A dark and introspective story on pain, self discovery, and traumatic memories. Please read the trigger warnings before reading this book.

Alex Nguyen, a chronically ill college student, seemingly lost everything after an attempt that left her hospitalized. She is given a second chance when an old friend offers her a job to house sit an empty mansion over the summer on a remote island. Alex must find herself, with the help of the community, before dark events threaten to ruin her second chance at life.

This story paints a beautiful yet haunting picture of life when all hope is lost. It has friendship and love woven between memories of trauma and pain. I caution those who read this, as I found it hard to read at times. The ending is beautiful, as are you and your life. Take care of yourself, dear reader.

Thank you to Netgalley and ECW Press for this ARC.

This book lacks a content advisory but features potentially triggering content. Here are my content warnings: intimate partner violence, suicide attempts & suicidal ideation, mental illness (paranoia), transphobia and other violence against LGBTQ+, medical institutionalization, financial & food insecurity.

Note on pronoun use: Alex is referred to as she/her through most of the book and they/them later. I am using she/her because that is the pronoun used in the book’s description, and the shift in pronouns later relates to a major plot point.

Alex Nguyen, the MC, is the most interesting part of the book. She has several intersecting identities that impact her life in various ways, and following her mindset as she navigates them and trauma of her experiences often feels emotionally true.

The main issues I had with this book are the pacing and plot. It drags through each section, with very little driving the action forward. Relatedly, sections may appear chronologically, but they don’t build a clear narrative. It’s feels more like a reel of highlights that Alex experiences, which I can attribute to her mindset coloring events. I still found the jumps between sections confusing as topics shifted with little transition and seemingly important plot points dropped with no explanation.

DNF - This was a case of me not being the right reader for this story. I found the beginning drag in a melodramatic way that I do not necessarily enjoy reading. With that being said, the right reader will adore this one.

This book delves into identity, wealth, and survival through Alex's compelling queer journey on a remote gulf island. The close-knit community setting adds depth, exploring race and queerness authentically. Alex's hope-filled summer job at a lavish mansion brings growth and opportunity to the narrative. It's a powerful story of overcoming adversity and embracing one's true self, making it a highly recommended, thought-provoking read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

This book definitely felt very tense with elements of darkness and suspense throughout. Definitely recommend it.