DNF at page 88/46%

More like four short stories that vaguely interconnect rather than one cohesive story. The first part was interesting and then each part became less interesting than the one before.

Billed as a novel but more like four connected short stories, Terrace Story defies genre-fication as Hilary Leichter drops readers into a near-future world filled with dystopian elements and magical realism. Readers first meet new parents Annie and Edward, their daughter Rose, and their friend Stephanie struggling to make connections in a world clearly in environmental decline. Leichter then explores the same characters from different points of view and at different moments in time. Terrace Story is a deceptively short, simple book that explores love, family, and loss in a way that resonates long after reading. ( )

This is sort of an "out there" kind of read, reminiscent of some Shirley Jackson I've read.
The book is divided into parts, and my favorite part is the first one - "Terrace". Super strange, but sort of fascinating at the same time! And in a pretty cool way, that story is echoed in another part of the book called "Fortress". I didn't like it as much, but it was cool to read the other side of the story.
The last part, titled "Cantilever", was totally lost on me. Even its ending. But, it is a very quick read, and I'm glad that I did! ( )

Title: Terrace Story
Author: Hilary Leichter
Publisher: Ecco
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 4
Review:
"Terrace Story" by Hilary Leichter

My Sentiments:

'Terrance Story' was an interesting collection of short stories about different characters that explore concepts of 'familial, romantic love, loss, extinction, and death and just what it means to exit.' These stories will bring in magical realism, fantasy, and some science friction as this author gives the reader a challenge as 'one's notions of love, identity and the future of the past.'

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Annie, Edward and young daughter, Rose, live in a small apartment in TERRACE STORY, by Hilary Leichter. One night they are shocked to discover a impossibly large terrace when they walk through their closet. It doesn't make structural or geographic sense, but they shrug off the logical errors and find themselves reveling in this new found luxury. It becomes clear that there is a catalyst for this magical space and eventually karma seems to balance out this good fortune with a shocking shift and everyone's lives, even the catalyst's, are forever changed.
Each main character's true being is slowly revealed, like opening each part of a Russian doll. The more that is revealed, the more the reader can connect with and immerse themselves into the characters. Leichter does a good job of creating environments that grounded the characters and often influences the tone of the story. The plot is disjointed in it's delivery, but as the book concludes, the reader can piece together the loose parts. While the themes of love, loneliness, and acceptance were clear and uniquely addressed, I did wish for some closure for some of the likeable secondary characters the reader was introduced to.
I received this book part of the Goodreads Giveaway program. ( )