Cai Emmons The Stylist

The Stylist

Cai Emmons

Harper, Sep 2007, $13.95

ISBN: 9780060898953

In 2002 in Hoboken, New Jersey, Hayden is a stylist at Pizzazz Salon. Newcomer Emory takes over the empty chair. Something about the new woman bothers Hayden and leads her to think back a few years ago before she went to Harvard. Her thoughts are on Arleen whom her mother brought in to live with them. Hayden and her younger sisters Cornelia and Sophie tease Arleen who is not quite right mentally. However that leads Hayden to realize that Emory is an effeminate male, which makes her unhappy. When she was growing up her dad was often on the road a lot researching the books he wrote. Those were the best times as life was carefree; when he came home, life turned oppressive. Hayden enjoyed her childhood until mom died. Instead of returning to Harvard, she vanished. Her apartment is freezing so Emory offers to let her stay with her in her place in Manhattan. She accepts.

Hayden sees Cornelia in New York. Cornelia is married, pregnant, going to law school and lives in Scarsdale; Sophie is at college in Michigan. Finally she accuses Hayden of deserting the family when they needed her. Cornelia gives Hayden a copy of their dad's new book. Cornelia calls Hayden demanding she go to Costa Rica to bring their father home as he broke his leg. Reluctantly Hayden agrees to see her dad for the first time since he sent her back to school, but she instead ran away. She does not know what to expect, but anticipates the worst so she brings her new pal Emory with her.

This is a unique entertaining family drama held together by the prime character Hayden, an interesting protagonist. The support cast is solid but mostly through relationships with Hayden. Although a late death seems too convenient of a way of clearing up their differences, fans of fresh distinctive relationship dramas will enjoy Hayden's family reunion.

Harriet Klausner