The Ingenue

I received an advance reader’s copy of The Ingenue by Rachel Kapelke-Dale from the publisher (St. Martin’s Press). The Ingenue is scheduled for release on December 6, 2022.

Saskia is The Ingenue. Well, she used to be. She is a former piano prodigy who is returning home after her mother’s death. Saskia expects to inherit the family home, and is surprised when her mother’s will leaves the house to a man from Saskia’s past. Saskia is forced to face her past as she fights to keep her family legacy.

Saskia is an intriguing main character. In the present of the story, Saskia is 37, looking back at her teenage self. She is wrestling with what it means to become an adult. As a child, she was exceptional, a miracle of a piano prodigy. She was the focus of attention. When she turned eighteen, she struggled with the loss of her exceptionality, becoming just another skilled adult who no longer holds the same appeal she did as a child. We see Saskia struggle both as a child and as an adult to interact with her parents, peers, and love interests. It was easy for me to see her flaws and feel for her as she struggled to make choices that were in her best interests.

The plot of this novel is largely about Saskia’s internal struggles, but also features her struggle to keep her childhood home from going to a man she has realized has done horrible things to her and others. While there are no big mysteries in the plot, we do feel uncertain throughout regarding what lengths Saskia will go to get what she deserves (and give others what they deserve). As I was reading, I couldn’t imagine the right ending for Saskia. Luckily for me, Kapelke-Dale did know the right ending. While not every question was answered, I left with the feeling that Saskia would be able to finally move forward, leaving her prodigal past behind.

Overall, The Ingenue is a fascinating look at what it means to outgrow an exceptional childhood and become an ordinary adult. I would recommend this novel to readers who found My Dark Vanessa powerful.