This novel is set in the small town of Wooster, Ohio, in the 1950s. It follows a number of characters, but mainly Vivian, who works as a telephone operator. She has a sneaky habit of listening to people’s calls, but then she hears a secret that involves her…

There were some things I liked about this book. The evocation of the small-town atmosphere and the attention to 1950s detail were very good. Themes of female agency, domesticity and class were explored in interesting ways. However, the ‘secret’, which is revealed halfway through the book, really wasn’t worth waiting for. Moreover, the confrontation about this secret was skimmed over and missed the opportunity for drama. I found Vivian’s obsession with nursery rhymes and word definitions quite wearisome and odd. The same details were repeated often, for example that her ankle boots were old and worn. Then, when she gets new boots, we are repeatedly told they are new! The brand of her hat and lipstick were always mentioned too.

I found the novel hit-and-miss but I liked the setting. The blurb called it life-affirming, however, which I don’t agree with.

First published in 2020 by Headline.