JDCMustReadBooks

By:  Adam Mitzner 

ISBN: 9781476764283

Publisher: Gallery Books

Publication Date: 4/5/2016

Format: Hardcover

My Rating: 3 Stars  

A special thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Adam Mitzer returns following Losing Faith, landing on myTop 50 Books of 2015 Best Legal Thriller meets psychological game of power with THE GIRL FROM HOME – a different twist, than the author's previous books; a man who loses it all, returning to his roots and the girl he fell for in high school.

Jonathan Caine has an entitled attitude— Manhattan hedge fund manager thinks he deserves nothing but the best. Very self-centered, a narcissistic personality disorder, with an inflated sense of their own importance-- a deep need for admiration and a lack of empathy for others.

Of course, behind this mask of ultra-confidence lies a fragile self-esteem that's vulnerable to the slightest criticism. Coming from a small town, he makes his way to Wall Street, now a millionaire with a trophy wife.

However, he falls from grace, and loses it all. A scandalous securities-fraud scheme and is faced with possible jail time and danger. He still is not humbled, and returns home to New Jersey, to care from his elderly father and stays at his childhood home while his dad is in a care facility. He decides to return to his twenty-fifth high school reunion to catch a glimpse of the girl he once loved. He was a nerd back then and she dated only high school jocks. (who goes to a high school reunion when they have lost everything)?

The Homecoming beauty queen, Jacqueline (Jackie) Williams married her football jock. She is not so happy, got pregnant—he is an alcoholic, abusive, and jealous. Jackie is miserable; however, stays in the marriage, trying to protect her two kids--she has no skills or money to leave him.

Now Jackie looks at Jonathan as successful, wealthy, and he shows her attention. A way out. However, he is not honest with her about losing his wealth and is homeless, plus a criminal. Can he change? Can he save his love, or himself? What can he offer her?

His wife has found someone new, and does not care about her hubby, now that he has lost his money—she has moved on with her real estate broker. While residing in his old childhood home, he gets to know his sister Amy and his dad--hiding from an angry husband. In between, he begins spending time with the girl of his dreams. He may look at his dad a little different than he did previously.

Unfortunately, there were no likable characters here and a simple, rather boring story done many times over. The main character does not seem to learn a valuable lesson and none of the characters seemed genuine or well-developed. The depth, and suspense were missing; very disappointed, since all three of his previous books were strong legal crime thrillers (5 Stars)----this one fell flat for me. Hope the author returns to his legal thrillers, which seem to be his sweet spot.