"The Girls" by Emma Cline

First novel by a 25 year-old, who seems to have landed a $2 million deal with a publisher, "The Girls" is a coming-of-age story, with 14 year-old Evie falling in with a Charles Manson-like cult, having occasional casual sex with its leader, Russell, but constantly fascinated by Suzannne--one of three girls in the cult who mirror the three girls in the Manson cult who were responsible for the Sharon Tate  murders at the Polanski home in August 1969. The review of the book in the New York Times showed a picture of the three Manson girl murderers and it was clear that one of them had the magnetism that translates into the Suzanne of the novel. The viewpoint throughout is that of Evie, and it is framed by her looking back in middle age to that summer, when she was involved with the cult.
From the New York Times review: "A seductive and arresting coming-of-age story hinged on Charles Manson, told in sentences so finely wrought they could be almost worn as jewelry." (Rather an odd metaphor...)
Joan was particularly taken by it (could not put it down, as the cliché has it). I was, perhaps, a bit less 'taken,' but certainly very impressed by the talent of the author.