Asides

Asides is a coming-of-age novel about a girl growing up in a community theater in the Midwest. Clare’s childhood is dominated by the looming presence of her father, King, both in their household and as the director of the family’s community theater. The summer after Clare graduates from high school, King invites a prominent New York actress to star in their summer production. As rehearsals turn into performances, Clare’s growing bond with the mysterious Trixie begins to topple her understanding of herself. Repression, subterfuge, and storytelling overlap to create an increasingly dreamlike state of bewilderment for Clare—until a shocking betrayal remakes her family and her future.