THE SOUND OF WINGS

Three women in a New Jersey resort town discover the surprising ways they are connected in this debut novel.

Seventy-year-old sculptor Goldie lives in the seaside town of Cape May, where she owns a shop to sell her wares. Lately, she has been flooded by memories of her beloved stepfather and, more disturbingly, the apparition of her dead husband, Simon, whom she detested during their marriage. Concerned about her financial future, she seeks the advice of Bruce, a trusted younger friend. Bruce is the second husband of Jocelyn, a local novelist who is on the verge of an out-of-the-blue custody battle with her ex-spouse. As Jocelyn waits for the advance for her novel, Bruce reveals he has a monetary need for his contracting business. Krystal, a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, blossomed into an attractive woman who caught the eye of Abe, a lovable and wealthy businessman. The two are now married, and Krystal struggles to resolve her newfound status with her painful past. As Goldie creates amazing artworks out of clay, her vision begins to blur in such a way that she fears the problem is more than an optometrist can solve. Jocelyn finds Bruce’s mother’s diary and begins to learn of a shocking secret while Krystal seeks a reliable outlet for her creative side. Simonetti’s stirring novel excels at creating characters that are fully fleshed out and deeply committed to their artistic careers and their interpersonal relationships. The three principal characters are thoughtful and conscientious, and the deep dives into their thoughts and memories give sharp illustrations of their motivations and fears up to the touching conclusion. But as good as the book is at weaving the players’ stories together, some flashbacks and diary entries are slow and seem superfluous until key details are revealed later in the work.

This vivid, character-driven tale sometimes moves slowly but is written with care and passion.