Two years after her husband died in a car crash Sam Daly lives a secluded life. One day, her father-in-law Harold announces plans to marry elderly Marcie Porter. Sam discovers that, while Marcie is warm and kind, her children are unhappy about their mother’s new fiancé. And what children they are! Colin is a spoiled man-child, and his brother Jeremy is a misogynistic creep. Their adopted sister Sadie is calculating and manipulative, while their amiable brother Miguel just wants everyone to get along. Reluctantly, Sam enters this family feud to preserve her father-in-law’s relationship.
HYPHENATED RELATIONS by Daniel Maunz is a story about tangled relations within one family and an outsider who has to slash her way through the mess. The novel plays as a comedy of manners as Sam struggles to outwit the machinations of Marcie’s children, some of whom are more concerned about their mother’s fortune than her happiness. It would have been far too easy to depict these characters as irredeemable monsters. But Maunz is better than that. Instead, he deliberately presents their flaws with a light, amusing touch. There’s plenty of humor, particularly at the expense of Jeremy and Colin. However, even though all the machinations end up with a well-deserved comeuppance, HYPHENATED RELATIONS isn’t about that. More than anything, this novel talks about the importance of healthy relationships. Throughout the story, our protagonist realizes her husband’s death caused her to fear any human connection–a sad way to live. By aiding Harold and Marcie, Sam opens up to people again. But there’s an important caveat here: people shouldn’t have to tolerate the obnoxious behavior of others just because they’re anxious about abandonment. There are worse things than being alone. Even as she keeps his greedy siblings at bay, Sam helps Miguel realize he deserves more from his family.
HYPHENATED RELATIONS by Daniel Maunz is a warm, humorous novel about family, love, loss, and relationships. Twists and turns in its story lead to a deeply satisfying ending, making this delightful novel a pleasure to read.
~Danijel Štriga for IndieReader