> Skip to content
Play sample
  • Published: 15 July 2018
  • ISBN: 9780525432333
  • Imprint: Knopf US
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 320
  • RRP: $32.99

The Goddesses

A Novel





The Descendants meets Single White Female in this seductive and compelling novel about a woman who moves to Hawaii, only to find herself drawn into a dangerous and mysterious friendship, from the author of We Could Be Beautiful.

The Descendants meets Single White Female in this lush and compelling novel about a woman who moves to Hawaii, only to find herself drawn into a dangerous and mysterious friendship, from the author of We Could Be Beautiful.

 When Nancy and her family arrive in Kona, Hawaii, they are desperate for a fresh start. Nancy's marriage is in shambles, and she and her husband sleep in separate bedrooms. Their twin sons have been acting out, exhibiting risky behavior. But Hawaii is a refreshing paradise: they plant an orange tree in the yard; they share a bed once again; and Nancy resolves to make a happy life for herself. It's then that she takes a yoga class and is stricken by the charismatic teacher, Ana. Soon, they are spending all their time together, driving around the island, sharing dinners, and relaxing in Ana's hot tub. During all this time spent with Ana, Nancy starts neglecting her family, skipping dinners, and leaving her children to their own devices. But she doesn't care. She feels understood in a way she's never experienced, and she knows that she will do anything Ana asks of her. A seductive story of friendship and manipulation set against the idyllic tropical lull of the Big Island, The Goddesses is a stunning psychological portrait by one of fiction's most exciting new voices.

  • Published: 15 July 2018
  • ISBN: 9780525432333
  • Imprint: Knopf US
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 320
  • RRP: $32.99

Also by Swan Huntley

See all

Praise for The Goddesses

  • "An engrossing portrait of female friendship, Huntley's sophomore novel explores the risks and rewards of finding an unexpected soul mate. Huntley lets the idyllic Hawaiian setting wash over the reader, the volcanoes and starry skies the perfect background for Nancy's self-discovery. Readers who enjoyed Camille Pagán's Life and Other Near-Death Experiences and the works of Meg Wolitzer will savor the slow burn of this expressive and electric novel." --Stephanie Turza, Booklist (starred review)
  • "As in her first book, Huntley is a keen social observer, empathetic and biting at once. . . . [A] gripping psychological portrait of a woman at a personal crossroads. A haunting story of betrayal and forgiveness that packs an unexpectedly emotional punch." --KirkusReviews
  • "If Swan Huntley's 2016 bestselling suspenser, We Could Be Beautiful, grabbed you and wouldn't let you go, hold on to The Goddesses, about a woman who has just moved to Hawaii with her family and develops a friendship with a yoga instructor that gets close--and then way too close--for comfort."--Lisa Shea, Elle
  • penguin pop image
    penguin pop image