I have heard so many good things about this book, and I imagine you may have also. Well, get ready to hear even more positive things, because that is all I have to say about The Expatriates.

At first I wasn’t really sure where this book was going. There were two narrators introduced in the first section of the book, and then in the next section, another narrator seemed to pop up out of nowhere. My confusion was only momentary though, as soon all of the narrators began to connect. Looking back, I think perhaps that was the author’s intention: to show just how small the world is, and how easily worlds can connect and collide.

Three women are all trying to hold their lives together as some form of tragedy strikes. For one it begins with a trip out of the country; for another it begins with a new relationship; for the third it is the loss of a relationship that she thought would last forever. I loved how it seemed like these three women and their stories were all so different, but then suddenly every piece fit together and a clear picture emerged.

This is a book rich with lessons on how to move on after loss, what not to do on social media, and who might stick around through everything–even when they seem the most unlikely. I think it would be a great choice for a book club, as it has many topics that could be discussed. This is a book you don’t want to miss.

Review of an Advance Reader’s Copy

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Viking

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  1 religious profanity; 1 mild obscenity; 1 derogatory name; 4 scatological words; 1 anatomical term; 6 F-word derivatives. 

Violence/Gore:  Several violent accidents are mentioned to have occurred in the past; a report of violence where a gun is fired and an arm is blown off is mentioned; a child goes missing and multiple scenarios are imagined of what has happened to him. 

Sex/Nudity:  A man and woman are mentioned to have slept together; a man hits another womans butt in a sexual manner; a woman suspects her husband is having an affair; a man is mentioned to be nude in bed, sex is implied to have happened previously; a man sends a sexual text to his wife; sexual innuendo occurs; a man and woman kiss; a man carries on an extramarital affair with a younger woman; skinny dipping is mentioned without detail; pole dancing and seeing ladies strip is mentioned with no explicit detail.

Mature Subject Matter:

Missing children, personal crises, extramarital affairs, social and political issues, divorce.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Adults drink beer; champagne is drunk by adults in celebration; a man is mentioned to be drunk; cigarettes are smoked by adults; teen drinking occurs in one brief scene.