Fastidiously expressed, finely nuanced and tirelessly intriguing, Kitamura’s latest delivers the goods. Not a big book, but one with tireless layers of discernment as one woman, or perhaps two, sifts the shifts of connection between herself, her husband and a possible son. Is the ending too tidy? Too clever? Not sure, but the process was so enjoyable that I didn’t mind.

While I did not think this was the book for me, I do think my library patrons would enjoy this. Kitamura has always done well in our circulation numbers and I thoroughly enjoyed "Intimacies", so I was excited to read this new work from her. I found the narrator too neurotic, but I can see how others may enjoy seeing how this character fleshes out. I look forward to purchasing this book for our collection and seeing what our patrons think about it!

Unfortunately not for me. In a world with SO many books being published, I just don't see this as a must in our collection. Thought I would like this from the description, but alas.

I’m not quite sure how to feel about this one, honestly. I’m an actor myself, so I struggle to buy into fictionalized accounts of the boundaries between performance and reality. I think it ties into a romanticization or magical thinking about acting I just can’t relate to.

Overall, I found the conceit interesting, but it didn’t quite stick the emotional landing for me.

I love Katie Kitamura's attention to interiority. Many passages are repetitive as a narrator tries to untangle her thoughts or goes over scenes to re-interpret what has happened -- her writing mirrors the repetition of thought. This book is a tricky one and has an intriguing premise: a man claims he is the son of a woman who says that is impossible. A book about performance, missed opportunities, motherhood. Kitamura is brilliant.