Available in April 2023, Cleaning Up by Leanne Lieberman is a story for everyone who has wanted a fresh start.

Jess is stuck living in a trailer park in Westport for the summer. Her dad lost their apartment in Kingston due to his lack of work and his problem with alcohol. She finds a silver lining in a cleaning job she gets while she’s there and has an opportunity for a fresh start. No one there knows her or her family’s secrets. When she realizes she’s not the only one with secrets, her reality and fantasy start to meld into one, making for some really cringeworthy moments.

The story of Jess would not be terribly uncommon. There are many families torn apart and struggling due to addictions so many readers will feel seen through this story and others will gain a better understanding of what their peers may be experiencing. There is such a freedom in going to a new place where people don’t know your baggage. It’s an opportunity to reinvent yourself, as Jess attempts to. 

I like that this story is messy. Jess makes some pretty big stumbles in her reinvention and at times I was cringing with second hand embarrassment. I love stories where you just want to reach through the pages and give the main character’s head a shake. Leanne Lieberman creates some epic moments throughout the book. She also creates some real beauty with her words. The descriptions of the Secret Garden’s in Jess’ head and her love of outdoors and nature are inspiring. It’s a reminder that everyone has a different path and a different journey in life. Her characters are believable and authentic, even Quinn who only exists in the story as entries in a diary.

I appreciated that Jess had trusted adults in her life but also people who called her out when she made a mistake. I also felt that the element of addiction was honest and eye opening. I appreciated how Jess adamantly stayed away from it because of a potential predisposition to addiction. We forget, when we are young, that people are allowed to make choices for themselves and we should not be forcing our experiences and choices on others. I hope that young people reading will feel more empowered to say no to drugs and alcohol and not have to constantly explain their choices. I think adults could use this lesson at times too.

Cleaning Up is a fantastic read, perfect for the spring/summer reading season.