Hot Girls Read Podcast

Ayesha

I just finished “Louie On The Rocks” by Meredith O’Brien as part of the Booksparks Winter Reading Challenge. It’s a political story and I live in DC so it was a no-brainer to read.

Synopsis: Set against a backdrop of bitterly partisan Facebook feuds and a Trump flag set aflame in a driveway, “Louie on the Rocks” follows the disintegration of the Francis family six months after the death of their matriarch, Helen. In his wife’s absence, retired MAGA patriarch Louie descends into an alcoholic spiral and his liberal, queer, bookseller daughter Lulu responds, in a clumsy attempt to save her father from himself, by taking him to court to seize control over his finances.

Told by Louie, Lulu, and Helen—who is watching in horror from the great beyond—this is the tale of a trio with very different takes on the messy events of 2019.

I can’t relate to having a parent or any family members who are politically so far right like Louie, and that was only one aspect of what I found to be so upsetting. Lulu’s relationship with her dad, or lack thereof, was also difficult to follow. We see so much hate in the world so it shouldn’t shock me to see that translated in fiction but it did. I’ve not minced words when it comes to politics and while this is a work of fiction, it does a great job at showing how a man became enamored by a cult leader to the point that he lost standing with his wife and daughter. “Louie On The Rocks” is absolutely a book I recommend to others. This is a bit of a spoiler but do not expect a happily ever after. As I mentioned, this is an upsetting book and I think is really the overarching theme of the story – how upsetting it is to see people get swayed by the words of manic people.