The Astrology House

In Jade’s inventive if implausible debut, five privileged New Yorkers join a weekend-long astrology retreat in a Victorian mansion on Long Island’s North Fork. Each guest is seeking wisdom from the stars: Aimee is looking to rekindle her spark with her writer husband, Adam, who’s been brought along by his attorney sister, Margot; obstetrician Farah is reconsidering both her marriage to local politician Joe and her friendship with Aimee. None of the guests know that Rini, the astrologer, plans to bring each of their overlapping conflicts to a head, for reasons that gradually click into focus. As the weekend progresses, Rini manipulates her clients to ensure their latent resentments—familial and professional—escalate in predictable fashions until things take a turn for the dangerous. Rini’s Machiavellian moves, ostensibly rooted in her sincere consultations with the stars, are too transparent, and Jade fails to convince readers that her characters wouldn’t see right through them. Those willing to suspend their disbelief may be charmed by the novel premise, but seasoned genre fans are likely to be disappointed. Here’s hoping Jade’s sophomore effort is an improvement. Agent: Claire Friedman, InkWell Management. (July)