In Tilt, Annie is having a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. First, she is nine months pregnant and feeling it. Second, she is in IKEA, a giant store, looking for a crib with her feet and back killing her. Third, a major earthquake hits forcing her to walk home without her car or purse. The good news is that the coffee shop where her husband works is closer, but still miles away, so she starts walking.
The plot splits into alternating timeframes between her and her husband’s pre-earthquake life and where she is now. She and her husband have some financial issues but appear to be surviving at least. But Annie does not feel fulfilled in her office cubicle job while still dreaming of becoming a playwright. Conversely, she is convinced her husband needs to give up his acting dreams to get a real career.
The most compelling part of Tilt is Annie’s current journey. You can tell the author has gone through pregnancy. Two according to the Acknowledgements. The descriptions of how a woman feels during pregnancy, no matter how disturbing, ring true. I felt like I was Annie throughout the novel, which is a great achievement considering the scenario Annie finds herself. I highly recommend Tilt. 5 stars!
Thanks to NetGalley and Marysue Rucci Books for providing me with an advanced review copy.