In Plain Sight
Two young publicists, driven by grief and ambition, make their mark in Chicago’s elusive, but powerful art world. The future seems bright. If they can find the courage to face a dark past.
Vanessa Montes is torn. While grieving her beloved grandmother, she nervously anticipates her new dream job at the Art Institute of Chicago. Her path soon crosses with Shay Pearson, a passionate art lover and driven marketing director, who was overlooked for the position. Despite their differences, the two women work well together and even form a deep bond when Shay experiences the loss of her own grandmother.
Their collaborative debut is the museum's annual gala, a pivotal event that holds the key to their intertwined futures. Seeking guidance, they enlist the expertise of Elyse Ryerson McArthur-curator of the European collection and a scion of Chicago's influential lineage-who wields more power and influence than they could ever imagine. Alongside fellow curator Quinn McCourt, the team begins planning the museum's paramount fundraiser.
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As financial pressures and family duties begin to weigh on both Vanessa and Shay, the gala's triumph becomes critical. But behind the art world's glittering facade, they find the path to success is riddled with greed, jealousy, and deceit.
The allure and mystique of the art world intertwines with the opulence of Chicago's elite in this captivating novel that delves into the city's eternal struggle for justice.
Discussion Questions
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Vanessa fluctuates between authentic confidence and crippling anxiety. Does this ever happen to you? If so, in what circumstances?
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Have you ever known someone who is so ambitious they don’t care what it costs? Do you think that is the road to success or can you still get what you want by being the nice guy?
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Elyse clearly holds a tremendous amount of power and influence over the museum and Chicago’s upper class. What are your general thoughts about the very wealthy and how much power they have over our society at large?
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Chicago’s history, power structure, and even its weather makes the city a friend to some characters and a foe to others. Do you think your hometown is easier for certain kinds of people?
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Shay believes it’s best to play by the rules if you want to win. AJ believes you need to make up your own. Who do you think is right? Can you think of experiences where it worked to play by the rules and when it didn’t?
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Have you ever played a role in someone else’s disaster without meaning to? How did it affect you both?
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What instances of systemic racism still exist in your own hometown? If you live in a country without this particular struggle, what other ways does a painful past create problems in the present?
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What do you think of Vanessa and her choices in this book?
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Did Shay make the right choice in the end?