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A review by maralyons
Hestia Strikes a Match by Christine Grillo
4.0
Hestia Strikes a Match is a unique and compulsively readable novel about the title character living in a present-day civil war in the United States. Hestia is a 43 year old divorced woman living in Baltimore and working at a nursing home. Though the backdrop is a new civil war and America has split into two countries based on political beliefs. The red states have seceded to become their own new country following the death of the 46th president, when the female vice president is inaugurated into office.
It seems possibly inspired by the pandemic, how things are very different, though we still persist as if everything is normal. Things may be happening to people we know, but it still feels like our lives are basically the same. The imagined new reality is fascinating to read about and seems possible at times. Hestia is relatable and the humor made me laugh out loud at times. There are beautiful, poetic and philosophical ruminations about life and love sprinkled throughout. The characters, especially Mildred, a resident of the nursing home, are incredibly charming. The story is a little slow as it seems to largely be about Hestia's dating life during a civil war, but I loved the entertaining and relatable writing style.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC. All thoughts are my own.
It seems possibly inspired by the pandemic, how things are very different, though we still persist as if everything is normal. Things may be happening to people we know, but it still feels like our lives are basically the same. The imagined new reality is fascinating to read about and seems possible at times. Hestia is relatable and the humor made me laugh out loud at times. There are beautiful, poetic and philosophical ruminations about life and love sprinkled throughout. The characters, especially Mildred, a resident of the nursing home, are incredibly charming. The story is a little slow as it seems to largely be about Hestia's dating life during a civil war, but I loved the entertaining and relatable writing style.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC. All thoughts are my own.