As my friend Jen wrote in her review, I am really unsure of how to describe this novel. Set in modern day London, the heart of this novel is the Whitely family. An absent father and an alcoholic and often-absent mother have propelled the two oldest children, Maya and Lochan, into roles of parental figureheads. They have always looked after the three younger children--cooking for them, helping them get dressed, tucking them in and generally looking out for them. The oldest son, Lochan, is a brilliant student in his last year of high school. Sometime along the way, however, he developed a serious case of social anxiety, and is only really comfortable around his sister, Maya. Maya, a year younger, is fearful of what her life will be like once Lochan leaves to pursue university. As their home life gets worse, each of them comes to the realization that their connection is deeper than that of siblings. This taboo subject area is not lost on the characters. Author, Suzuma, has developed incredible characters here; both Maya and Lochan are appalled and terrified at their actions and feelings. Not to give away any more, I will stop here. Well written and intensely emotional, this novel is indeed shocking,