This book is a real knockout. At first I was so creeped out, I had to keep setting it aside, but as I got to the middle, I couldn’t stop. It’s hard to describe the plot without giving away Lisa Unger’s big twist, but I’ll give it a go.
This is the story of Ian and Priss, two very troubled souls. In the present, Ian is a successful graphic novelist, but in the past he was a miserable, bullied fat boy—and that’s the name of his graphic alter ego: Fatboy. Priss is Ian’s savior, as well as his eventual burden. Both of them live in a small town called the Hollows.
As Unger goes back and forth between Ian’s boyhood and his present, we discover the defining moment of his childhood: his mother, in a bout of postpartum depression, killed his baby sister. Ian had known enough to run away, but he’s scarred by what’s happened, and his family becomes a sad, dysfunctional shell. Ian begins to eat his problems, and only finds solace with pencil and paper.
After his sister’s death, Priss finds Ian in the woods behind his house. He feels that Priss is the only one on his side, even though she seems to be behind a series of terrible events that everyone in town thinks are his fault. He can’t explain himself or her to anyone. All that’s certain is that he’s the town pariah and his grief-stricken father is trying to pick up the pieces and keep Ian out of trouble.
Eventually, Ian of course grows up, goes to art school, moves to Manhattan, and becomes a successful artist. Priss is still a part of his life. She and Ian sleep together, use drugs together, and remain really, really bad for each other.
Ian also meets sweet Megan, a nanny, and they fall in love—much to Priss’ displeasure. When Ian tries to break from Priss, everything in his life gets worse in every possible way.
Crazy Love You is a haunting story of possession, addiction, and anger—all of them, for Ian, intertwined. For him, and unfortunately for Megan, all roads lead back to The Hollows. As a narrator, Ian is somewhat unreliable— or is he? Unger’s tricky psychological twists will keep you guessing until the last chapter. This is a compelling read that will not only scare you, but will keep you thinking after you finish the last page. Well done.
