I really wanted to enjoy this book, but it just didn’t work for me. The storyline had potential, but it was difficult to stay invested when none of the characters felt relatable or likable. Additionally, the portrayal of the “mean” cops seemed completely unbelievable. An officer wouldn't be that rude or dismissive to someone who has just lost their girlfriend; it felt unrealistic and out of place. Their behavior came across as a caricature rather than a genuine depiction, making the situation feel exaggerated and pulling me out of the story entirely.

Thank you Macmillan for the advance audio!

This book was cleverer by the end than I thought it was while I was reading it - though I’ll admit I had a bit of a tough time slotting all the “before” sections into place chronologically. The whole plot felt like a metaphor for Fin and Daphne’s friendship with Daphne overshadowing all and seeming to drag Fin along in her wake.

I would have loved more outdoors sections (climbing, hiking, etc) because it sounds like that’s a big part of Fin’s life but we really only see it in two scenes - instead spending much more time at her coffeeshop job (even if that was technically only one scene).

I also really loved Fin and Magdu’s relationship, as well as the realistic pressures from without (same sex marriage not being legal in Australia in 2017 when the book is set, grief after a sibling’s death by suicide, being undiagnosed dyslexic in a traditional school setting, having conservative parents who don’t approve of queer relationships, etc)

For such a short book, it was really solid