If I’ve learned anything from reading Iain Reid’s novels, it’s that the best rule of thumb is to trust nothing and no one. After finishing A New Kind of Clean, I stand by that statement.
I loved the premise of this book. We meet Missy, a young woman whose dream is to be an actress. It’s a tough industry to break into and Missy is certain that she’s been passed over for prettier, more stylish women who fit a certain mold. When she gets the opportunity to audition for a commercial, she thinks that this could be her break. Be careful what you wish for, Missy.
People assume that the grass is always greener. If we could just be like this or have that it would solve our problems. Missy wasn’t unique to these beliefs, but her resentment and shame toward her mother and her upbringing contributed to her insecurity. Missy had some pretty deep emotional scars.
The overall story, societal and cultural themes of the book were timely and relevant, but don’t get too comfortable believing that you will just sail through it without a few heart-pounding moments. As I said previously, I trusted nothing about this book. There were times that I couldn’t tell if the things were actually happening to Missy or if they were a figment of her imagination. Iain Reid and Ellie Foumbi excelled at blurring the lines and delivering eerie, frightening scenes that will scare the bejesus out of you.
*4 Stars
