I loved Wild Thing. It was one of those books, that I could not stop recommending and buying for the young people in my life. Since it had been awhile since Wild Thing was written, I went searching for a new book from this author and discovered I had missed Brother Brother. This is a good story, well written, well paced. Meant for kids a little older than the previous book. I think the juxtaposition of the lives of the title characters, the two brothers, make this a book that will keep you reading to find out what is going to happen. I like the setting, the political angle and the love interest. I hope there will be another book soon and that I don't miss it! ( )

I was crazy in love with Carmichael's [b:Wild Things|3172516|Wild Things|Clay Carmichael|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1291173121s/3172516.jpg|3204953] and subsequently had perhaps unreasonably high expectations for this one. While I enjoyed it, I certainly didn't love it. This read, to my eyes, much more like a first novel than did Wild Things.

Bear in mind that I'm reading an uncorrected proof in January, and the book's not due til August. There may still be editing to be done.

The characters are simply wonderful- full of depth and personality and backstory. That's another thing this novel has; backstory for days. The problem for me was suspending my disbelief far enough to buy the various joists underlying the floor of the narrative. I'm probably far too Midwestern to grasp the niceties (and non-niceties) of Southern life, especially among the privileged.

There are some interesting questions raised about nature and nurture, about what parenting means, what family means, and how love can be expressed. That's all very solid and well-done.

I look forward avidly to her third novel.


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An impressively written, richly layered family drama. ( )