Immersions

by Kyle McCarthy

Taut and spellbinding, Immersions follows the aftermath of a celebrated dancer’s abrupt decision to quit her company and join an enclosed convent in France, and her younger sister’s obsessive conviction that her sister’s ex-husband is responsible.

Frances’s older sister Charley was a star of the modern dance world. But just as she was ascending, she fell in love with Johnny, an enigmatic trust fund artist, and married him. A few years into their turbulent marriage, Charley mysteriously leaves her dance company and joins an enclosed convent in Provence. Much to the shock of her family, she changes her name to Sister Anne and cuts off contact with the outside world.

Frances, a dancer herself, grew up in the shadow of her brilliant sister and is suddenly unmoored without her. From their first uneasy meeting, Frances has distrusted Johnny. Now, she is certain he had something to do with her sister’s abrupt abandonment of her art and family. When Frances discovers that Johnny has returned to New York, she reaches out to him, looking for answers and seeking confrontation. The two plunge into an ambiguous intimacy—diving ever deeper, as each tries to unlock the other's secrets. A slender and twisted tale of sexual coming-of-age and of the deep bonds of lust and loyalty, Immersions asks how we are made—and unmade—by desire.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Art, Adult, Coming Of Age

256 pages, Hardcover

Published May 5, 2026

About the author

Kyle McCarthy is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Her fiction has appeared in The Best American Short Stories, American Short Fiction, and the Harvard Review, and she has received support and grants from the Edward F. Albee Foundation, the Lighthouse Works, and the Elizabeth George Foundation. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Reviews

[Lina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 / 5 Stars
The prose in this book was spectacular but I just felt uncomfortable reading parts of this book. I think that was, in fact, the point but I have to be in a particular mood to be open to feeling uncomfortable while reading and I guess I just wasn’t in that mood. In “Immersion,” Frances’ older sister, Charley, was a big star in modern dance until an injury sidelined her. After some time away from dance, she, seemingly out of nowhere, decides to join a nunnery and cuts off contact with everyone. Frances is determined to figure out what led to Charley’s sudden life change, which means getting in contact with Charley’s ex-husband, Johnny. As the two of them reconnect, they form a tenuous relationship, tiptoeing around the subject of Charley and connecting in more ways than they anticipated.

You will probably like this book if you like:
🖤 Beautiful prose
🖤 A messy main character figuring herself out
🖤 Dance as a metaphor for life
🖤 Complicated family and sister relationships
🖤 Exploration of predatory male behavior

I truly cannot underscore enough how exceptional the actual writing was. It was written in one of my favorite styles where Frances addressed the reader as if they were Charley (we are the “you” she was talking to). I loved how much intimacy that created. I was a little sad that we lost this style when we got to “Part 2” and the perspective shifted to third person. I also loved that none of the dialogue was written in a formal way – no quotation marks in sight – because it felt novel and fun. The word choices were exacting and precise. Frances had moments that were casually cruel and moments that were tender, all of which were portrayed so well through the writing.

I just did not love reading about an icky, predatory man no matter what lessons Frances learned through him. Originally, Frances and Johnny had a complicated connection – they felt almost competitive with each other about who knew Charley better but needed each other as a way to hold onto Charley. But then things shifted and I just felt uncomfortable (even though, again, that was probably the point). I wish there had been another twist to Charley’s story or something else behind Johnny’s actions but maybe this is a commentary on how things are as shitty as they seem sometimes? I think this book could also potentially benefit from a content warning (which I think can be done without spoiling anything).

Thank you Zando | Tin House and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: May 5, 2026
____________________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: I need a romance book break and this sounds so intriguing. It is giving that show "Sirens" on Netflix and I am ready for whatever "ambiguous intimacy" means.

[Celine · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely incandescent.

[Liralen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frances has always felt herself to be in her sister's shadow—both dancers, but Charley is older and more celebrated. Until recently, Charley was racking up accolades as a modern dancer. But then came the marriage, and the career-changing injury, and Charley's retreat to a convent in France. Frances is sure that Charley's ex-husband Johnny knows more than he's saying...and she's determined to find out what that means.

I am fond of books in which characters do messy things and make questionable decisions without being either going over the top (slapstick isn't my cup of tea) or just straight up being toxic. Frances is a great fit for this: she's young and impressionable and rash, sometimes, but I found myself biting my fingernails for wanting her to slow down and be more careful, empathizing with her being young and not always making good decisions rather than...well, wanting to stay far out of her orbit.

The ease with which I left my life convinced me it had never been my real life. (loc. 2339*)

And make no mistake: Frances does not always make great decisions here. Nobody here is squeaky-clean, and neither are they particularly trying to be. This ends up being about money and power and family dynamics, and gender and sex and power (yes, power is in here twice)—but also, it's about a young woman coping with the loss of her sister as she knows her.

One for readers who like lit fic and complicated family dynamics and perhaps some ethical grey areas.

*Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.

Thanks to the author and publisher for inviting me to read a review copy through NetGalley.

[cursedb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is a great example of how effective a strong prose style can be in a novel. The writing feels extremely immersive, sensual, and emotionally raw, which is what kept me engaged throughout the entire story.The plot itself was not particularly surprising, and I could mostly predict how the events would unfold and what the reality behind everything was. However, despite that predictability, I still genuinely enjoyed reading it, which says a lot about the strength of the writing.I would especially recommend this book to readers who normally struggle with prose-heavy novels, because this never feels distant or overly literary. Instead, the writing feels direct, intimate, and deeply personal, almost as if the story is speaking directly to the reader.I also really appreciated the smaller details about dancing and art throughout the novel. Those elements added a beautiful layer to the story and made the atmosphere feel even more vivid and emotional.
Overall, while the novel is quite sad and deals with difficult themes such as abusive relationships, I still found it incredibly compelling and beautifully written.

[sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

thanks to edelweiss for the arc! 3.5 rounded up, compulsively readable and the main character felt very real and complex but the last third of this book simply did not hold up. the bones are there, the first two thirds are great, and this is absolutely an author to keep your eye on, but the story becomes too on-the-nose for my taste and i think cooking in the editing trenches for longer really would have served this book well. alas

[Maddie Marriott · Rating 5 out of 5]

every once in a while you need to read a book about a spiraling woman so you can scream NOOOOOO!!!!!! NOOOOOO!!!! at the pages

this is one of the best of that genre

[Vanessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not quite sure where to begin with this review! I went into this book blind and was surprised by some of the stylistic choices - stream of conscious writing style and lack of quotation marks. In my mind, I thought that these were interesting choices that could mirror the psyche of the FMC, but maybe I was reading too much into that choice.

I had a hard time connecting to the story and only continued reading to find out what happened to Charley. The ending didn't quite satisfy me, but most of all, I was really disturbed by Johnny and his actions, and in turn, how Frances got sucked into his orbit. Not once did she consider visiting her sister to try to find out what happened instead of befriending the "enemy"? The conclusion of the book only prompted more questions than answers. I read this as part of a book club and I'm glad we had each other to lean on!

[Jessica Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been too long since I’ve truly devoured a book like I did this one. It really checked all the boxes for me: taut, immersive, literary, erotic, psychological, nuanced. I especially appreciated how it nailed some of the darker intricacies of female desire, like confusing intensity for depth and knowing something is bad for you but wanting it anyway. These themes, and others like it, resonate through the protagonist’s self-discovery, in both her relationship dynamics and in her immersion in the world of ballet.

[Mel || melodrama_musings · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book set in the world of ballet is always going to pique my interest. Throw in a riff on the Bluebeard fairytale and I am dialled in. Immersions delivered on both these themes, providing a solid backdrop of the punishing world of dance and two sisters who are both bonded and later torn apart through a reverence to their shared passion. The Bluebeard of it all isn’t subtle, but this dark tale of toxic obsession under the guise of love doesn’t exactly reward subtlety. As far as villainous men go, Johnny is fairly run of the mill. He sweeps into a woman’s life, wearing her on his arm and cloaking her in a haze of devotion and generational wealth. But there’s an insidious darkness to his attentions, that are revealed to be a very 21st century brand of villainy. The prose is what you’d expect from an Iowa grad, lithe and poised, every sentence feels carefully crafted but also entirely effortful. It’s beautiful sure, but it feels somewhat disconnected from the story ultimately being told. A couple days after finishing, I’m not feeling as in its thrall as I would have wanted from such a story.

[tiya! · Rating 3 out of 5]

beautiful prose and a really vivid gothic atmosphere (reminded me a bit of rebecca by daphne du maurier, especially in the second half) but disappointing follow-through, plot wise

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a complex plot that is so well developed that it’s easy to follow and absolutely addicting to read. There is so much mystery behind some of the characters at first but then we get to learn more about them and become hooked on them. Frances was a relatable and fascinating character and I very much enjoyed being in her mind as I read and better understood her motives and could understand how it brings her closer to her sister in a way. I was so consumed by this book and the people in it that I find it hard to move on after I finished. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Tory Duffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a compulsive read for me! I truly couldn’t put it down. It offers interesting and thought-provoking commentary on obsession, its motivation and its cost. Smart writing, clever character development, and a well-paced plot made this a solid 4-star read for me!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Remi · Rating 3 out of 5]

i’m still not entirely sure how i feel about this book, and i think that ambiguity is partly the point.

the writing is undeniably beautiful. the prose is lyrical, fluid, and quietly seductive, pulling me into the story almost without effort. it’s the kind of novel that spirals inward: restrained on the surface, emotionally charged underneath, and very easy to devour despite its discomfort.

Frances’s choices felt morally derailed in a way that made me repeatedly pause and think, like why would someone deliberately entangle themself with their sister’s ex-husband? her behaviour is unsettling, sometimes frustrating, and often difficult to justify. yet, paradoxically, it’s also what keeps the narrative moving. the tension between desire, loyalty, jealousy, and self-erasure is messy, and McCarthy doesn’t smooth it out for reader's comfort.

plot-wise, i didn’t find the revelations particularly surprising. the larger truth behind Charley’s disappearance follows a familiar trajectory, and the novel doesn’t hinge on a shocking reveal so much as on psychological unravelling. if you’re reading for twists, this may feel predictable.

but Immersions is more about obsession, projection, and the way romance, art, familiarity can quietly dismantle a person. even as i questioned the characters’ choices and the ethical implications of their actions, i couldn’t put it down.

-------
to-read:

an enigmatic trust fund artist...

*thank you to Tin House for the ARC*

[John Waites · Rating 3 out of 5]

A missing sister, a former dancer turned nun, and a narrator who can’t let it go—that’s the pull here. Frances sets out to understand why Charley disappeared from her old life, but the search ends up saying more about Frances than it does about Charley. Especially once Johnny, the ex-husband, enters the picture and things start to blur in ways that feel… a little too intimate, a little too complicated.

This isn’t a twist-driven story. If you’re here for big reveals, it might feel predictable. The “why” behind Charley’s choices lands in familiar territory. But that’s not really the point.

What does work is the psychological tension. The way obsession creeps in quietly. The way people project, reshape, and lose themselves trying to hold onto connection. It’s messy, uncomfortable, and morally gray in a way that kept me reading.

Still, it never fully clicked for me. I admired the writing more than I felt it. There’s a distance to it that makes the emotional impact feel just out of reach.

Worth picking up for the atmosphere and ideas—but not one I completely fell into.

[charlotterider · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Zando | Tin House | NetGalley for the ARC!

Wow… this left me spinning. Read the bulk of it in one day. Stunning prose, an alluring plot, and utterly addictive in the kind of way that made my stomach hurt. There’s so much ache in these pages. Part of me wishes that incredible build-up had led to a different—maybe more unhinged—outcome, but I’m also accepting it for what it was: raw, uncomfortable, and beautifully perplexing. Had it caught me in a less wistful mood, it might have angered or put me off more (bc genuinely this girl made some insane decisions lmao), but I couldn’t help but drink it in. And while I’ve read other works with similar undertones, this one felt particularly mystical.

[sonam · Rating 5 out of 5]

there is something about this period of my life that makes reading about a woman my age in nyc absolutely spiraling feel so compelling and comforting. and made even better with such addicting and immersive prose!!!

[Hannah Keyser · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could barely finish this book. I know it has okay reviews but it was not for me. I feel like the author was writing the main characters thoughts/words in a very “pick me” manner. It felt like other books I’ve tried to read (and not been able to finish) that were written by men who try to write from a woman’s perspective. France’s thoughts, words, and actions very much scream “I’m not like other girls”. Also I just hated how icky Johnny was. And I get that was the point but I think it stuck too close to home

Also not a fan of the choice to not use quotation marks when the characters were speaking. That’s my personal issue tho

[Anneka Vander Wel · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

4.5 // Immersions is a unique and brilliantly written novel. Despite its thematic and psychological depth, it is easy to read, and is very atmospheric and immersive. It follows Frances as she follows in her older sister Charley’s footsteps. At first Frances wants to figure out what happened to Charley, but she slowly starts to take her place instead.

Ballet is just a fantastic literary concept. It is so intense and full of tensions and paradoxes. I experience life this way, so I really enjoy depictions like this. Ballet is an all-consuming, obsessive, intense thing that can be beautiful and graceful on the outside, yet is rotten and decaying on the inside. The discipline, rigidity, and pursuit of perfection hides its often insidious nature, and the decay underneath. It is both freedom and enslavement; violence and grace. It often can cause immaturity and delayed emotional growth, and can foster an environment of infantilization, toxic male behavior, and unwanted sexualization. The structure, authority, and achievement can greatly harm those who are more vulnerable — it provides something to tell you who you are, but can make you unhealthily dependent on this validation. (I can think of many other similar pursuits – R. F. Kuang’s depiction of academia in Katabasis comes to mind.)
To understand great beauty and to feel immense goodness requires knowing great pain.

The author clearly wants you to be uncomfortable at times, and Frances is morally ambiguous. I love the title, as the book really is all about being immersed in ballet, in a toxic relationship, and in the need to find out what happened to someone. McCarthy also touches on how we can doubt our memory, our sense of self, and our perception of our own story when our interpretations of self, others, and events change. She shows ballet as a performance of life that one is fated to perform, and how its very nature necessitates an audience.

I also really liked the parallels to Swan Lake throughout the story.

The only problem I had was that the shift to third-person perspective in the last 15% of the book didn’t work for me – it took me out of the tension and intensity that had been built up.

Thank you to Zando | Tin House and NetGalley for providing an ARC. This review reflects my honest opinion.

[Kaitie Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ rounded-up.

🩰 Sisterhood
🖤 Gothic Undertones
🩰 Obsession
🖤 Bluebeard Vibes
🩰 Litfic + Suspense

I'm not even sure what I just finished reading—but the prose is sumptuous. It feels like so much happens between these pages and yet at the same time... nothing happens.

Frances has grown up in the shadow of her older sister, talented dancer Charley. When Charley leaves her husband to join a convent and spend her days as a nun, Frances becomes obsessed with the idea that Charley's ex-husband (Johnny) is responsible for her fall from grace and her decision to cut ties with the world. As Frances seeks answers about what drove Charley's decision, she finds herself falling into Johnny's arms.

This is definitely a very character-driven story, and we can tell early on how much Frances feels like a shrub growing beneath a mighty oak. Frances isn't as tall as Charley, she isn't as lithe as Charley, she doesn't dance as well as Charley, and she lives in Charley's shadow, never finding her own ground. There are many references to dance and artistic symbolism that represent finding your place in the world. McCarthy uses stylistic choices that some readers may find jarring, but I actually enjoyed how this was written. It's a deeply uncomfortable read. An overall sense of foreboding is felt throughout the story, and Frances continually makes extremely questionable decisions that add to the overall disconcerting tone.

The main reason I can't rate this story higher is that it felt like I was waiting for the shoe to drop. While there's plenty of suspense and toxicity, the overall execution felt less satisfying than it could have been. After all of the long-winded character evaluations and poor decisions, I expected a more substantial reckoning. I understand that this story is meant to focus on character and relationships; however, I felt that the suspense was built up without reaching a true climax.

This was a good read overall. Outside of my hang-ups with the overarching plot, it was truly beautiful in its delivery. It was a deeply uncomfortable slow-burn. I think with the right audience this will have a significant impact, though I'm not certain if I am the right audience.

Thank you to Zando for the ARC of this book. All thoughts and feedback contained within this review are my own.

[Britt McCubbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

tldr; when obsession eats you alive, can you come back to yourself?
for fans of: Saltburn, Bunny, Sally Rooney, & You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty

Immersions follows the aftermath of prestigious dancer Charley’s abrupt decision to quit dance and join an enclosed convent, sealing her away from her family most of the time. Her younger sister Francis is left with many questions, most of which start and end with a conviction that Charley’s ex-husband Johnny had something to do with her disappearance. Francis gets swept up into her obsession with Johnny, losing sight of anything else in her life.

Immersions asks what desire does to a person – the desire to love and be loved, the desire to be better than those around you – and what the jealousy of others having what you want will drive you to do.

The writing in this book is absolutely stunning. It felt like a fever dream in the most addictive way possible. I could not have predicted any of Francis’ choices and found myself wanting to throttle her for making the most insane choice possible in any given situation. McCarthy does a brilliant job bringing these characters to life, and putting you in the story, figuring out what happened to Charley right as Francis is.

This was a lovely read, and I think anyone who loves stories about unhinged characters will love it.

Thanks to Tin House and Penguin Random House for the Advanced Reader Copy.

[Meg.RecsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

digital / 4.25* / netgalley

“A woman likes to be watched, like a dancer she needs an audience.”

You are who you surround yourself with. This novel was a tale too many have fallen into. Where desire holds you captive and before you know it, there is no way out. A repeat offender, one who doesn’t see any harm in how they behave. A brilliant piece of art.

Thank you to netgalley and zando/tin house for the opportunity to read and review this book in advance of its release. Always an honour.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book is set to give you the uncomfortable feels. The prose is so eloquent and at times the main protagonist feels like she is speaking to you and addressing you. I enjoyed the artistic integration and obsession with both sisters. If you enjoy lyrical, seductive prose I would be sure to pick this up. I was a little unsatisfied with the end that is why it is a 3.75 star rounded up. Thank you Zando | Tin House and NetGalley for providing this EARC.

[Laurlikestoread · Rating 2 out of 5]

Prose was beautiful. Frances was unbearable. Premise was interesting, but the last half of this book was too much for me.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was exactly what I expected (derogatory)

[Lucia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This should have followed the older sister.

[BansheeBibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find myself a bit tongue-tied trying to explain why this one didn't work for me.

Frances and her older sister, Charley, are both deeply rooted in the New York City dance world. They started as ballerinas and eventually shifted into modern dance. Charley eventually become a star of the dance world and Frances idolized her. Even the girls' parents seems to idolize Charley and were open in acknowledging her favored child status. As she neared the peak of her fame and excellence, Charley met and fell in love with Johnny, an artist with a trust fund and a certain dark charisma. Charley marries Johnny, much to their parent's chagrin, and they have several very turbulent years together. Without warning, Charley abruptly ends her marriage, leaves her dance company and joins a convent in France. She cuts off all contact with family and friends, leaving them to question what happened. Frances is convinced that this is all the fault of Johnny but he sort of disappears from the scene.

Years later, Frances hears that Johnny is back in NYC. She seeks him out to get some resolution regarding what happened to her sister. Frances falls into a dangerous web of intimacy and betrayal with Johnny. Will she be able to release herself before she suffers the same fate as her sister?

This book is a mashup of a coming-of-age story, exploration of a male predator and contemporary literary fiction. The prose is striking but it also felt a bit flowery to me. It is very stream-of-consciousness, which doesn't typically bother me but sometimes got a little laborious to read. I quite enjoyed the dance world aspects and all of the metaphors of life and relationships to dance. If you didn't already have some experience in or fondness for dance, I think it might get a bit tiresome.

The bottom line is that this is really a book about a predatory man and how he abuses women. I only kept going because I hoped I would find out more about Charley and her journey to the convent. (You will get there eventually...) It was just a little dark and atmospheric for my taste at the time. Absolutely well-written and I will check out future books from this author.

If you are feeling the need for some really moody litfic that has ornate prose OR if you like dance-centric themes and coming of age stories, you can give this a try. 3 stars

[Sarah Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Zando for a gifted, finished copy of this novel.

Frances always looked up to her gifted, older sister Charlotte "Charley" who was a celebrated dancer. But when Charley falls in love with the older and wealthy Johnny, Frances is suspicious of her sister's choice. A few years after Charley marries Johnny, she abruptly leaves her dance company and joins an enclosed convent in Provence, changes her name to Sister Anne, and cuts off all communication with the outside world. Frances is shaken and unmoored without her sister and becomes convinced that Johnny had something to do with this decision. She reaches out to him and ultimately is drawn into an ever-deeper intimacy.

Oof this is such a hard one to review. On the one hand, McCarthy's writing style is striking with great visual imagery:

"A tall slash of a man, given to murmuring, with something frantic and fumbling about his hands."

"A toothpick pretending to be a grad student."

"Johnny moved like a fox, stealthy and low and quick, and his woman, graceful and nervous as a doe, picked her way through the openings."

"Her face was an ovverripe peach, as if rather than aging, she was going soft."

"Your name hung in the air between us. Your name always hung between us, but now it was a knife I was holding out before me."

McCarthy also makes some bold and interesting choices. She deliberately does not use quotation marks for any dialogue, which gave this sort of a fever dream feel to it. Much of the book is Frances directly addressing Charley. This gave the book a sense of longing and you could feel how much Frances wished she could speak to her sister and in her absence, is forced to reach out into the void, or in this case, the reader.

I do appreciate how nuanced this book felt and in particular how layered and complex Johnny felt. On the surface, Johnny is fairly well liked and appreciated and presents as a generationally wealthy patron of the arts. But behind closed doors and in private, there is a lot more to the story. It is hinted that Johnny had a traumatic childhood and much of his behavior is driven out of his own pain. I appreciated that McCarthy didn't present him as just a one note, obviously bad character. I think the real story is more complicated.

On the other hand, I have a hard time rating this book because its plot made me so distinctly uncomfortable. Obviously, that is the point, but there was something about the sexual predatory behavior and dark secrets we learn that put me on edge. In other words, I did not enjoy reading this or the feelings this book gave me. The whole time, I was uneasy and waiting for something even darker to happen and while I'm glad this mostly resolved in a good way, I was so unhappy with Frances's choices and her decision to get close to Johnny. It felt like both a betrayal of her sister but also a deeply disappointing choice as she doesn't like Johnny from the time she first meets him and knows he is suspect and does it anyway.

I was so perplexed by this book and curious about what exactly the author was going for that I did attend a zoom interview with her where she was discussing this book. It was interesting that this is loosely based on the Bluebeard fairy tale, and I think that makes a lot of sense thinking about the plot. She also said this is a book about seeking information and understanding and that certainly seems true from Frances's perspective. Finally, she talked about how this is about moving forward on your own terms. And I do think that happened. But I still walked away with a lot of questions and unresolved feelings about the book and its plot.

[katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

having many thoughts.... review later when i can get them together

[Avery Richards]

This book was published on my birthday! Is that a good sign?

dnf’d @78%… so maybe not???
This is my FIRST dnf of the year, as someone who never dnfs books. And at 78%? Let me explain.

The prose was absolutely magnetic. I loved the way that throughout the book, Frances wrote to Charley - calling the reader “you” as though she was writing to Charley - it brought out a sense of intimacy that blooms beautifully between a sisterely bond. And like my girl Sally Rooney, McCarthy didn’t use quotation marks. But unlike with Sally’s writing, the lack of quotation marks sometimes got me a little bit confused and jumbled. But despite that, i still felt the beautiful writing truly gave the novel its bright intrigue along with the characters and unique storyline.

So my dislike towards the book had for the most part , nothing to do with the actual book. Did i get an icky cringy feeling while reading it? Well, yes. But i also was just not in the mood for a book like this. I was zoning out a lot and it was quite hard for me to actually get through a chapter and obtain all the information. But if i was in the mood for this sort of moody lit fic with messy characters and plot (which is usually my favourite?), i’d probably have been much more comfortable with the uncomfortable stuff. Yet here i am, giving up right at the end…

Forgive me, I’m trying to become a girl who dnf’s, even if i only had an hour left of the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tin House for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Reilly Dougherty]

I…..ummmm…hmmm…unsure what tf I just read