Professionally, Stevie Green helps calm other people when their lives are in chaos. Personally, her own life is a mess. Getting Clean with Stevie Green, the witty and fast-paced third novel from Swan Huntley (We Could Be Beautiful), looks at addiction, self-sufficiency and sexuality from the point of view of 37-year-old Stevie, who is struggling to build a life for herself in the wake of the high school scandal that derailed her promising future 20 years ago. After waking up in yet another stranger's bed and finally swearing off drinking for good, Stevie moves back in with her mother in her hometown of La Jolla, Calif., and starts a professional decluttering business with the help of her free-spirited sister, Bonnie.
As Stevie works with her formerly estranged sibling, she starts to uncover some hard truths about herself, especially since she is back home and regularly confronted with drama from her past. For one, Stevie is still not sure who is responsible for the very public humiliation that caused her to spiral out of control, although among the culprits is Chris, her ex-best friend and possible romantic partner. The stakes for Stevie never feel high; she comes from a wealthy family and has a solid safety net, but these things have likely contributed to her immaturity and lack of direction. Watching Stevie deal with her challenges and take control of her destiny is rewarding, particularly as she accepts that, despite her best attempts, her own future will never be as orderly as her clients' closets. --Angela Lutz, freelance reviewer