The Change sits at the intersection of magical realism and mystery, and features a robust cast of badass women in their 30s-40s and beyond.
When young girls show up dead in their small beach town, fate and circumstance thrust Harriet, Jo, and Nessa into an effortless friendship. All three women, tied to the same small town, have inexplicable abilities. Harriet is one with nature, a genius of botany, and can wield plants to heal or harm. Jo boils over with rage—literally—scalding with a touch, and harnessing an insane amount of strength and power. Nessa—poor, sweet Nessa—can see the ghosts of deceased girls, and must help them find peace to move on. We love powerful, intelligent, witchy women, no matter what you label them! The trio has all been through some form of trauma, mostly delivered through the hands of the patriarchy. In their middle ages, they’ve finally come into their own self-confidence and strength, and decided they no longer want to play the docile role society tries to stuff them into.
Upon investigating the mysterious deaths of three young girls—neglected by the same system meant to protect lives—the witchy trio uncovers a horrible reality. Their small beach town hosts an extravagantly ritzy gated area known as Culling Pointe. Home to many rich, powerful, and influential men.
The Change is equal parts hilarious, poignant, sorrowful, and empowering. As a woman who recently turned thirty (as in four days ago), I couldn’t have read this book at a better time. In a world that tries to silence women, belittle them, step on them, and gaslight them, Harriet, Jo, and Nessa are beacons of hope. They represent the divine, feminine power us women hold.
My biggest issue with this book is that it’s almost satirical and melodramatic in its hatred for men. At times, the women come across as less “empowering” and more bitter and filled with hatred. Which, that IS the book’s theme. And it IS making a point. Though I absolutely agree with 99% of the things the women/author had to say about men, the patriarchy, and society, I wish there was more nuance on the topic. I’ve come across many men in my life, and not all of them are violent, rapists, lazy/useless, scumbags, and so forth. Again, this book isn’t meant to show men in a good light, so take that with a grain of salt.
Trigger Warnings: scenes/memories of sexual abuse, reference to sexual abuse, child abuse, childhood SA, violence, death, murder, descriptive details, and more. This is not a “light” read.
