Raven Leilaniis having a very good summer.

I think theres an element of searching for balance that found its way into Edie, she says.

Edie, as far as messy millennials go, is really quite messy.

Raven Leilani, Luster

Credit: Nina Subin;

It must be said.

It makes the novel so utterly readable, to page through the minutiae of all of her mistakes.

Leilani was deliberate about all of it.

Her response to that is to act out," she says.

Her response to that is rage.

Luster, for its part, has had a storied journey to full novel-hood.

Theres an element of, dare I talk about it, the American dream, Leilani says.

I came to New York with a mission.

Its almost like, its okay, I can leave now.

[Laughs] Its okay to leave now.