“How are you?”
The answer to this question is so nauseatingly predictable. My programmed response is to light up with a great big smiling “Good.” Sometimes it might be “Great” or “Pretty good.” I use “Okay” if I can’t muster a smile at all. I might say “No complaints here” if I’m annoyed by the transparency of the question poser and therefore feel the need to channel my grandpa ironically. My classic, however, is “Fine.” That one fits best when what’s being said isn’t as important as what’s not being said. Fine is neither good nor bad. It is acceptable, satisfactory, or adequate. It’s fine. Period. End of discussion.”
Teenagers, adults, young or old, all have apprehensions about this question at some point in time. The excerpt from the latest YA mystery novel, Fine, is Anna’s rants from her diary. Anna Williams was a
straight-A student, cheerleader, and all-around golden child who, one day, suddenly disappeared, and nobody knows what happened.
Anna’s younger sister, Katie, has since drifted through life wracked with guilt, grief, and anger over Anna’s unsolved departure. But when her future reaches a breaking point, Katie takes the investigation into her own hands. Searching for answers in her sister’s missing person’s file, she discovers that some questions are too tricky to answer.
As Katie rummages through police memos, interrogations, and pieces from Anna’s diary, Katie discovers the craft-fully kept façade of Anna. She begins to uncover the dark truths of Anna’s life in the months before she went missing. Unsettling yet hopeful, Fine is a mystery that will break your heart but promises to put it back together again.
AmyLea Murphy debuts her first novel, Fine. The book gives you a sneak peek into the lives of two teenage girls struggling to be themselves. It speaks of their resilience in dealing with the unforgiving, grim, and demanding world around them. Fine encapsulates those life-changing moments in the hope of empowering today’s readers to embrace life in all of its glory.
Partner with Katie to solve the mystery. Grab your copy of Fine by AmyLea Murphy today.
