4.5 stars.

this is one of the most beautiful stories i've ever read, and it came into my life at just the right time. it's a ghost story set in modern-day new york city, about a girl from the hudson valley who wants nothing more than to forget the life she left behind. it's witchy and vaguely sapphic, with a meandering and somewhat bizarre plot that centers around identity, independence, and recovering from trauma.

this book is about:
- struggling to escape a dysfunctional/abusive family
- getting out of your hometown
- ghosts
- the freedom that comes with having your own living space
- generational, gendered violence
- new york city
- the complicated love between a daughter and a mother who failed to protect her
- figuring out what kind of person you want to be once you've left behind your baggage

like i said, this is a weird one. it's not the kind of book that everyone will enjoy, but it was absolutely perfect for me.

diverse rep: jewish and sapphic main character

cw: parental abuse/neglect, physical assault, suicidal ideation/suicide