Sometimes, you read a book at the exact right time, and it feels like the author looked straight into your brain or saw all the elements of your life and wrote the book specifically with you in mind. That's how I felt reading The Night Fox. I stayed up late into the night to finish it, wiping tears away and just feeling so thankful I happened to read it during the hardest season of my life.

The Night Fox is truly one of the most hauntingly breathtaking books I've read in 2023. It spoke to me on a personal level in a way that very few other books ever have. I found myself highlighting passages over and over because I knew I would want to return to them, not only for comfort but for a sense of belonging and feeling seen.

This book is the definition of atmospheric. From beginning to end, you aren't just reading about Raeth, you're living there. You're experiencing the beauty of the mountains in the distance, the lush grasses, and the quiet of the cottage. You can see the steam wisping from the mug of tea on the kitchen table and feel the morning mist on your skin. The story completely envelopes you with the stunning descriptions and you lose yourself in it entirely.

The dual style of storytelling is magnificent. I'm always drawn to novels in verse and books that include poetry. Ashley did an incredible job weaving the most heartwrenching poems throughout the tale, ones that helped us understand Eli's backstory even better than I think we ever would have if it had been given to us in another format. These were often the moments when I found myself feeling the most emotional. Stray tears would slip out while I read certain lines over and over again.

There's a beauty--and even a strength--to Eli's anger. I'm sure this is something that will affect different readers in different ways, but I connected to this character on a near-spiritual level. The way that she asked questions more like they were accusations, felt things so deeply, and expressed sadness in such unique manners... all while constantly attempting to understand and accept herself better... it was so reassuring. It made me feel like it was actually acceptable to hurt, grieve, and navigate pain in a way that is entirely my own.

In order to write this review, I opened my copy of The Night Fox yet again to look over the quotes I highlighted. Leave it to me to begin crying all over again while trying to make my thoughts clear and concise. Ashley created something phenomenally magical and memorable with this book. If you've ever felt abandoned, exhausted by your own self, or ready to just give up, you need to read this book. Okay, so I think you should read it no matter what, but I believe it could be truly healing to so many who are in challenging eras of their life.

The Night Fox is an absolute masterpiece and I look forward to revisiting it time and again throughout my life when I need an extra dose of wisdom or a buoy in the midst of life's storms.