Wren
Because, my pretty, life is very long when you have so much sadness to slow it down.
First off, I want to give this book all possible kudos for how atmospheric it is. The atmosphere in question is not particularly pleasant to experience, being grey, oppressive, and perpetually laced with despair. But it’s so consistent throughout, and this misery is so well-conveyed. I felt like I was myself stuck in that little town with its secrets and lies, forever caught in a strange toxic fog.
The characters matched the overall vibe of the story: few were likable, but a lot were relatable in many ways, big and small. The protagonist, Frank, really made me feel for her. I didn’t always agree with her decisions, but I could always see where she was coming from. She’s exactly what I would expect a heavily parentified elder daughter to be under the circumstances.
Speaking of those circumstances: the thriller/mystery part of the book develops slowly and often plays second fiddle to the coming of age narratives. But when the twists and the reveal do come, they hit hard. Save for a couple of moments, I found the whole development fairly difficult to predict, and the resolution had me on the edge of my sit for sure.
Would recommend this to those in the mood for a dysfunctional family-focused angst fest with actual twisty plot.
Because, my pretty, life is very long when you have so much sadness to slow it down.
First off, I want to give this book all possible kudos for how atmospheric it is. The atmosphere in question is not particularly pleasant to experience, being grey, oppressive, and perpetually laced with despair. But it’s so consistent throughout, and this misery is so well-conveyed. I felt like I was myself stuck in that little town with its secrets and lies, forever caught in a strange toxic fog.
The characters matched the overall vibe of the story: few were likable, but a lot were relatable in many ways, big and small. The protagonist, Frank, really made me feel for her. I didn’t always agree with her decisions, but I could always see where she was coming from. She’s exactly what I would expect a heavily parentified elder daughter to be under the circumstances.
Speaking of those circumstances: the thriller/mystery part of the book develops slowly and often plays second fiddle to the coming of age narratives. But when the twists and the reveal do come, they hit hard. Save for a couple of moments, I found the whole development fairly difficult to predict, and the resolution had me on the edge of my sit for sure.
Would recommend this to those in the mood for a dysfunctional family-focused angst fest with actual twisty plot.