In 1993, 15-year-old Rory Ramos is living in Topanga Canyon, California, and working as a ranch hand at a stable her stepfather runs. She’s talented with horses but mostly rides for rich people, including wealthy twin siblings June and Wade. June, who is openly gay, takes an interest in Rory, who is struggling with her own sexuality, but often Rory is caught in the manipulation between the siblings.
But Rory is more intrigued by Vivian, the beautiful daughter of an actor, whose house Rory can see from her bedroom window. At night she can catch glimpses of Vivian swimming.
After a tragic accident occurs which creates strange ties among Rory, Vivian, June, and Wade, Rory’s equestrian skills grow stronger and she discovers her talent for photography. And as the relationships among the four grow more complicated, one night everything comes to a head, and a dangerous forest fire occurs, threatening to destroy the canyon and beyond.
In 2015, Rory’s daughter, Charlie, is left with more secrets about her mother than memories, as her mother is on the road more than she is home. The more she starts to question and dig into things, the more she realizes that to understand her mother, and perhaps herself, she needs to understand what happened more than 20 years before.
This book was so beautifully written. Milliken’s imagery is so evocative you can taste the dust and feel the dryness in the air. There is a lot of tension among characters that you can feel as well—I had my suspicions about what might happen but couldn’t wait to see things unfold. Issues of race and class, inequity and prejudice are also touched on.
I really enjoyed Kept Animals and stayed up late to finish it. (Story of my life in 2020.) This was a book I wouldn’t have heard of were it not for Bookstagram, so I’m grateful.
Kate Milliken provided me with a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!!
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