Review: Home of the American Circus by Susan Carleton
As a fan of Susan Carleton’s previous work, particularly The People We Keep, I had high hopes for her latest novel, Home of the American Circus. The juxtaposition of personal struggle and the vibrant backdrop of Somers, New York—the birthplace of the American Circus—felt like the perfect setup for a captivating read. However, this journey took me on an unexpected detour, as the story didn’t quite deliver the emotional punch I was anticipating.
At its core, Home of the American Circus follows Freya Arnalds, a thirty-year-old bartender whose life takes a sharp turn after a medical emergency forces her back to her estranged parents’ home. There, she discovers her fifteen-year-old niece, Aubrey, living in the crumbling space, both grappling with their pasts and trying to reconnect. I appreciated Carleton’s nod to the town’s history with Bailey’s elephant, Bet, as it added depth to the narrative and served as a metaphor for the characters’ struggles.
The storytelling unfolds over six seasons, a structure that felt ambitious yet limiting at times. The early chapters, labeled Winter and Spring, dragged for me. I found myself skimming through reminiscing that often seemed more like filler than essential context. While backstory is critical in character-driven narratives, the revelations I was eagerly awaiting didn’t drop until we hit Summer. I can’t deny that much of my initial frustration came from a pacing issue; I struggled to stay engaged, and had to push myself through the first half of the book, which I’d rate around two stars.
However, once Summer rolled in, the narrative blossomed. The pace picked up significantly as we finally delve into the trauma that drove Freya to flee her old life. Carleton’s familiar prose reemerged, making me recognize the brilliance that charmed me in her previous works. I was taken aback by the authenticity of Freya and Aubrey’s struggles and the supporting cast who oscillated between being pillars of support and sources of disappointment. Even though many questions lingered, the second half of the book offered a glimmer of redemption, landing it a solid four stars.
As I reflect on my reading experience, I can’t help but feel that Home of the American Circus is a mixed bag, ultimately leading me to an average rating of three stars. It certainly has the potential to resonate with readers who appreciate deep familial connections and the exploration of trauma and recovery.
For anyone looking to dive into a character study that offers both hope and heartbreak, this may be your next pick. Keep an eye out for my buddy read partner DeAnn’s review—I’m curious to see if this journey resonated with her differently.
For fans of heartfelt narratives tempered with real-life challenges, Home of the American Circus holds a space on the shelf—just be prepared for a slower start before you find the heart of this tale. Thank you, Gallery Books, for the gifted ARC. As always, these reflections are purely my own!
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