Title: You Will Know Me
Author: Megan Abbott
First published July 26, 2016
345 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780316231077 (ISBN10: 031623107X)
Rating: 3.43
Overview
Maggie and Jack have dedicated everything to their daughter, Lily, a swimming sensation and a potential Olympic gold medalist. However, when a sudden death shakes their close-knit swimming community just before a crucial championship, everything the family has worked so hard for is put in jeopardy.
With rumors spreading and hidden alliances being uncovered, Maggie frantically tries to keep her family together while also being drawn towards the crime itself and the dark secrets it threatens to reveal. From an author with exceptional talent for making hearts race and spines tingle, You Will Swim is an exhilarating thrill ride of a novel about the dangerous limits of love, envy, and aspirations.
About the Author
Megan Abbott is an accomplished author who has won the prestigious Edgar® award for her work. Her impressive collection of novels includes Die a Little, Queenpin, The Song Is You, Bury Me Deep, The End of Everything, Dare Me, The Fever, You Will Know Me, and Give Me Your Hand.
In addition to her writing, Abbott serves as the co-showrunner, writer, and executive producer for the television series DARE ME, which is based on her novel. She also worked as a staff writer for HBO’s THE DEUCE.
Her written work has been featured in a variety of publications, such as the New York Times, the Guardian, Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times Magazine, The Believer, and the Los Angeles Review of Books.
Originally from the Detroit area, Abbott graduated from the University of Michigan and earned her Ph.D. in English and American literature from New York University. She has taught at several universities, including NYU, SUNY, and the New School University.
Additionally, she was appointed as the John Grisham Writer in Residence at The University of Mississippi.
Abbott is a versatile writer and has also authored a nonfiction book titled The Street Was Mine: White Masculinity in Hardboiled Fiction and Film Noir. She also edited the anthology A Hell of a Woman, which features female crime fiction.
Currently, Abbott is working on developing her novels Dare Me and The Fever for television.
Editoral Review
Megan Abbotts You Will Know Me is a gripping psychological thriller that explores the dark side of competitive gymnastics through the eyes of a young girls family. Abbott, known for her grisly crime novels, departs from her usual genre and tackles the pressures of parenting and adolescence in a small suburban town.
The novel was published on July 26, 2016, and has garnered critical acclaim for its compelling plot and nuanced characters. Set in the world of competitive gymnastics, the novel follows the lives of the Knox family, whose fifteen-year-old daughter, Devon, is a prodigy.
It is clear that her parents, Eric and Katie, have invested everything in their daughters success, even if it means sacrificing their own jobs and social lives. When a tragedy strikes their tight-knit community, however, the familys unity begins to unravel as secrets and lies are exposed.
Abbotts writing is sharp and evocative, painting a vivid picture of the insular world of elite gymnastics. She captures the intensity and physical beauty of the sport, as well as the politics and ethical dilemmas that come with it.
At the heart of the novel is the character of Devon, whose ambition and talent are both impressive and unsettling. Abbott masterfully portrays the conflicting emotions of her parents, who are both proud and fearful of their daughters potential.
Despite its compelling storyline, You Will Know Me falls short in its character development. The minor characters are often one-dimensional, serving only to advance the plot.
Additionally, the novels pacing is at times uneven, with the climax feeling rushed and abrupt. Nevertheless, the tension-building and suspenseful atmosphere of the novel more than make up for its shortcomings.
As a cautionary tale about the extremes of parenting and the dangers of ambition, You Will Know Me is a book that hits close to home for many readers. Its themes of sacrifice, power, and identity will resonate with anyone who has struggled to find their place in the world.
Fans of Gillian Flynn and Paula Hawkins are sure to enjoy Abbotts piercing prose and terrifyingly realistic characters. Overall, You Will Know Me is a solid addition to the psychological thriller genre, and Abbott proves herself to be a versatile and insightful writer.
It may not be perfect, but its flaws are easily forgiven in light of the novels gripping plot and haunting depiction of adolescence. I give it a score of 4 out of 5 stars, and recommend it to anyone looking for a chilling and thought-provoking read.
