The Vanishing Half

Brit Bennet

“Stella, the clever one, would have predicted that the town would be distracted. Sun-drunk from the long barbeques in the town square, where Willie Lee, the butcher, smoked racks of ribs and brisket and hot links.” pg. 7

“Her presence made Jude jittery. She could feel Carla appraising her as she chopped celery and pureed tomatoes, as she swept through the party balancing trying of rolled prosciutto or mixed cocktail at the bar.” pg. 140

“Stella sipped her sweet tea, the towel draping lazily across her shoulders, as she headed to the shower. At least the pool would be good exercise she told herself at first. But most mornings she didn’t swim at all, only floated on a raft.” pg. 155

“It was the first starring role she’d landed since dropping out of school two months ago, she told Jude one evening after a show. They were sitting together at a diner across the street, Kennedy dipping fries into a puddle of ranch.” pg. 237

“‘You must have remembered wrong. You were still a baby.’ Her mother stepped forward, the cake behind her smoothed on the top and edges. ‘Come here, honey. Want to lick the spoon?’

This was the first time Kennedy realized that her mother was a liar.” pg. 270