Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was just much too smart for me, and I also felt like it also wasn’t that smart at the same time?

I’m not really sure how to explain that reading experience, but I overall just didn’t really enjoy it.

I loved this book. Such a quietly powerful story about coercion and gaslighting in a relationship. This is brilliantly written and so tense that I really regretted every minute that I didn’t spend reading it. I raced through it.

This book was hard to read.

Emotionally heavy from start to finish, I think this might be the most realistic portrayal of an emotionally and verbally abusive relationship that I've ever read. I just wanted to reach in and hug Sorcha. There were so many lines in this book that broke my heart and will sit with me for a very long time. My only real complaint is that the ending felt really rushed- I'd have liked to have some more time and development there.

Sorcha, with a history of abusive relationships finds herself in another with Chris, the 90s heartthrob like woman of her dreams, and then isolated from friends and family, she has to figure out how to escape and make a new life.

I really liked this book about the quiet banality and domesticity of abuse and how it’s not always black eyes. How controlling Chris was and how the cycle of abuse continues. But more than that I enjoyed the way Sorcha, after finding love from friends and other family is able to bloom and grow and escape.

This was well written and really interesting.

This was a very engrossing book that tackled difficult themes with a lot of care. I read this in a few hours in one sitting, I couldn’t put it down!

this was a great book! I think it was extremely well written, it had so many good scenes, and it kept me entertained the whole time!! It was so well written, I love the connections the characters had, and how the story flowed. I think it is extremely good!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

The thing I enjoyed most about this book was that it's a first person narrative written without the use of quotations and it was very easy to follow (not an easy thing to do). I really wish that I would've been able to connect with the character more because it was a really easy read.

What the book is:
🔘 Sorcha is a thirty one year old woman who wants emotional growth, to be in an adult relationship, and most of all to have a baby. The partner she chooses is an incredibly flawed and emotionally abusive woman called Chris.
🔘 As a birthing parent who is married to a woman, I feel that the parts of the book dealing with non-birthing parents custody/rights could've been handled better. This was one of the many places that the book felt decidedly heteronormative which was odd for a book with so many LGBTQ+ characters.
🔘 Sorcha does not evolve as a character which was frustrating. I absolutely do not understand how the tipping point for Sorcha to cut her crappy family from her life is that they continue to misgender her best friend Ruth. Though when Chris makes a totally inappropriate and incorrect gender reference to Ruth, it's not equally transformative. Ruth is more family than her crappy family, so that was confusing for me.
🔘 Agnes was the absolute best character in this novel.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I can see this becoming a big movie one day. Burnet's writing feels considered and thoughtful. The lacing in of Gaelic and Sorcha's explorations of her roots provides strong support for her personal growth throughout the novel. The changes of scenery and their subsequent pace changes also helped to keep the novel interesting as the intensity waxed and waned much as it would in real life.

The psychological abuse is described incredibly well and provided insight into the types of experiences that an abused partner might have whilst from the outside not raising many, if any, red flags. I haven't read many novels where this form of abuse is explored and I liked Sorcha's metaphor of the little workers in her brain providing constant reminders that she isn't oblivious to the abuse but how difficult it is to break free from a relationship of this nature.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the advance copy of Milktooth.
I really enjoyed this book.
It became my guilty pleasure as I felt like I was reading about a bad situation but it was so different than many other books I read, that I was learning about a new community while doing so. I am not sure if I liked this one or Finding Flora better.......I could go for either on my top ten of the moment list. This is another book that I think some will not appreciate or think is great, but I liked it quite a lot.
I felt like this was two different parts. The first part was the tumultuous lesbian relationship of Sorcha and Chris, while the second part highlighted the fears of Sorcha as she considers the rest of her life.
The guilty pleasure for me was to open up the book and wonder what the heck Chris was going to do next to be abusive, controlling and demeaning. I loved reading about it but hated the character, hence guilty pleasure.

A quote, Sorcha speaking: Good morning I said quietly, I made you breakfast. I offered the scones, said I'd opened the cloudberry jam, which garnered a pressed smile. She put her laptop down and folded her legs to make room for me. I laid my offering down and climbed gratefully into bed.
She is like a dog that is looking for a reward.
This quote goes on to talk about how she spilled coffee and is chastised and even then how badly she wanted Chris to eat the scones so that they will have a good day

Abuse comes in many forms. Chris was good at saying the right things to keep Sorcha happy after verbally and mentally abusing her.

Another quote
Chris reminded me that I was not adhering to my resolution. I forgot to clean Della's litter box two days in a row, I left the hummus coated spoon in the sink. And I wanted to abandon her to visit my friends. So I guess I only have myself to blame for her moods. Maybe the cold weather makes me selfish.

I think about this one.....my wife takes care of the litter box and definitely is not perfect with it. I like hummus a lot and regularly leave the hummus spoon in the sink. I am pretty sure neither of us have abused each other over these scenarios.

Then we look toward the second part of the book :
How many women have gotten pregnant in the hopes that it saves or makes a relationship better.
But immediately, she hopes it does not work, that she is not pregnant.
This leads the book to her next phase of her life that will be important in finding herself, figuring out what she wants and what place Chris plays in that life.

I felt like this book was relevant. Whether or not it gets tied up in a neat bow at the end is up for debate, I think it is a realistic ending.

This was an incredible read. The right amount of tensions, pain, and resolution. I fell in love with Sorcha and her journey. My one complaint is the author not using quotations when characters were speaking. A very brave and well written story, with an abrupt ending that I felt really fit.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

So, Sorcha is a queer woman in an abusive relationship who also has a dairy addiction (?). Although her character didn't really pull me in during the first 20%, that quickly changed and I almost couldn't put this book down for the second half. Really, I didn't expect to end up liking this book as much as I did and my opinion of Sorcha did a total 180. This book being partly set in my hometown made this an easy story to visualize in my mind, and because the writing in this book is so beautiful it felt like I was transported to the Scottish Highlands in the same breath. I can definitely see this becoming a Canada Reads contender in the future!

oh my god oh my god i loved this book so much. what a beautiful, haunting, compelling read. i will say reading about intimate partner violence and abuse in queer relationships is so hard and i hated chris with a fucking passion. but the way sorcha emerged out of that relationship and navigated her journey to rediscover herself and heal will always stay with me.

the writing was gorgeous and lyrical. jamie burnet touched on such dark and heavy themes of violence with a lightness and brevity that reminded me of emily austin’s style of writing. i appreciated the small moments of humor sprinkled throughout. i adored sorcha’s character and still feel myself rooting for her even after finishing the book. ugh, i would give this 6 stars if i could 🫀

thank you so so much to net galley and vagrant press for my copy

I think this is a must read for what abuse looks like in a queer relationship. This also made me have very real conversations about what I learned reading this book. I think I would’ve loved a different resolution and maybe another way of exploring what abuse leaves you after you walk away from a relationship. But this was also realistic in that same way!

wowow! I thought this book was truly incredible - so touching and tender. I love a book that has a bunch of adorable characters that I wish I knew IRL. Sorcha was such a gosh dang sweetie and watching her fall in and out of love with Chris hurt my heart - the way she lost herself and fought to get herself back. I never stopped rooting for her and hoping she'd be happy, had heartaches at her childhood memories and saw myself in a lot of her moments. I loved Agnes, wish I had an Agnes, everyone needs an Agnes. I loved Sorcha's precious & queer little friend group - Ruth, Linh, Dana, the lot! and I've never really wanted a baby before but this book made me feel Sorcha's desire for one in such a raw and palpable way.

I also really loved the writing style - it was often very pretty and lyrical but incredibly digestible and easy to follow, it was funny, it was sad, it was everything, really. and I truly loved every second of it.

★★★★☆
(I really liked it)

This book is a little gem!

Jaime Burnet is an author to watch! She manages to craft a story filled with sweetness and cozy moments, despite being centered around a toxic romantic relationship. This book takes us through a whirlwind of emotions; while making us suffocate and hope that the character escapes her torment, it also lets us experience the simplicity of living in a small village and the tenderness of a community.

The characters are so interesting, unique, and complex. Sorcha's way of thinking and her strange actions make her an authentic character that we become deeply attached to.

A true discovery for me.

*.✧Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I originally applied for an ARC because I loved the cover, specifically the salamander, and the Scottish Highlands setting. That was enough to spark my interest, but the plot pulled me in from page one. Easily a top five read for me this year so far.

The story moves from the weight of an abusive relationship to the warmth that comes with healing. The writing is so captivating and vivid, I found myself easily immersed in Sorcha’s world. There’s a natural, conversational flow to the character’s dialogue. The familiarity really drew me in, as if I was overhearing a genuine moment between friends. At its core, this is a story of resilience and the strength it takes to shape the future you want.

The emotional abuse Sorcha faces is written with such heartbreaking realism. The slow erosion of self, the isolation, the constant feeling of walking on eggshells. Chris manipulates her into believing that if she just tried harder, if she was a little better, there would be no cause for anger. If you’ve ever been unfortunate enough to meet someone like Chris, you’ll recognize how well the author captures the dynamic of control and manipulation. Sorcha’s list of things to remember struck a deep chord with me. These seemingly small rules, survival tactics disguised as considerations, serve as a painful reminder of how easy it is to shrink yourself just to keep the peace. Ultimately, this story delves into the lies we tell ourselves to justify staying in toxic situations and highlights that sometimes the hardest step isn’t leaving. It’s t’s believing we deserve something better, and finding the courage to take that first step.

I loved Sorcha’s fiercely loyal friends who stand by her and continue to offer unwavering support. Their presence is a reminder of the importance of true friendship. And then there’s her Aunt Agnes, the kind of family everyone hopes for. I absolutely adored her. Agnes consistently supported Sorcha in whatever she chose, providing both encouragement and the space needed for Sorcha to heal while gently guiding her toward building a future of her own. There were so many tender, sweet moments between Agnes and Sorcha that brought tears to my eyes.

As someone who’s been to the Highlands, it truly does feel like a magical. The quiet, the small-town feel, the remoteness. It’s the kind of place where you can breathe a little easier, where burdens feel lighter just by being hidden away in such a beautiful pocket of the world. The author captured that feeling so well, making the setting just as important as the story itself.

I absolutely loved this book, and found myself highlighting so many passages. Beautifully written, emotionally wrecking, and deeply resonant.

Thank you so much to NetGally and Nimbus Publishing for the ARC!

This book was beautiful and heartbreaking. My friends, family, and I have all had relationships that looked like Chris and Sorcha's in one way or another and this book is an amazing portrayal of the strength it takes to live through that.

This books will most likely be one of the best things I will read this year, it was phenomenal and I was so engrossed in the book that I had read 90% before I realised I had to go to bed!

We meet Sorcha who now in her 30’s wants to settle down after her 20’s that had hook ups with no long lasting presence. She meets Chris at a farmers market and swoons into a very quick and very serious relationship.

This book at times was emotionally heartbreaking as slowly we start to see maybe Chris ‘mood’ is rather unstable (mood is a generous term I am using), the sharpness to Chris responses with gaslight put downs to Sorcha that are upsetting plus emotionally abusive. Sorcha comes from a religious background and in places she thinks she can save her by being better - honestly at stages I wanted to pick Sorcha up and throat punch Chris. Chris if you have met one in the real world the portrayal is spot on.

There is a merry band of friends who are fantastic but become isolated out of Sorcha life so she seeks small escapism through her work and learning Gaelic. Chris the living red flag can provide the one thing that Sorcha wants and that is a baby. However upon realising she was successful at getting pregnant has an epiphany moment and realises she cannot go on with Chris.

This leads to a wonderful reunion with her Aunt Agnes’s who wraps her up in love and understand in her escape to Scotland from Canada, where she hides to nest with her baby to be. This part of the story is so gentle and opens up to Sorcha healing and moving on finding her own peace plus her own inner strength.

I highly recommend this book, there are so many things here to unpack from exploring friendships, found family as well as queer domestic abuse, but it’s well read and very funny to mix in. I will add there is no victimisation of Sorcha. I was given an opportunity to read this as part of an ARC so thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher.

I received a free copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

definitely an interesting read, it’s a bit slow to start and jumps in between different memories of sorcha’s. it was definitely a hard read at times, watching chris’s behavior towards sorcha escalate. despite how rough certain parts are, there are hopeful parts as well. my favorite part was being able to see sorcha connect with her aunt. the ending was a bit abrupt, but made sense since the story is less about closure and more about watching someone start to redevelop a sense of self after going through a difficult time.

I really enjoyed this ARC, although it does delve into difficult and painful topics. The author wrote scenes of domestic violence and manipulation that felt very realistic, and we sadly watch the wonderful protagonist, Sorcha, struggling with ideas of love and abuse, and what a 'bad' relationship is. The whole time you root for her; she's charming and funny, and really cares about her partner who continues to isolate and manipulate her, and you just want her to listen to her amazing friends and the voice inside of her.

Speaking of friends, I LOVED the supporting cast, especially Agnes! There are many tender moments between them that warmed my heart, and I loved the dual settings between Nova Scotia and Scotland. The dialogue about queerness and sexuality throughout was very interesting to me as a bisexual/queer woman, and I often felt Sorcha's sentiments and thoughts as though they echoed my own. She really evolves as a character throughout the book, and I think her journey will resonate with many people.

I am looking forward to reading more from Jaime Burnet, and I can't wait to tell folks about this title. Thank you to NetGalley and Nimbus Publishing for the ARC!