The Butterfly Effect

By: Rachel Mans McKenny

Narrated by: Carly Robins

Is there such a thing as an antisocial butterfly? If there were, Greta Oto would know about it - and totally relate. An entomologist, she far prefers the company of bugs to humans, and that's okay - people don't seem to like her all that much anyway, with the exception of her twin brother, Danny. But they've recently had a falling out, so when she lands a research gig in the rain forest, she leaves it all behind.

But then Greta learns that Danny has suffered an aneurysm and is hospitalized, so she abandons her research and hurries home to be there for him. But there's only so much she can do, and unfortunately just like insects, humans don't stay cooped up in their hives either - they buzz about and...socialize. Coming home means confronting all that she left behind, including her lousy soon-to-be sister-in-law, her estranged mother, and her ex-boyfriend Brandon, who has conveniently found a new non-lab-exclusive partner with shiny hair and perfect teeth who can actually remember the names of people she meets.

Brandon runs the only butterfly conservatory in town, and her dissertation is now in jeopardy. So being back home? It's creating chaos in Greta's perfectly catalogued and compartmentalized world.

The Butterfly Effect is an honest tale of self-discovery about the behavior of bugs (and people), how they can be altered by high-pressure climates and confused by breakdowns in communication, and, most importantly, how they can rehabilitate themselves and each other.

©2020 Rachel Mans McKenny (P)2020 Dreamscape Media, LLC

A truly enjoyable listen

An absolutely delightful blend of science and human chemistry, with several shakes of family dynamics, health challenges, love, and loss all thrown in. Carly Robbins offers a terrific narration that feels just right for this story.

Quirky Fun!

Quirky Greta, who enjoys butterflies and ants more than people, has to come out of her shell and help out when her twin brother Danny has an aneurysm. She has to learn how to navigate through and mend relationships with her mother, her brother’s fiancé, an ex-boyfriend, and a classmate. Great debut novel and great narrating on the audio.

A delightful novel!

Well researched. Keeps moving. Story is well worth investing in. I enjoyed the narration as well. Would recommend.