The Sun Sister

In this stirring, if baggy, installment to the Seven Sisters series (after The Moon Sister), Riley follows Electra D’Apliese, a supermodel suffering from the burdens of wealth, fame, and addictions. The second-youngest of six sisters adopted by philanthropist Pa Salt, Electra, tall and gorgeous at 26, enjoys a luxurious New York City life complete with lots of alcohol, cocaine, and casual sex. After Pa’s death, her dangerous behaviors intensify to the point that her sister Maia suggests a rehab program. Electra is resistant until she finds a posthumous letter from Pa, which provides a clue about her origins, and though Electra has always been reluctant to learn about her blood relations, she finally meets her grandmother, Stella, who traces their story back to Kenya in 1939. Riley alternates between Electra’s and Stella’s stories, spending lots of time on Stella’s life in Kenya and beyond. After Electra checks into rehab and begins to recover from her addictions, her life is changed by her new connection to her past. The plot can sometimes be predictable, but the descriptions of Kenya are evocative (“the air hummed with insects dipping their heads into nectar-rich blooms”). Series fans will find inspiration and delight in Electra’s search for deeper family relationships. (May)