Book Review: The Nest

By Jessica Asbell

The Nest, by Cynthia DAprix Sweeney, is a bit like a train wreck in that you cannot look away. The Nest is a nest egg put away by Leonard, the patriarch of the Plumb family, who invested money for his four children when they were young. He told them it wasnt going to be much. The caveat was that none could claim it until the youngest, Melodys, 40th birthday. What Leonard couldnt have known was that he would die soon after he invested the money, and that the market would balloon the money to over $2 million.

Fast forward to today, a few months before Melodys 40th birthday, when Jack, Bea and Melody are livid because their mother has given most of the money to Leo, the eldest, to quiet an indiscretion and subsequent car accident that cost someone dearly. Each Plumb needs their share of the money for various reasons: Jack, to pay off a secret debt; Melody, who is trying to keep her house and pay for college for her twins; and Bea, a has-been author who doesnt so much need the money as wants it.

Their interactions with Leo and with each other are poignant and heartbreaking, yet also hilarious in their dysfunction. When Leo disappears, chaos ensues, as they try to learn to live without the money they always thought was theirs. Its admirable that The Nest doesnt shy away from the familys dysfunction, but instead peels back the layers so that we can see, with startling clarity, exactly what makes each sibling tick. As they learn to move on with their lives, they also start to grow closer to each other, discovering a family bond that didnt exist before. Humorous, while also tragic at times, The Nest is a perfect book to read if youre looking for some crazy family dysfunction!