Book Review: Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay
Happy publication day to Parents Weekend! 🎉✨ As a long-time fan of Alex Finlay—ever since I devoured The Night Shift—I anxiously awaited this latest release. The premise of a disturbing evening unfolding against the picturesque backdrop of a small private college in Northern California caught my attention immediately. College is such a full spectrum of emotions, and I was eager to see how Finlay would navigate the tangled relationships and hidden secrets that come with that first year away from home.
At its core, Parents Weekend weaves a tapestry of various themes: expectation, family dysfunction, and the bittersweet nature of friendship during those formative college years. The setup is compelling: a group of eager parents congregates, ready to celebrate their children’s new lives, only to find themselves in the grips of growing anxiety when their kids go missing. As the night meanders from anticipation to panic, the complex stories of five young adults—Libby, Blane, Mark, Felix, and Stella—come to the forefront, each representing diverse backgrounds and unique struggles.
However, while Finlay’s brisk pacing kept my pages turning, the execution left me feeling a tad underwhelmed. The multiple perspectives, which often enhance a narrative, felt more like a distraction this time. Instead of feeling like I was gaining insight into their lives, the characters came across as flat and one-dimensional, reduced to archetypes like the wealthy bureaucrat and the oblivious privileged judge. I found it challenging to connect with their experiences, particularly when their actions seemed excused by their “youth.” Let’s face it—these are college students, legal adults navigating real consequences. Why gloss over the complexities of their behaviors?
Among this ensemble cast, I was thrilled to see the return of Agent Sarah Keller. Her character is a refreshing point of focus, adding much-needed depth to the narrative. Despite my frustrations with the supporting characters, Keller’s presence lit up the pages, making me eager to see her unravel the mysteries of that fateful night.
While I searched for memorable quotes or particularly poignant moments, I found myself grappling with the overall presentation. The narrative’s fragments were intriguing, but the characters’ lack of dimension hindered my emotional investment in the story.
Ultimately, Parents Weekend is a mixed bag. It will likely appeal to readers who enjoy suspenseful stories steeped in family drama. If you appreciate thrillers set in academic environments with intricate plots, you might find value in the twists and turns that Alex Finlay is known for.
As for me, while I appreciated the ride, I couldn’t help but wish for richer character development and a deeper exploration of the emotional landscapes at play. In the end, this reading experience, though enjoyable, left me longing for more. Here’s to hoping Finlay’s next offering will return to the depth and resonance I’ve come to love!