See You In September.. but in May

This week we take a look at See You In September by Charity Norman

This book was our February book for my online book club. At that time, I was relatively new to books by Charity Norman. Norman is a New Zealand author so I am not sure why our paths have never crossed!

I really enjoyed this book. It was easy to read. The characters were engaging, and the plot made it really unputdownable. This doesn’t happen very often in our online book club, but everyone seemed to really enjoy this one, so it was a winner all around.

See You in September drew me in with its relatable characters and suspense. The story follows Cassy, a young woman who, while backpacking around New Zealand, decides to accept a lift from a cheerful bunch of strangers when her and her boyfriend break up. She decides to join them on their self sufficient remote island which is near Rotorua. As time passes, it becomes harder and harder for Cassy to leave. She becomes entranced by the community, the location and the charismatic leader, Justin. As time passes, Cassy begins to realize that the community is not as harmonious as it seems, and she must confront the dark secrets lurking beneath the surface. I really felt for Cassy’s parents when they can’t communicate with Cassy, and she cuts them off for a time.

While reading this book, I couldn’t help but think about the current climate in New Zealand with misinformation being rife. In this book, you could see subtle and prolonged manipulation unfolding, and how this lead the main character down a path that she didn’t originally intend, particularly when she was in a vulnerable state.

What is evident when reading this book, is the amount of research which has been done into cults, and how they operate and the techniques used to draw people in. This book was clever, emotional, intriguing, and gripping. You can’t put it down because you really want to know what is going to happen next! Even though I am not a movie person, I could definitely see this book being made into a movie.

As a side note, I really enjoy reading books set in New Zealand, particularly when you are familiar with the locations being discussed. One of the many pluses of reading books by New Zealand authors.

I have read a couple of others by Norman now, and I am looking forward to reading more because life is too short to read bad books.