The Goddesses - A Novel

"A haunting story of betrayal and forgiveness" (Kirkus) about a woman who moves her family to Hawaii, only to find herself wrapped up in a dangerous friendship, from the celebrated author of We Could Be Beautiful.

When Nancy and her family arrive in Kona, Hawaii, they are desperate for a fresh start. Nancy's husband has cheated on her; they sleep in separate bedrooms and their twin sons have been acting out, setting off illegal fireworks. But Hawaii is paradise: they plant an orange tree in the yard; they share a bed once again and Nancy resolves to make a happy life for herself. She starts taking a yoga class and there she meets Ana, the charismatic teacher. Ana has short, black hair, a warm smile, and a hard-won wisdom that resonates deeply within Nancy. They are soon spending all their time together, sharing dinners, relaxing in Ana's hot tub, driving around Kona in the cute little car Ana helps Nancy buy. As Nancy grows closer and closer to Ana-skipping family dinners a nd leaving the twins to their own devices she feels a happiness and understanding unlike anything she's ever experienced, and she knows that she will do anything Ana asks of her. A mesmerizing story of friendship and manipulation set against the idyllic tropical world of the Big Island, The Goddesses is a stunning psychological novel by one of our most exciting young writers.

Rezension:

"An addictive fictional saga in which a jilted wife goes to the mat to save her marriage and her morale."
-O Magazine, "10 Titles to Pick Up Now"

"A dazzling story of manipulation, unexpected connections, and answering your heart's true desires, The Goddesses is one of the boldest reading experiences of 2017 (oh, and you'll finish the book with major Hawaii wanderlust)."
-Brit+Co., "7 Thrilling Summer Reads with Fierce Female Leads"

"An engrossing portrait of female friendship, Huntley's sophomore novel explores the risks and rewards of finding an unexpected soul mate. Huntley lets the idyllic Hawaiian setting wash over the reader, the volcanoes and starry skies the perfect background for Nancy's self-discovery. Readers who enjoyed Camille Pagán's Life and Other Near-Death Experiences and the works of Meg Wolitzer will savor the slow burn of this expressive and electric novel."
-Stephanie Turza, Booklist (Starred Review)

"As in her first book, Huntley is a keen social observer, empathetic and biting at once... [A] gripping psychological portrait of a woman at a personal crossroads. A haunting story of betrayal and forgiveness that packs an unexpectedly emotional punch."
-Kirkus

"If Swan Huntley's 2016 bestselling suspenser, We Could Be Beautiful, grabbed you and wouldn't let you go, hold on to The Goddesses, about a woman who has just moved to Hawaii with her family an develops a friendship with a yoga instructor that gets close-and then way too close-for comfort."
-Lisa Shea, Elle

"An engaging account of a middle-aged woman's journey for an identity apart from her family... Readers will be pulled along by the quick-moving story."
-Publishers Weekly

"A woman tries to start over in Kona, Hawaii, with the help of a mysterious yoga teacher."
-Time Magazine

"Hoping to push the reset button on her troubled marriage, Nancy heads to Hawaii with her family. It's idyllic -- until her yoga instruc tor turns out to be more malevolent than she seems."
-People