The waning tether between Hugo, Thora, and August in ‘The Trio’, frightened me as I read because of just how much I related to this intrinsic disconnect from others. Loneliness underscores this uniquely quiet coming-of-age, a recurring theme in my own life as of late. Entering a new chapter as I begin university, make new friends, and find myself spending less time at home, has been difficult; I find myself distanced from all that I once thought I was. It sounds a bit juvenile to write out, but being thrust into such a new lifestyle has shocked me, the fraying thread connecting me to friends and family growing thinner as I lose sight of myself.

‘The Trio’ captures this feeling perfectly. Hugo’s isolation from August and Thora despite being so intimately entangled amongst them, and Thora’s constant need to be validated in some regard to feel important, is as if my brain was stamped onto the pages of Johanna Hedman’s novel. Yet, you can never tell whether it is the moments of loneliness or happiness that fade faster for the two main characters. Snapshots of overwhelming bliss are written so poignantly that it is difficult to make out where the euphoria ends and the overthinking begins. There is a urge to ponder what could have been if these heightened emotions were just softened slightly, whether if certain characters stayed together or just had one open conversation, how differently would this story have played out?

The final section of the novel reflects on the three characters grown up; my eyes welled up the moment I read the first paragraphs. Getting old scares me endlessly. Complacency and monotony worry me constantly. This novel so beautifully and viscerally captures my own fears and despite it being so dreadfully emotional for me, this book is a wonder and I will not forget it for a long time.

I’m writing this review at 12am, sorry for the unintelligible brain dump — this book required my attention now !