Thanks Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for an advanced readers copy of this novel! 

A solid 5 stars. I loved this! 

My heart hurts and feel so melancholic about countries and cities I don't even know after finishing this. 

This short but satisfying novel follows a young Brazilian woman’s first year in America, a continent away from her lonely mother, and the relationship they build over Skype calls across borders. Although this book doesn't necessarily have the most plot the vibes are delicious and everything I wanted from a novel (very aptly) named Blue Light Hours! The lighting and atmosphere of this book plays a really large part, almost as if it's a character itself which made you feel like you were there with the mother and daughter. 

I really liked the almost outside-looking-in vibe of the novel, you get to hear thoughts and musings from the characters but a with a few degrees of separation much like the two characters are separated. I did love hearing about the daughters life in America and her friends and college life were well fleshed out here, but it was a very pleasant surprise when it switched POV's for the last. bit of the book. 

This book is so melancholic and so descriptive of growing up and realising your mum is also just a girl and doesn't know everything or have everything sorted like you assume her too. It made me miss my mum and want to talk to her about her life and how she sees the world, and how it feels to have a daughter grow up in front of her eyes without knowing the depth of the life shes living. 

Loved the glimpses into language barriers, cultural barriers, the massive undertaking that is immigrating to a new country and all the pressures that come along with that, being an only child and the expectations that surround that, the shifting relationship of you needing to take care of your mother rather than her taking care of you. 

I loved the ponderous tone of this book, the way every small thing is romantisiced like the way the light creeps into the room of both the mum and the daughter is so romantic and important. It poetic and shows how every little thing we do holds so much importance and can and should be romantisced. It's so full of longing, and guilt and love and the feeling of looking back and feeling like we've suddenly grown up and can look behind us at all the decisions we've made along the way that make us who we are. I'm an absolute sucker for vibes and a lyrical prose so if you're also into that I think you'll love this. 

Blue Light Hours was the perfect length. It felt meandering but hopeful but also sharp and to the point. Recommend getting your hands on a copy on October 15th!