This novel stirred deep emotions in me. Having studied art in university, I connected strongly with the theme of competition. In this story, the protagonists meet at an art school set in a dystopian world where two castes live side by side, though this backdrop is only lightly explored. The real focus is the intense, tumultuous relationship between Enka and Mathilde, set within a cutthroat world where creative ideation is tightly controlled and monitored. An obsessive friendship drives one character to twisted extremes to stay close to Mathilde and stay ahead in this high-stakes, prestigious milieu.

A disturbingly fascinating story. A must-read.

Thank you #netgalley, #dutton, #penguinrandomhouse, #immaculateconception