FICTION

Fishing with RayAnne

by Ava Finch
Lake Union : Amazon. Nov. 2015. 328p. ISBN 9781503947689. pap. $14.95. F
COPY ISBN
Finch, the pseudonym of Minnesota author Sara Stonich (Vacationland; Shelter), introduces 34-year-old RayAnne Dahl, a fishing pro-turned-host of a new all-women fishing talk show. RayAnne is single, lives in Minneapolis and, thanks to her hosting gig, owns a fixer-upper. She's close to her grandmother but has a strained relationship with her parents. Ignoring their antics, RayAnne focuses on making her show a success. She also starts to fall for one of the show's sponsors. However, before she can enjoy her professional and personal achievements, family tragedy strikes. Finch's skills are top notch, and her peripheral female characters are compellingly drawn, especially RayAnne's sister-in-law. The problem? They're more intriguing than RayAnne. It's difficult to engage with her and decipher why she has so much self-pity.
VERDICT The novel suffers from an underdeveloped main character, but the solid writing and delightful string of minor characters make up for that. Recommended for readers who appreciate female characters, family drama, an absorbing sense of place, and, of course, fishing.
Reviewed by Amy Stenftenagel, Washington Cty. Lib., Woodbury, MN , Nov 15, 2015
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