“A Good Happy Girl” by Marissa Higgins is a poignant and immersive read. The novel follows Helen, a jittery attorney with a self-destructive streak, who becomes involved in an emotionally intense relationship with a married lesbian couple. As she grapples with her parents’ disturbing crime, the story delves into queer domesticity, the effects of incarceration on family, and twisted desires.
Main Characters
“A Good Happy Girl,” the main characters include:
- Helen: An anxious attorney with a self-destructive streak.
- The Married Lesbian Couple: Helen becomes emotionally entangled with this couple, and their relationship drives much of the novel’s tension.
Plot
Helen’s life takes an unexpected turn when she meets Catherine and Katrina, the married couple who startle and intrigue her with their ever-increasing sexual . Perceptive and attentive, they prod at Helen’s past, revealing a childhood tragedy she’s been repressing. When her father begs for help getting parole, Helen realizes she has a bargaining chip to uncover.
Themes
“A Good Happy Girl” by Marissa Higgins explores several compelling themes:
- Worlds Without Men: The novel delves into a world where men are absent, focusing on the lives of women and their desires.
- Twisted Desires: The characters grapple with complex and unconventional desires, pushing boundaries and challenging societal norms.
- Queer Domesticity: The story examines relationships within queer households, shedding light on the dynamics, struggles, and intimacy unique to these families.
- Effects of Incarceration on Family: Helen’s family history is marked by a disturbing crime, and the novel explores how incarceration impacts family bonds and individual lives.
Conclusion
In the conclusion of “A Good Happy Girl” by Marissa Higgins, several key events unfold:
- Helen’s Revelation: Helen, the jittery attorney, grapples with her parents’ disturbing crime of neglect. She has been secretly reeling from this trauma.
- Their ever-increasing sexual and emotional intensity startles and intrigues her.
- Childhood Tragedy Unveiled: As Catherine and Katrina prod at Helen’s life, they reveal a childhood tragedy she has been repressing.
