AITA for not loving this one?!?? (iykyk) 🫣

i’m bummed to say my streak of giving all of abby’s books five stars has come to an end with this one. it just didn’t hit for me, unfortunately, and as much as i love her and have thoroughly enjoyed her books in the past, this one felt one-dimensional in ways i couldn’t click with. i wanted more and was disappointed! truly, this was one of my most anticipated reads this year. 😔

with side characters in this one (aka the mothers of the main characters) having such deep and complex storylines, i wanted there to be more nuanced exploration of the effects of their lives/choices/the trauma they caused or for them to not be included in the story at all. what we got was just not enough to feel believably authentic but also too much to ignore. 

i really just want everyone to go to really good therapy and take a LONG TIME to heal!!! like, please!!! 🤍

oh, and if you’re a fan of easter eggs and characters from other books showing up, you’ll love this one — familiar faves from abby’s other books make appearances! (i’m ready for a whole new cast, personally.)

OKAY PHEW this is tough to say and i encourage you to read it yourself to form your own opinions because maybe it really is just me!

i’d love to hear: what are your thoughts on this one?! 👍🏼, 👎🏼, or in between?

🫶🏼 tw for a parent going to prison, foster care, parental neglect, mental health disorders, a house burning