Book Review: Sunday Jenks

Reviewed by Tomi Alo

Torn between reason and desire, Sara’s choices lead to unexpected places.

Sara Demcott believes she’s found the perfect job—a part-time secretary position for Mr. Al Jackson that pays well and gives her the freedom to focus on her poetry. Despite her friends’ concerns, it doesn’t take long for Sara to accept this new offer, hoping that with time she will find something better to move on to.

However, Sara doesn’t anticipate how quickly her life can spiral out of control. As she grows closer to her boss and gets more involved in the Jackson-Baker Company’s wig-dye business, Sara finds herself entangled in a world of shady dealings and deception. The deeper she goes, the more she questions her morals, feelings, and identity. Will she be able to get out before it’s too late, or will she completely lose herself in the process? 

Nellie Hill’s Sunday Jenks is a captivating historical novel that leads readers into a tangled web of emotions. In this novel, Hill adeptly explores themes such as moral dilemma, self-deception, and identity. 

Hill showcases these themes effectively through our main character, Sara. She is a multifaceted and complex character who, from the very outset, is a woman at odds with herself. Her story is a sharp, evocative exploration that captures the tension between logic and desire. 

In the early stages of the novel, Sara’s contradictions and indecision are maddening to witness. It’s a constant push and pull where she is fully aware of the toxic nature of her relationship with Al, and yet remains entangled in it. This portrayal of Sara is intentionally challenging, as it forces the reader to witness firsthand how strong the allure and desire to be free from our own selves is. Whenever Sara gets to the point where she’s ready to let go, she gets sucked back in by the thrill, warmth, and freedom being with Al offers.

“One part wanted nothing more to do with Al; that part wanted to be back in San Francisco with her friends, writing, reading, taking hikes on the beautiful nearby trails, finding a different part-time job. The other part of her was unable to leave Al; that part liked the adventures with him and put up with frustration and boredom and misgivings about his business life while at the same time going along with it.”

Not only does Hill provide readers with characters who are intriguing and richly developed, she also presents her story in a fascinating and engaging way. Her writing style is concise, introspective, and unflinchingly direct. Despite the repeating cycle of Sara’s dilemma, the novel’s pacing is deliberate, with much of the tension building through internal monologues and Sara’s self-reflections.

“Her life had run away with her and now it was living her rather than the other way around. This business with Al had imprisoned her like an invisible cloak and whatever attempt she made toward release felt suffocating.”

Sunday Jenks is a novel that demands patience and empathy from its readers as it rewards them with a narrative as emotionally complex as it is introspective. The story stays with you, not because of its surprise twists or dramatic revelations, but because of its raw, honest portrayal of a woman who grapples with the intricacies of life and love.

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