Nothing to See Here. Kevin Wilson. 2019. Ecco. 254 pages. [Source: Public Library.]
Nothing to See Here starts off innocuously enough. Lillian and Madison were roommates in boarding school — Lillian because of an academic scholarship and Madison because it’s what’s expected for a girl from a wealthy family. Their time as roommates is short-lived, but the friendship continues more than decade later. Lillian’s not doing much in her life, and Madison’s the wife of a prominent politician, Jasper. Things go left when Madison asks her dear old friend to serve as a governess of sorts for her stepchildren, Bessie and Roland. Did I mention they spontaneously combust?
I read about 4 pages into this book before I asked myself “what the hell am I reading?” I asked that several more times throughout the book. That’s not a critique; it’s just illustrative that this book was never quite what I expected. I waited for sordid family secrets and cover-ups as one might expect from a politician who’s on the fast track to a federal appointment. Instead, I saw the fear of a family reckoning with what happens when things don’t fit expectations and how to make sense of it. Lillian begins to see there’s far more than meets the eye with the children’s affliction, and they evolve into complicated characters.
The characters were interesting for me; there were a few who were one-dimensional. Jasper, the cause of all of the drama, is never redeemed for me. He is perhaps a walking stereotype of the shady politician, and I wanted to see him suffer (sue me). Lillian was relatable but only to a point. She very much comes across as someone to whom life happens and is susceptible to those from whom she seeks some kind of connection. Her reaction to the kids, however, was something akin to heartwarming. I could never settle my sentiments toward Madison. She is selfishly driven, but it’s clear there’s a heart in her somewhere underneath her ambitions. Carl, the mysterious aid to Jasper is difficult to pin down; for him, the ends justify the means, but it’s clear that he’s not as emotionally detached as he comes across most of the time.
This was a quick and enjoyable read. Nothing to See Here is anything but what the title indicates. It’s filled with humor both in the events and in Lillian’s inner thoughts. She has an awkward quality to her and a no cut cards approach to the children that made me chuckle even when it bordered on inappropriate. I recommend Nothing to See Here, and will be checking for more releases from Kevin Wilson.
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