Things We Didn't Say

Riggle's third novel (after The Life You've Imagined) explores love, devotion, and alcoholism in the modern dysfunctional family. Twenty-six-year-old Edna Leigh Casey loves her 36-year-old fianc%C3%A9 Michael Turner and his three children, yet has decided to leave him. Not only is helping raise two teenagers and a young girl difficult, hiding her past addiction to alcohol weighs too heavily. But when Michael's son, Dylan, goes missing, Edna stays on, and must deal with Michael's alcoholic ex and her difficult daughter Angel, both of whom are intent on exposing Edna's past. Michael is also in the midst of a bitter custody battle, may lose his job, and can't hack the high expectations of his successful father. Edna feels like a too-young outsider and is highly ambivalent about revealing her flaws to Michael and his family. Though Riggle's use of multiple perspectives is less than inspired, she creates an involving portrayal of the obstacles confronting today's families. (July)