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Soft Spots
Raven Leilani’s Luster meets Halle Butler’s The New Me, SOFT SPOTS is a darkly funny and off-kilter coming-of-age novel following recent college graduate Robin Clarke after she runs away from her family, only to be forced to confront whether she should reconcile with her father when his health takes a sudden turn for the worst.
After miraculously securing a teaching job at a dysfunctional high school, loner Robin moves to South Bend, Indiana, where she’s paired with an eerily perfect Naomi. Freshly estranged from her abusive parents, Robin obsesses over two absurd to be the best teacher at the school, despite never having taught, and to become best friends with Naomi, who could not be more her opposite. Meanwhile back home, Robin’s brother must decide between being loyal to his sister or their parents.
Just as Robin grows closer to her students and Naomi, she receives earth-shattering news from her brother. Desperate to cope, Robin redoubles her efforts to befriend Naomi, spiraling even deeper into obsession and self-sabotage. Everything comes to a head when one of Robin’s many bad choices come back to bite her, and she must confront the limits of forgiveness, the weight of memory, and the true cost of estrangement.
After miraculously securing a teaching job at a dysfunctional high school, loner Robin moves to South Bend, Indiana, where she’s paired with an eerily perfect Naomi. Freshly estranged from her abusive parents, Robin obsesses over two absurd to be the best teacher at the school, despite never having taught, and to become best friends with Naomi, who could not be more her opposite. Meanwhile back home, Robin’s brother must decide between being loyal to his sister or their parents.
Just as Robin grows closer to her students and Naomi, she receives earth-shattering news from her brother. Desperate to cope, Robin redoubles her efforts to befriend Naomi, spiraling even deeper into obsession and self-sabotage. Everything comes to a head when one of Robin’s many bad choices come back to bite her, and she must confront the limits of forgiveness, the weight of memory, and the true cost of estrangement.
11 pages, Audiobook
First published August 4, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
September 8, 2026
4.5/5
If you love weird girl fiction, this will be one of your favorite reads. The fmc is quirky and it feels like a true coming of age story in adulthood. Seeing someone navigate their trauma in a realistic & so very human way made me want to give her a big hug. Loved this one!
If you love weird girl fiction, this will be one of your favorite reads. The fmc is quirky and it feels like a true coming of age story in adulthood. Seeing someone navigate their trauma in a realistic & so very human way made me want to give her a big hug. Loved this one!
June 18, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy for an honest review.
This was an incredible debut by Leila Renee. I'm actually floored that this was a debut novel. There is so much emotion in this story that I think it will linger with readers for quite some time. (Please note: This is a character-driven story, much like most literary fiction. It forces you to observe and sit with the character's experiences throughout the story. In most ways, this is a coming-of-age tale that centers the growth of Robin, William, and, to an extent, Naomi.)
I was immediately drawn to the premise of this story from the synopsis, and once I began reading, I couldn't stop. Like Robin, I am also a Black woman with father wounds, except mine come from an absentee and abusive father. I am also an English teacher, so the parallels to this story were quite triggering at times, but definitely worth reading. In Robin, I saw a vulnerable and at times broken young woman who just wanted to be seen, but not as a burden or a bother, but as someone worthy of love, care, and affection. In William, I saw a young man who was stripped of any semblance of himself as he spent most of his life trying to live up to the ideals of his father. I was just as saddened by his story as I was by Robin's. I think this is an incredible take on what happens to the children of emotionally immature parents. This book forces the reader to reconcile with the harm that parents cause their children while also contending with the fact that parents carry their own harm and trauma. I don't condone the parents' negligence and abuse, but I do appreciate the way in which Renee crafts their characters as tragically complex and deeply human.
I applaud Renee for this achingly beautiful story. Note: Check your trigger warnings for child abuse before you read this one.
Some quotes:
“Apparently, my intellect came as a surprise. People always assume that Black women are stupid. We never get the benefit of the doubt; we don’t get to make mistakes or to let our masks slip. Our silence is insolence. Our anger is attitude. Our quiet is personal. People need constant access to us. But I’m not quiet because I’m dumb or have an attitude or think I’m better than anyone. I’m quiet because I’m an introvert who just doesn’t have anything to say.”
“My father taught me how to read and how to cower from the truth.”
“I wanted Naomi to get that not everyone was as lucky as her, that some of us got our parents off the clearance rack, that we’d received the kind of deeply discounted mothers and/or fathers who taught us that ‘okay’ was never a thing that we just got to be, but had to perform.”
“He doesn’t get a medal for not leaving us.”
“I guess I’d just hoped that if I showed him my scars, he could help me heal.”
“And still I wonder what love is, if it’s noble that we can love our parents despite how they deform us, if it’s foolish to keep soft spots for those who bruise us.”
“I didn’t know that I would become a woman, free in the world, and still carry the baggage my parents gave me—the baggage they were meant to carry on their own.”
This was an incredible debut by Leila Renee. I'm actually floored that this was a debut novel. There is so much emotion in this story that I think it will linger with readers for quite some time. (Please note: This is a character-driven story, much like most literary fiction. It forces you to observe and sit with the character's experiences throughout the story. In most ways, this is a coming-of-age tale that centers the growth of Robin, William, and, to an extent, Naomi.)
I was immediately drawn to the premise of this story from the synopsis, and once I began reading, I couldn't stop. Like Robin, I am also a Black woman with father wounds, except mine come from an absentee and abusive father. I am also an English teacher, so the parallels to this story were quite triggering at times, but definitely worth reading. In Robin, I saw a vulnerable and at times broken young woman who just wanted to be seen, but not as a burden or a bother, but as someone worthy of love, care, and affection. In William, I saw a young man who was stripped of any semblance of himself as he spent most of his life trying to live up to the ideals of his father. I was just as saddened by his story as I was by Robin's. I think this is an incredible take on what happens to the children of emotionally immature parents. This book forces the reader to reconcile with the harm that parents cause their children while also contending with the fact that parents carry their own harm and trauma. I don't condone the parents' negligence and abuse, but I do appreciate the way in which Renee crafts their characters as tragically complex and deeply human.
I applaud Renee for this achingly beautiful story. Note: Check your trigger warnings for child abuse before you read this one.
Some quotes:
“Apparently, my intellect came as a surprise. People always assume that Black women are stupid. We never get the benefit of the doubt; we don’t get to make mistakes or to let our masks slip. Our silence is insolence. Our anger is attitude. Our quiet is personal. People need constant access to us. But I’m not quiet because I’m dumb or have an attitude or think I’m better than anyone. I’m quiet because I’m an introvert who just doesn’t have anything to say.”
“My father taught me how to read and how to cower from the truth.”
“I wanted Naomi to get that not everyone was as lucky as her, that some of us got our parents off the clearance rack, that we’d received the kind of deeply discounted mothers and/or fathers who taught us that ‘okay’ was never a thing that we just got to be, but had to perform.”
“He doesn’t get a medal for not leaving us.”
“I guess I’d just hoped that if I showed him my scars, he could help me heal.”
“And still I wonder what love is, if it’s noble that we can love our parents despite how they deform us, if it’s foolish to keep soft spots for those who bruise us.”
“I didn’t know that I would become a woman, free in the world, and still carry the baggage my parents gave me—the baggage they were meant to carry on their own.”
January 25, 2026
TW: Child abuse, self-harm
There wasn't much I liked about this book--many of the small details felt off. The meat of the story was the strongest part--Robby dealing with her trauma after a lifetime of abuse. So much of the rest, though, did not ring true. Every other character, for the most part, was flat and unbelievable.
SPOILERS AHEAD
One passage I DID like that stopped me in my tracks occurred towards the end of the story:
"The screen flared with light, and I saw notifications that my battery was low, that my storage was nearly full, and that my dad had died."
It was the simple mundanity of finding out a parent has died via text message. As someone who has experienced something similar, this is how it feels--a rip in reality amidst the reality of every day.
There wasn't much I liked about this book--many of the small details felt off. The meat of the story was the strongest part--Robby dealing with her trauma after a lifetime of abuse. So much of the rest, though, did not ring true. Every other character, for the most part, was flat and unbelievable.
SPOILERS AHEAD
One passage I DID like that stopped me in my tracks occurred towards the end of the story:
"The screen flared with light, and I saw notifications that my battery was low, that my storage was nearly full, and that my dad had died."
It was the simple mundanity of finding out a parent has died via text message. As someone who has experienced something similar, this is how it feels--a rip in reality amidst the reality of every day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2026
4.5⭐️ Beautifully read about a young woman who was failed by her family. Robin was trying so hard to make a better life for herself despite it all but this book showed the importance of confronting your demons so you can truly heal
August 12, 2026
“And I still wonder what love is, if it’s noble that we can love our parents despite how they deform us, if it’s foolish to keep soft spots for those who bruise us. All I know is that love for parents is something that can’t be fully erased, and what that permanence means remains up for debate. Naomi was right: We can’t help but love our parents. Who knows, maybe love is this kind of helplessness. Maybe it’s an offshoot of mercy.”
Soft Spots is at a pace of its own. Slow, but do not seek an explosive climax or a happy ending. It is filled with abuse, trauma, depression, hurt, and no real direction for the protagonist as we are introduced to Robin, a girl who grew up in an abusive home with her parents and older brother. The abuse was hands-on, while her mother watched her be a punching bag for years and her brother believed it to not be real. But the anger toward her brother Will may lessen as we learn that he, too, has suffered and still is suffering. With a college degree and her brother Will having a failed basketball career, they work together at Burgertopia until Robin decides to up and leave without telling anyone. In a new city and with a new job, Robin thinks she is starting anew, but that is far from the truth. She picks up terrible habits like smoking and binge eating and becomes dependent on her roommate, Naomi. Robin lives in filth and, with limited social interactions, has determined she will be the best teacher there is, but you can never run from your trauma. While life is already low, Robin does more things that make you contemplate understanding her versus being frustrated with her. To top it off, her abuser is dying. Her decision-making continues to get worse as she battles all these obstacles and a strained relationship with her brother, whose POV we also experience. Hurt people hurt people, and sometimes crawling out of that hole while dirt is still being piled on top of you is exhausting. Soft Spots is a coming-of-age story. It is drenched in pain, and its outcome is so simple that it is realistic because one must learn to navigate life and feelings when you never received parenting or love.
Soft Spots is at a pace of its own. Slow, but do not seek an explosive climax or a happy ending. It is filled with abuse, trauma, depression, hurt, and no real direction for the protagonist as we are introduced to Robin, a girl who grew up in an abusive home with her parents and older brother. The abuse was hands-on, while her mother watched her be a punching bag for years and her brother believed it to not be real. But the anger toward her brother Will may lessen as we learn that he, too, has suffered and still is suffering. With a college degree and her brother Will having a failed basketball career, they work together at Burgertopia until Robin decides to up and leave without telling anyone. In a new city and with a new job, Robin thinks she is starting anew, but that is far from the truth. She picks up terrible habits like smoking and binge eating and becomes dependent on her roommate, Naomi. Robin lives in filth and, with limited social interactions, has determined she will be the best teacher there is, but you can never run from your trauma. While life is already low, Robin does more things that make you contemplate understanding her versus being frustrated with her. To top it off, her abuser is dying. Her decision-making continues to get worse as she battles all these obstacles and a strained relationship with her brother, whose POV we also experience. Hurt people hurt people, and sometimes crawling out of that hole while dirt is still being piled on top of you is exhausting. Soft Spots is a coming-of-age story. It is drenched in pain, and its outcome is so simple that it is realistic because one must learn to navigate life and feelings when you never received parenting or love.
September 10, 2026
One of my fave reads of the year!
This was sorrowful and honest. Compelling and heartbreaking.
I found myself judging some, relating some and rooting for (almost) everybody when all was said and done.
The story did such a great job at exploring why having a present parent and having a good parent are not necessarily the same thing. It also explored in a very nuanced way, the realities of being in an abusive household, particularly one where people experience varying degrees of it.
A very layered, complex and thought provoking story.
This was sorrowful and honest. Compelling and heartbreaking.
I found myself judging some, relating some and rooting for (almost) everybody when all was said and done.
The story did such a great job at exploring why having a present parent and having a good parent are not necessarily the same thing. It also explored in a very nuanced way, the realities of being in an abusive household, particularly one where people experience varying degrees of it.
A very layered, complex and thought provoking story.
August 12, 2026
I thought this was such a sweet and emotionally intense read. it can be quite overwhelming, and I can see how some of the themes might be triggering for certain readers. The book deals with a lot of trauma and difficult experiences, and some of these themes become repetitive throughout the story. I can imagine that making the book feel heavy or difficult to keep up with at times. Surprisingly, though, it didn’t bother me. I was completely invested in the story and found myself unable to put it down. It’s definitely not a light or easy read. There is a lot of dysfunction, family trauma, abuse, friendship, identity, and emotional baggage packed into the story. It can feel depressing at times, but I think that emotional intensity is also what makes it so immersive. If you can relate to even one part of what the characters are going through, I think there’s a good chance you’ll connect with this book. For me, despite how overwhelming it could be, it was a surprisingly compelling and heartfelt read.
September 18, 2026
Immediate thoughts upon finishing: 😭😭😭 review to come
~~
4.5 Rounded up to 5 Stars for Goodreads
This book is a gut-punch. The majority of it is not a feel good book though there were some lighter moments. Ms. N was a hot-mess. This is a coming-of-age story about a young woman (Robin) who did not feel loved throughout her childhood so she's kind of immature and stunted as far as love (both familial and romantic) and therefore she makes a lot of poor choices and has a lot of strained relationships.
I did really enjoy the writing as it was heart-wrenching, emotional, dark and fit kind of my moody needs.
I felt emotional and sad during the vast majority of the book but it wasn't until the end that my tears spilled over.
I really enjoyed the discussion around teaching and finding your place in the world as young adults in the perspective of the main FMC and her brother.
This is for you if you are interested in a coming of age story with some messy, bad decisions and complex family relationships.
Content warnings for a vast majority of items so check those before picking this one up if that bothers you.
~~
4.5 Rounded up to 5 Stars for Goodreads
This book is a gut-punch. The majority of it is not a feel good book though there were some lighter moments. Ms. N was a hot-mess. This is a coming-of-age story about a young woman (Robin) who did not feel loved throughout her childhood so she's kind of immature and stunted as far as love (both familial and romantic) and therefore she makes a lot of poor choices and has a lot of strained relationships.
I did really enjoy the writing as it was heart-wrenching, emotional, dark and fit kind of my moody needs.
I felt emotional and sad during the vast majority of the book but it wasn't until the end that my tears spilled over.
I really enjoyed the discussion around teaching and finding your place in the world as young adults in the perspective of the main FMC and her brother.
This is for you if you are interested in a coming of age story with some messy, bad decisions and complex family relationships.
Content warnings for a vast majority of items so check those before picking this one up if that bothers you.
August 12, 2026
The family relationships here really resonated with me. It's still so rare to see books push back against the dominant narrative that blood relatives are somehow more important than found family. SOFT SPOTS very carefully steers into generational trauma and going no contact, and it expertly embodies what that feels like in the body.
Also: it's really funny! A great debut.
Also: it's really funny! A great debut.
July 20, 2026
Wow! Leila Renee’s debut novel was amazing. There was so much heart and raw emotion shown through this whole story. At one place I found myself even crying without realizing it (when Will let himself acknowledge his past). When Naomi said you can’t miss what you don’t have, I truly felt that in my soul - I have said that so many times myself, coming from a single parent home. Robin is such a strong lead that sometimes comes off apathetic, vulnerable, and looking for love from wherever she can find it. She grows so much throughout the year timeline of the novel. I wanted to read this since I have taught children coming from poverty and thought I could relate, but didn’t realize how much I’d really have to sit with after reading (in a good way). This can be very overwhelming for some due to the context (child abuse, physical abuse, child sexual abuse, parental death), but it’s definitely worth the read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Amistad for this gifted ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amistad for this gifted ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 11, 2026
Soft Spots is such a beautiful sad girl book and my heart was put through a blender, but once I started reading, I couldn’t bring myself to put it down.
This is a story about a young Black woman who flees from her trauma and abuse, only to be forced to face it, even with the distance.
The FMC is self destructive, but she doesn’t actually want to be. Her hurt simply “had to go somewhere.”
Grief is messy, and this book does not shy away from the silly idea that children should love their parents just because they’re your parents. No one ever buries a bad human, but bad humans get buried all the time, and this book sits in that uncomfortable reality.
This is a story about a young Black woman who flees from her trauma and abuse, only to be forced to face it, even with the distance.
The FMC is self destructive, but she doesn’t actually want to be. Her hurt simply “had to go somewhere.”
Grief is messy, and this book does not shy away from the silly idea that children should love their parents just because they’re your parents. No one ever buries a bad human, but bad humans get buried all the time, and this book sits in that uncomfortable reality.
September 11, 2026
I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway. I was rooting for the main character the whole time, but she had to get through problem after problem. Each time I thought she hit the bottom and it turned out she had farther to fall. I admired her ability to keep going and work through her deep trauma. I wished she had closer ties with some of the characters, but the book felt very realistic in the end.
August 25, 2026
"I felt destroyed. I couldn’t bear losing her, the first person I’d ever let myself love. After all, love was not in my lineage. My mother’s love was a scratch of wool. My father’s love was a throbbing bruise. My brother only loved me when he lost everything. Toni Morrison wrote that love is never any better than the lover. This is true. I loved her and how she blazed through life. I loved her in the way I knew how to love: a little obsessed, a whole lot evasive, but still absolutely. I had thought, on that bathroom floor, watching the tiles freckle with red, of this love—my first—and despaired at the thought of losing it. And I realized that her love had transformed me."
August 30, 2026
that line about: ‘god seemed to be wiping his feet in her face.’ - from FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE / WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF
(the luster comparison with this book are absolutely insane. both mentally struggling black girls who are going through it but the characters and their situations couldn’t be more different like huh)
-
always love to read about an offputting and atypical black woman who is sincerely strange.
everything robin went through meant she had almost no chance and she still tried to make something out of noting which just made me want to cry forever. especially because the one person who should’ve been standing next to her in the rot didn’t even want to acknowledge the sewage around them and then told her, too late that maaaybe things stank. maybe. can you tell i loathed the brother’s POV? still, that was an excellent depiction of the treatment of black girls in black families; regardless of where one calls home, the preference for black boys and the misogyny black girls face at the hands of their parents is bone chilling, and for the most part no one in the community ever wants to call it out or rectify it, other than those same black woman
anyway.
usually, when characters come out from out from under the wreckages of their previous anguish, they either self destruct, dive into into superficial self help gimmicks, or completely tap out. in soft spots robin picks self betterment, and takes it seriously. even if she isn’t very good at it. i appreciated that even when at a certain point robin could intellectually examine some of the harm that was done to her by her that prick and the rest of her family, it didn’t really help her function day to day and she didn’t know how to turn that hurt into healing. because you can’t think or hope yourself into being okay and that’s just life. so often books don’t acknowledge this step in detail or characters just ruminate and regret. robin doesn’t, and part of that is emotional constipation but some do that is realistic resignation and just not having it in her to wail. real. also loved that she was so damaged and knew it, and that even her best efforts often yielded middling to shitty results. because yeah, that’s the way it is sometimes. and it was a miracle that she even gave a fuck. yeah im always going to have time to baby a black woman or girl idgaf.
the ending wasn’t what i expected but I liked it for robin. no melodrama, just hope.
(the luster comparison with this book are absolutely insane. both mentally struggling black girls who are going through it but the characters and their situations couldn’t be more different like huh)
-
always love to read about an offputting and atypical black woman who is sincerely strange.
everything robin went through meant she had almost no chance and she still tried to make something out of noting which just made me want to cry forever. especially because the one person who should’ve been standing next to her in the rot didn’t even want to acknowledge the sewage around them and then told her, too late that maaaybe things stank. maybe. can you tell i loathed the brother’s POV? still, that was an excellent depiction of the treatment of black girls in black families; regardless of where one calls home, the preference for black boys and the misogyny black girls face at the hands of their parents is bone chilling, and for the most part no one in the community ever wants to call it out or rectify it, other than those same black woman
anyway.
usually, when characters come out from out from under the wreckages of their previous anguish, they either self destruct, dive into into superficial self help gimmicks, or completely tap out. in soft spots robin picks self betterment, and takes it seriously. even if she isn’t very good at it. i appreciated that even when at a certain point robin could intellectually examine some of the harm that was done to her by her that prick and the rest of her family, it didn’t really help her function day to day and she didn’t know how to turn that hurt into healing. because you can’t think or hope yourself into being okay and that’s just life. so often books don’t acknowledge this step in detail or characters just ruminate and regret. robin doesn’t, and part of that is emotional constipation but some do that is realistic resignation and just not having it in her to wail. real. also loved that she was so damaged and knew it, and that even her best efforts often yielded middling to shitty results. because yeah, that’s the way it is sometimes. and it was a miracle that she even gave a fuck. yeah im always going to have time to baby a black woman or girl idgaf.
the ending wasn’t what i expected but I liked it for robin. no melodrama, just hope.
September 13, 2026
2.5/5
Once a year, publishing houses tease me with books touted as the next Luster by Raven Leilani, and once a year I am disappointed that nothing compares.
Soft Spots is described as "darkly funny and off-kilter", but I honestly found it to be a difficult read as two very traumatized people come to terms with mourning someone who maybe doesn't deserve to be mourned. I didn't really love the writing style, which at times felt a bit too casual and simplistic.
I look forward to seeing how Leila Renee grows as an author. I don't think I would preorder her next book, but I'd give it a shot.
Once a year, publishing houses tease me with books touted as the next Luster by Raven Leilani, and once a year I am disappointed that nothing compares.
Soft Spots is described as "darkly funny and off-kilter", but I honestly found it to be a difficult read as two very traumatized people come to terms with mourning someone who maybe doesn't deserve to be mourned. I didn't really love the writing style, which at times felt a bit too casual and simplistic.
I look forward to seeing how Leila Renee grows as an author. I don't think I would preorder her next book, but I'd give it a shot.
September 30, 2026
4.25/5
Can I just say how nice it was to see a Black woman navigating her mental health and trauma, and for us to really be wrapped up in it with her🫶🏾
I’m in shock that this is a debut novel—Leila did an excellent job. I was rooting for Robbie to make it to the other side of happiness, to truly live and not just exist.
The way trauma shows up in households and in our bodies is so different. I’m glad we got Will’s POV as well. I thought this was so well written, and as a girl navigating her own mental health, I think it’s important that we see these stories being written.
Also, audiobook is sooo good!
Can I just say how nice it was to see a Black woman navigating her mental health and trauma, and for us to really be wrapped up in it with her🫶🏾
I’m in shock that this is a debut novel—Leila did an excellent job. I was rooting for Robbie to make it to the other side of happiness, to truly live and not just exist.
The way trauma shows up in households and in our bodies is so different. I’m glad we got Will’s POV as well. I thought this was so well written, and as a girl navigating her own mental health, I think it’s important that we see these stories being written.
Also, audiobook is sooo good!
September 12, 2026
Soft Spots is a heavy book at times, chronicling cycles of abuse and the long lasting trauma of navigating through it. It gives an authentic portrayal of the complexities of grief and how important relationships are in helping you persevere through it.
It's raw and doesn't wrap everything up in a neat little bow, much like real life. I really appreciated that it didn't force a tidy ending just to make readers feel better.
It's raw and doesn't wrap everything up in a neat little bow, much like real life. I really appreciated that it didn't force a tidy ending just to make readers feel better.
September 13, 2026
Loved that an author is tackling trauma and rippling effects. Four stars because parts of writing felt flat and immature. Overall worth the read.
September 1, 2026
A truly stunning debut! The highlight was watching each character deepen, layer by layer, as the book progresses. Your impressions of Robin, Naomi, Will, and many other characters are constantly being built up only to be immediately complicated, thwarted, and challenged. The narrative refuses simplistic, easy answers to difficult family questions. I especially loved the sibling dynamic, which made for many compelling scenes between Robin and Will. Soft Spots tackles difficult subject matter but gives the reader just enough humor and sarcasm to keep the narrative light on its feet. Everyone should read this book!
September 3, 2026
While the book deals with some heavy topics towards the end, the book does give readers a sense of relief and gratitude. I highly recommend this book!
September 3, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ sometimes things started to feel repetitive and drawn out but it was still good.
Did Not Finish
August 3, 2026Read 54% of this book and just couldn't get where this was going. I felt like I was constantly reading about the same thing.
Thank you to Amistad and the author for providing a free copy of this book through NetGalley.
Thank you to Amistad and the author for providing a free copy of this book through NetGalley.
August 5, 2026
Soft Spots was a strong debut novel. We see Robin and Naomi, new “Union Corps” volunteers in South Bend who couldn’t come from more different backgrounds. Naomi spends every night speaking to her mum, is appalled by the state of their apartment, and is the epitome of a mood board and then we have Robin, who ran away from an abusive home and this is more than she’s ever hoped for. Robin may have separated herself from her childhood home but as her father is dying and her brother continues to reach out, she can’t fully escape and honestly doesn’t have the tools to process any of it.
Throughout the book (told from Robins point of view), I know we are supposed to see Naomi as uptight and pretentious but I could see early on that she was showing up the best way she knows how.
There are significant trigger warnings for child abuse, drug usage, and self harm- please be gentle with yourself while reading.
Soft Spots will be published August 4, 2026 and I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for my review.
Throughout the book (told from Robins point of view), I know we are supposed to see Naomi as uptight and pretentious but I could see early on that she was showing up the best way she knows how.
There are significant trigger warnings for child abuse, drug usage, and self harm- please be gentle with yourself while reading.
Soft Spots will be published August 4, 2026 and I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for my review.
August 5, 2026
Thank you to Amistad and NetGalley for eARC
3.75 stars
I love coming to age stories, specifically about apathetic women. Robin's backstory was quite dark, but somehow the writing is what provided some levity to the story.
I felt so bad for Robin, even through her terrible decisions. Because even when she was doing some dumb shit, I kind of got it. Robin, in ways, was relatable, even though I haven't been through any of the same as her. I think it's more of how trauma influences her decisions that I found relatable.
3.75 stars
I love coming to age stories, specifically about apathetic women. Robin's backstory was quite dark, but somehow the writing is what provided some levity to the story.
I felt so bad for Robin, even through her terrible decisions. Because even when she was doing some dumb shit, I kind of got it. Robin, in ways, was relatable, even though I haven't been through any of the same as her. I think it's more of how trauma influences her decisions that I found relatable.
June 21, 2026
I wanted to like this novel more than I did, but all of the relationships left me wondering about the frequent missteps and failed attachments. There were moments where Robin’s silence was bewildering, and it felt counterproductive to have access to her inner thoughts because it didn’t make her actions any more understandable. The shifting POVs didn’t always work for me either, but I understand the depth it added to the narrative to have access to a viewpoint other than Robin’s. While this wasn’t my fave, I appreciated the care taken to express a less-than-ideal familial relationship. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
4☆
At times funny, witty and full of cringe worthy moments Robin Clarke's life is also filled with anger, depression and fear. For her entire life Robin has been starved of acknowledgement and positive attention from her parents, while her older brother was treated as the golden child. Robin's father would rather beat her than hug her and her mother is quick to point out Robin's flaws instead of recognizing her achievements.
When Robin runs away from her family she lands a volunteer job through United Corps to teach school. Robin is paired with Naomi Tillman, who is her roommate and fellow Union Corps volunteer. Naomi is privileged, self-absorbed, passive-aggressive and runs hot and cool toward Robin. Despite how Naomi treats Robin, Robin pours her attention into Naomi wanting Naomi to be her best friend.
While Robin is struggling with life, smoking weed and binging on junk food her father is dying. It is because of Mr. Clarke's demise that Robin and her brother, Will, have to face how they were abused as children. Robin wrangles with guilt for not wanting to see her father before he dies. Will begins to face his own abuse through long buried memories.
I received an advance review copy (ARC) for free, and I am voluntarily leaving my opinions of this novel. Thank you to Leila Renee, the publisher and Goodreads for this opportunity.
Renee's novel addresses how abuse and neglect impact an entire family. She does a masterful job at highlighting the emotional struggle between loving and not caring about an abusive parent.
Favorite Quote:
"Meanwhile I was told that my hurt did not matter; that I must swallow it and learn to love the bitterness. It was easier to blame the victim. After all, it is easier to punch down than up. And victim-blamers are people who want to feel safe; they want to believe that evil is not random, that bad things could never happen to them. But only cowards blame victims; cowards who want you to be just as cowering as them. I am not a coward, I decided, rinsing the final plate."
Robin Clarke
At times funny, witty and full of cringe worthy moments Robin Clarke's life is also filled with anger, depression and fear. For her entire life Robin has been starved of acknowledgement and positive attention from her parents, while her older brother was treated as the golden child. Robin's father would rather beat her than hug her and her mother is quick to point out Robin's flaws instead of recognizing her achievements.
When Robin runs away from her family she lands a volunteer job through United Corps to teach school. Robin is paired with Naomi Tillman, who is her roommate and fellow Union Corps volunteer. Naomi is privileged, self-absorbed, passive-aggressive and runs hot and cool toward Robin. Despite how Naomi treats Robin, Robin pours her attention into Naomi wanting Naomi to be her best friend.
While Robin is struggling with life, smoking weed and binging on junk food her father is dying. It is because of Mr. Clarke's demise that Robin and her brother, Will, have to face how they were abused as children. Robin wrangles with guilt for not wanting to see her father before he dies. Will begins to face his own abuse through long buried memories.
I received an advance review copy (ARC) for free, and I am voluntarily leaving my opinions of this novel. Thank you to Leila Renee, the publisher and Goodreads for this opportunity.
Renee's novel addresses how abuse and neglect impact an entire family. She does a masterful job at highlighting the emotional struggle between loving and not caring about an abusive parent.
Favorite Quote:
"Meanwhile I was told that my hurt did not matter; that I must swallow it and learn to love the bitterness. It was easier to blame the victim. After all, it is easier to punch down than up. And victim-blamers are people who want to feel safe; they want to believe that evil is not random, that bad things could never happen to them. But only cowards blame victims; cowards who want you to be just as cowering as them. I am not a coward, I decided, rinsing the final plate."
Robin Clarke
August 20, 2026
This gripping novel takes readers on an unforgettable journey into the fragile heart of Robin, a loner whose escape from an abusive home leads her to an unpredictable new life as a first-time teacher in South Bend, Indiana. The author brilliantly captures the tension and vulnerability of someone desperate for a sense of belonging, as Robin fixates on two impossibly high bars: becoming an exceptional teacher at a chaotic high school and forging an intense friendship with her enigmatic, seemingly flawless roommate, Naomi.
Robin’s voice is raw and achingly authentic, her struggles rendered with empathy and precision. The push and pull between her need for acceptance and her self-destructive tendencies forms the emotional core of the novel, while the dynamics with her brother back home add a powerful layer of family loyalty and heartbreak. As earth-shattering news from her past threatens to unravel her newfound stability, Robin’s increasingly obsessive quest for connection becomes as suspenseful as it is poignant.
The author deftly explores the messy realities of forging identity after trauma, the limits of forgiveness, and the lasting impact of dysfunctional family ties. The novel’s greatest strength lies in its refusal to offer easy answers—Robin’s mistakes are painful and real, her attempts at redemption nuanced and hard-won. The supporting cast of students and colleagues is vividly drawn, bringing warmth, humor, and complexity to Robin’s isolated world.
With a keen eye for the absurdities of both adolescence and adulthood, this novel is a brave, sharply observed meditation on loneliness, hope, and the high price we sometimes pay for love and acceptance. It’s a story that lingers well beyond the last page, inviting us to consider how far we’ll go to find our place in the world—and what we’re willing to risk to keep it.
Thank you, Leila Renee, NetGalley, and Amistad for this ARC.
Robin’s voice is raw and achingly authentic, her struggles rendered with empathy and precision. The push and pull between her need for acceptance and her self-destructive tendencies forms the emotional core of the novel, while the dynamics with her brother back home add a powerful layer of family loyalty and heartbreak. As earth-shattering news from her past threatens to unravel her newfound stability, Robin’s increasingly obsessive quest for connection becomes as suspenseful as it is poignant.
The author deftly explores the messy realities of forging identity after trauma, the limits of forgiveness, and the lasting impact of dysfunctional family ties. The novel’s greatest strength lies in its refusal to offer easy answers—Robin’s mistakes are painful and real, her attempts at redemption nuanced and hard-won. The supporting cast of students and colleagues is vividly drawn, bringing warmth, humor, and complexity to Robin’s isolated world.
With a keen eye for the absurdities of both adolescence and adulthood, this novel is a brave, sharply observed meditation on loneliness, hope, and the high price we sometimes pay for love and acceptance. It’s a story that lingers well beyond the last page, inviting us to consider how far we’ll go to find our place in the world—and what we’re willing to risk to keep it.
Thank you, Leila Renee, NetGalley, and Amistad for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Heavy discussion of child abuse. I felt like Naomi and Robin's friendship was very underdeveloped, especially since it's the glue of the book. Just felt like a lot of back and forth on how close they were. Felt like there wasn't much driving Robin after she ran away, like her motivation was gone, her characterization was odd, she wants to be the best teacher but then puts no effort into this job she supposedly really wants.
Robin lives a sad and lonely existence, despite living with her parents and brother, as her father is abusive and the other two do nothing to stop it. She recently graduated college and spends her days working at a fast-food joint with her brother, going home to clean up after her parents and then hide out in her room. She wasn't allowed to have friends as a child and isn't quite sure how to make them as an adult. With the help of a professor, she 'runs away' and gets a position as a temporary teaching aide in South Bend Indiana. She's paired with a roommate, Naomi, whom she sees as perfect, and the perfect best friend.
As Robin teaches at the school, breaks some rules (buying weed from one student, giving another her phone number and going to their home), and tries to befriend Naomi, she must also deal with what she left behind. When Robin's brother Will reaches out to let her know their father is ill and begs her to come home, Robin leans even further into her destructive side and wonders what the 'right thing to do' may be.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
Robin lives a sad and lonely existence, despite living with her parents and brother, as her father is abusive and the other two do nothing to stop it. She recently graduated college and spends her days working at a fast-food joint with her brother, going home to clean up after her parents and then hide out in her room. She wasn't allowed to have friends as a child and isn't quite sure how to make them as an adult. With the help of a professor, she 'runs away' and gets a position as a temporary teaching aide in South Bend Indiana. She's paired with a roommate, Naomi, whom she sees as perfect, and the perfect best friend.
As Robin teaches at the school, breaks some rules (buying weed from one student, giving another her phone number and going to their home), and tries to befriend Naomi, she must also deal with what she left behind. When Robin's brother Will reaches out to let her know their father is ill and begs her to come home, Robin leans even further into her destructive side and wonders what the 'right thing to do' may be.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
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