Wonder Valley - Ivy Pochoda

n nNPR Best Book of 2017n nLos Angeles Times Best Fiction Pickn nRefinery29 Best Book of the Yearn nBOLO Books Top Read of 2017n nDestined to be a classic L.A. novel.--Michael Connellyn nWhen a teen runs away from his father's mysterious commune, he sets in motion a domino effect that will connect six characters desperate for hope and love, set across the sun-bleached canvas of Los Angeles.n nFrom the acclaimed author of Visitation Street, a visionary portrait of contemporary Los Angeles in all its facets, from the Mojave Desert to the Pacific, from the 110 to Skid Row.n nDuring a typically crowded morning commute, a naked runner is dodging between the stalled cars. The strange sight makes the local news and captures the imaginations of a stunning cast of misfits and lost souls.n nThere's Ren, just out of juvie, who travels to LA in search of his mother. There's Owen and James, teenage twins who live in a desert commune, where their father, a self-proclaimed healer, holds a powerful sway over his disciples. There's Britt, who shows up at the commune harboring a dark secret. There's Tony, a bored and unhappy lawyer who is inspired by the runner. And there's Blake, a drifter hiding in the desert, doing his best to fight off his most violent instincts. Their lives will all intertwine and come crashing together in a shocking way, one that could only happen in this enchanting, dangerous city.n nWonder Valley is a swirling mix of angst, violence, heartache, and yearning--a masterpiece by a writer on the rise.n