Wild Game: My Mother, Her Lover, and Me

Wild Game is a memoir that chronicles the complex relationship between the author and her mother Malabar. The narrative begins when fourteen-year-old Adrienne becomes her mother's confidante in an affair with her husband's best friend. The story spans several decades, following Adrienne's journey from teenager to adult as she navigates her role in her mother's deception. Set against the backdrop of Cape Cod's privileged summer communities, the book details elaborate dinner parties, hunting expeditions, and family dynamics shaped by secrets. At its core, this memoir examines how a parent's choices ripple through generations and impact a child's development. The book raises questions about truth, loyalty, and the boundaries between mother and daughter.

Readers found this memoir captivating and well-written, with many finishing it in one or two sittings. The complex mother-daughter relationship resonated with those who experienced similar family dynamics. What readers liked: - Raw honesty about family secrets - Vivid Cape Cod setting descriptions - Clear, engaging writing style - Thoughtful exploration of complicity What readers disliked: - Some found the author self-indulgent - Limited perspective on other family members - Lack of deeper reflection on long-term impacts - Too much focus on food/cooking details "The writing pulls you in immediately," noted one Amazon reviewer, while another criticized how "the author seems to want sympathy without showing growth." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (52,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (2,800+ ratings) Book of the Month Club: 4.4/5 LibraryThing: 3.8/5 The memoir ranks among Amazon's top-selling family memoirs since its 2019 release.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls A daughter recounts her unconventional upbringing with parents whose self-destructive choices forced their children to navigate complex family dynamics.

Educated by Tara Westover A woman's memoir of breaking free from an isolated childhood dominated by her father's extreme beliefs illustrates the power of education as an escape from family trauma.

An American Marriage by Cheryl Strayed This memoir chronicles a daughter's relationship with her mother through terminal cancer, exploring themes of love, loss, and complicated maternal bonds.

The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr A memoir master explores the craft through personal experience while examining mother-daughter relationships, family secrets, and transformative storytelling.

What My Mother and I Don't Talk About by Michele Filgate Fifteen writers contribute essays about the complexities of mother-child relationships, revealing unspoken truths and buried family dynamics.

🔖 Author Adrienne Brodeur was only 14 years old when her mother woke her up to share the news of her first kiss with Ben Souther, beginning a complex web of secrets that would last nearly three decades. 🔖 The book's title "Wild Game" refers to the cookbook that Brodeur's mother and Ben planned to write together as a cover for their affair, though it was never completed. 🔖 Brodeur went on to become the founding editor of Zoetrope: All-Story magazine with Francis Ford Coppola and has published numerous essays in notable publications like The New York Times. 🔖 The memoir took seven years to write, with Brodeur completing 15 full drafts before arriving at the final version. 🔖 The story has been optioned for a film adaptation by Chernin Entertainment, with Kelly Fremon Craig (director of "The Edge of Seventeen") attached to write and direct.