowly unravelling settings and books that drop you right in the middle of the story, definitely pick this one up.