For real, this book should just be titled "Why Women Choose the Bear, but Not All Men.

I asked my husband to choose a book from my physical TBR because I was in a mood. He grabbed this one and said, "Sounds kinda wild, and the cover is cool". Honestly, I think he just snatched the first one he saw 👀

Well, he did good because I loved every moment of this book. I think it's a bit on the slow side BUT not in a 'bad pacing' way; more like the story needs to be slowed down to let the reader feel everything. Goose and Roo, older sister and lil brother, live with their mother and disabled aunt in a commune-type set up in the redwoods of northern California, which was established in the mid-1800s by a woman escaping her husband. The community is meant for women and only allows a few select males. After an unexpected death, the commune's safety and secrets are at risk.

The first few pages remind me of those funny video shorts where the comments say, "It just keeps getting weirder the more you watch." *inserts Stepbrother's gif of Will Ferrel saying, "What is this? What's happening?" And, before you start saying, "Well, this sounds too strange," Nah, stop, come back—this is what draws you in and shackles you until you finish the book because you need to know what happens.

A great coming-of-age story and a hard look at the idea of "If we protect ourselves by shutting the world out, does that really help?"