The Smart One by Jennifer Close is a novel about family. It is the story of three grown kids who move back home to deal with their various problems, and their Mother (who has always been considered the smart one) welcomes them all, and feels overwhelmed at the same time.

Although the novel could have used better character development, Close captures the emotional nuances of the family members well. There’s nothing extraordinary here, in fact it’s quite ordinary, but that’s what makes it a good read, Close’s ability to write about everyday life and how we muddle through, with a little help from our family.