3.5 overall rating

My love for Lily isn't a betrayal of anything, but my denial of it is a betrayal to everyone.

Decadence holds merit as being a great example of complex human emotions and circumstances and how that affects relationships with others. The character dynamics in this novel is what initially hooked me at the beginning, they were solid and overall likable in a I enjoyed disliking them kind of way. The characters were well-built and rounded which made their reactions and interactions with each other feel much more natural within the story. Elise's overall character arc saved the story for me as I was a little dubious at times.

The general structure and flow of the novel, however, is where it failed to hold my attention. I enjoy being confused when reading a novel, but I enjoy being confused about the plot, not where we are in the story or why it's laid out the way it is. It removed me from the story and I found myself frustrated. Decadence isn't linear, which is fine, overall it serves the story well in the building of characters but the lack of clarity to where we are in time was jarring. It took me half the novel to realise that the numbers between chapters was an indicator of time but I still couldn't figure out what that indicator was. Through reading the Author's Note at the end, it became clear, but it shouldn't have taken till that point. I felt there was likely an easier way this could have been executed while still evading spoilers as the author wished. I also felt some of the breaks where in odd positions, some were in the middle of scenes which threw me. The chapter introductions/quotes were a nice touch stylistically and I could see that they gave a little overall snapshot of what was going to be addressed in that chapter, having two felt unnecessary to the story, they weren't serving the plot or the characters in any way, but as I said, a nice touch stylistically.

The Epilogue is another part of the structure that confused me. Generally, the shift in point of view was interesting, it gave an external view to Elise that we hadn't gotten as we had seen everything from her eyes thus far. But I had no idea who was narrating until midway through when I was told, and even then I found myself asking - who? It was jarring. Then it didn't end. We switched back to Elise for the actual final chapter which felt odd. It was an interesting choice by the author, especially when she explained her thought process behind it in her author's note, so I'm not saying it was a bad thing - I think had the story just ended without any direct note from Elise would have annoyed me more.

Besides the few instances throughout where I had to backtrack and reread to figure out where we were in the story, or what was going on (internal interaction that Elise has with Viri I'm looking at you, I genuinely spent a good five minutes trying to figure out where Viri came from only to eventually figure out that Elise was imagining it) I enjoyed the story well enough. Characters make or break a novel for me, plot is more of an afterthought, so Soph Tang's ability to create complex likeable (and dislikable) characters with solid relationships, will have me returning to her work despite a few qualms I had with the overall transition through the novel.

There were parts of this book I would find myself totally engrossed in and wanting to see what happened and where the characters were going. This may be odd but I LOVED the chapter titles and little chapter descriptions because so many of them were "OMG YES! I GET THAT!" which rarely happens to me.

I read it as the characters were in their early to mid-twenties and that angst/struggle felt incredibly accurate and real. I also appreciate the relationship conversation both in terms of partners and friendship because most often our 20s are about figuring those things out.

But the time jumps were so jarring and difficult to follow that I constantly found myself struggling to regain a footing in the story. Reading the author's note at the end was interesting but also incredibly frustrating to know that the numbers meant something the whole time. I shouldn't have to read your entire story then the end note to understand that you, as the author, did have a way of organizing this story from the beginning.

*Decadence* is a beautifully haunting exploration of love, longing, and the ghosts of our past. When Elise receives an unexpected message from her ex, the fragile balance of her carefully controlled life begins to unravel. Drawn back to a town she hasn’t seen in a decade, she’s forced to confront old wounds, rekindled desires, and the impossible choices that await her.

What makes this novel so compelling is its raw emotional depth. Elise’s inner turmoil is palpable—her mind both a refuge and a battleground as she wrestles with love in all its forms. The prose is rich and evocative, pulling you deep into her nostalgia, heartache, and hope. Every moment feels intimate, as if you’re right there with her, navigating the tension between past and future.

A deeply character-driven novel, *Decadence* doesn’t shy away from the complexities of human connection. It’s a story that lingers, both devastating and beautiful in equal measure. If you love introspective, emotionally charged fiction that isn’t afraid to ask difficult questions, this one is a must-read.

Book Review/Rambles

Decadence (arc) - Soph Tang

5 stars

Wholly bizarre, confronting, invasive and uncomfortable - but yet, oh so perfect.

This book was one of those ‘thin moments’ books. The space between Earth and something beyond truly magical. I cannot begin to explain how much I adored this story.

In this book we follow Elise, as she navigates life when confronted with all the ‘what ifs’. This book explores the entire spectrum of what it means to love and be loved and the consequences that pair with that. The trauma that was so delicately woven between the dual timeline and Elise and Lily’s relationship v Elise and Viri’s relationship was beautiful. I just can’t get over at how well written this book was ?!?!?!

It was absolutely villainous at how this book reached into the most sacred and intimate parts of my brain and exposed it all on paper. This would have been a ‘one sitting’ book had I not had adult things to do. The fast paced nature of this story made it so easy to read, despite touching on some heavy topics. The introduction of characters surrounding Elise that ranged on a kaleidoscope of stability v instability was the perfect touch as it added humour to serious situations and an immaculate dose of perspectives to what I would say are very real life situations.

I love how this book didn’t sugar coat anything and showed us that nothing is ever linear and that; wow, things really can be THAT shit but you know what - it somehow (albeit, chaotically) all works out.

Soph - thank you for writing such a raw and real story which may not have been the easiest to pour out onto the page. A truly amazing reading experience. (Also forever thankful for you giving me a glimpse as to an ending where Theo was who I thought he was 😂)

A phenomenal story about human connection that leaves you wanting just that little bit more.. If you haven’t read this book yet, I strongly recommend as this will be one of those extremely reflective and life altering reads.

Thank you to @netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!

Decadence is at its simplest most emotionally charged, introspective novel regarding the intricacies of love, loss, and self-discovery. The novel traces the lives of Elise, a woman struggling with her own demons and, more particularly, her unresolved past with Lily, an old lover who re-enters her life with a life-shattering revelation. Set against the backdrop of urban loneliness, the novel delves into the turmoil in Elise as she re-establishes contact with Lily while trying to stay in a monogamous relationship with Viri.

In poetic language and in moments of restrained melancholic introspection, Decadence presents us with a woman who is caught between the love she lost and the love she will lose. Through the novel, we realize that love has less to do with desire and passion but with what we do in between.

Elise
Elise is an uncooked, introspective heroine. Her emotional nakedness manifests in the way she deals with past traumas, with relationships, and with self-acceptance. She's passionately flawed and woefully human—torn between past and present, hungry for closure yet recoiling from its consequences. Her inner turmoil maps the emotional landscape of the novel, making her a riveting and frustratingly human heroine.

Elise is driven by open-ended feelings, in this case for Lily, but cannot help being in love with Viri. Guilt and shame drive her choices, and she ultimately kills herself in the process.
Elise's internal battle with her past and her inner battle with Lily drive much of the conflict in the novel. Her battle is not so much deciding between two individuals as much as she is deciding on herself.
Elise's internal dialogues are those of a mind in a constant state of war with itself. She romanticizes the past but knows on some level that nostalgia is not to be trusted. That she is so self-aware makes her journey one of painful but necessary growth.

Lily
Lily is enigmatic, turbulent, and carries a silent grief that makes her presence in Elise's life a seductive and dangerous thing. Her passion burned fierce and all-consuming in the past, and it never fully burned out. With news of her illness, Lily forces Elise to confront feelings she's drowned for years.

Lily is captivating but evasive. She's adept at teasing Elise back into old tendencies, and while she never pushes Elise into doing anything, being with her is sufficient to loosen her inhibitions.
There is fate between Elise and Lily, but theirs is a one-sided love. Lily's sickness is an emotional draw that Elise cannot help but be drawn to, and which threatens to get her into moral complications that test her loyalty to Viri.

Viri
Viri is Elise's rock, anchor and home, and sanctuary. She is constant and stable in her loving, unlike Lily who is so temperamental. She's not a fool, however—she realizes Elise's distress and waits patiently but not forever.

Viri and Elise’s relationship is built on love, trust, and small, everyday moments of intimacy. Yet, the weight of Elise’s unresolved past strains their connection. There is a quiet sadness in Viri’s acceptance, but she never stops hoping Elise will choose their present over a past that no longer exists.

Side Characters
Jen (Lily's stepmother) is a straight-talking but affectionate presence, a mother figure to Lily and Elise alike. She gives us some humour and some wisdom.
Matty (Elise's friend) is the voice of reason, grounding Elise with humour and honesty. The friendship is a pleasant counterbalance to the emotional melodrama of the main action.

The book delves into various forms of love—the passionate and wild, the stable and secure, the healing and the destructive. It asks: Is it possible to love more than one person simultaneously? And if so, then what is that love?

Elise's journey is one of discovery that the past is not quite as beautiful as we remember. Nostalgia is tempting, but it is most often a misrepresentation of the truth. Decadence is presenting readers with the danger of idealizing what is lost.

Elise is beset by guilt—guilt for staying, for leaving, for being so fragile, for not being sensitive enough. The novel heart-wrenchingly illustrates self-forgiveness as a more difficult feat than forgiving others.

Lily's illness casts a shadow over the novel, forcing Elise to confront the finality of death. But Decadence is not merely a novel about grieving a person; it's grieving those persons we've lost.

Soph Tang's prose is lovely. It's lyrical without being navel-gazing, poetic without being effusive. It's an emotional journey every sentence of the way, and the imagery and symbolism at work give even the everyday moments multiplicities of meaning.

The non-linearity of the novel's narration is indicative of the untidiness of Elise's emotions. The novel flows continuously from the past to the present, carrying with it the reader into a life that's as close as a reader can get to experiencing Elise's memories.

The book is suffused with nostalgia. There's a dreaminess to Elise's tale, where past and present merge. The cityscape, late-night phone calls, and reflective moments of silence fill the book with a melancholic but comforting atmosphere.

Decadence is a novel's lingerer. It is not only a novel about love and heartbreak—it is a novel about being human, desiring, regretting, and recovering. Soph Tang has crafted a novel that is both profoundly personal and also universally relatable. It is raw, truthful, and filled with moments that will leave you surprised and gasping for breath.

Fans of books like Sally Rooney's Normal People or André Aciman's Call Me By Your Name will be acquainted and at home with the same sensations of yearning and intensity. Decadence stands out, however, in its unusual form and very self-analytical prose.

Overall Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Writing Style: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Characters: ★★★★★ (5/5)
World-Building: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Listen, if you’ve ever made a terrible life decision because of a single text message, Decadence is about to call you all the way out. 📱💔 Elise’s story is messy, emotional, and so real it hurts—in the best way. The writing is stunning, the emotions are a rollercoaster, and the exploration of love (the good, the bad, and the downright destructive) is hauntingly beautiful. I devoured this book in one sitting, then immediately needed to stare at a wall and process my entire existence. Read it. You’ll thank me. 🖤📖

A story of love, loss and all those what if moments, not done in a romcom kind of way though - this is about those raw, guttural, messy feelings - there's some heavy topics so check your trigger warnings if necessary.
The story isn't told in a linear way either - which can be confusing, but also adds to the chaos of all those feels.
Personally I prefer the authors chosen ending - not the additional extra - I think it's more fitting with the vibes.

*Possible spoilerish* I had thoughts on Theo early on - but this book doesn't tell us - then I read the final chapter on the authors website - that wasn't where I'd thought it would go! And honestly that kinda ruined it a bit for me.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc ebook.

A very interesting introduction to the characters of the Across Space & Tone series, I have many questions still and I am hoping they will be answered in future books as we continue to get more of the characters and world. I really enjoyed the chapter titles and little excerpts prior to most of the chapters. Having the story be nonlinear took a second to get used to but it definitely helped to spice up the story as all the pieces came together into one timeline. Despite dealing with some potentially heavy topics the story still managed to stay light and was a wonderfully messy break in-between other larger or heavier books.

Review will be on Goodreads, Storygraph, and Fable.

Stars: 4.5
Review Release: 14/02/25
Review Platform: Goodreads/Amazon
Review: This is a very emotionally heavy story that is superbly written. It is a mess of emotions that make you think ‘what if?’ when it comes to life and love. It explores the many facets of love and what it means to each individual and how we can experience the many varieties in our day to day lives and how even the smallest amount can have the biggest impact. My soul ached for Elise as I read this story and by the end, I felt a sense of contentedness. I could easily understand the ache she had been feeling during those days with Lily cause I have experienced it myself and that confrontation made the story even more raw. I loved every second of it but please remember to be mindful of your mental health when going into a story like this as it can draw up emotions you might not be ready to relive.

This book was so heartbreaking beautiful.

It reminded me of 5 feet apart, but sapphic and only one is sick. I wouldn't have been able to be Elise with figuring out how to love and lose Lily and leave Viri to go deal with life and then go back? Wild.

Decadence is the kind of book that lingers in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page. Elise’s journey back to a past she thought she had left behind is both deeply personal and painfully universal, exploring love in all its messy, complicated forms. The writing is stunning—sometimes poetic, sometimes gut-wrenchingly raw—but always honest. What I loved most was how real Elise felt; her struggles, her desires, and even her self-doubt made her one of the most human characters I’ve read in a long time. If you like character-driven stories that make you feel everything, this is a great read.

This is a book I will remember for a long time. Don't ask me to explain the book, it is more about the feelings you have while reading it. It is completely crushing but somehow so beautiful. The feelings are so believable and you cannot stop reading even if the story and timeline switch is complicated at times. I highly recommend this book.

This is a book about love, heartbreak, grief, friendship and so much more.
I enjoyed the writing style - it fit the themes and made the book very well readable. The structure, though sometimes a bit confusing, added to the overall feel and was well done.
The downside for me actually was the epilogue and the last chapter. The author mentioned that they weren't part of the original plan and they just wanted to give the readers a "satisfying" ending, but for me the openness of the originally intended ending would have worked far better and I would have preferred not reading the additional ending. But other readers may disagree.
All in all, I very much enjoyed it and I would definitely tell friends about it.