Copacetic

by Anna Woiwood

Nora's life is spinning out of control. The hours spent teaching eleventh grade history at the local high school are punctuated by incessant needs she can't control.

But she's in control, isn't she? She can stop at any moment, and she should stop, because her former pupil, Mollie Gibson, seems to be paying far too much attention to her every move.

She can feel the girl's eyes during the Gazette meetings after school, always watching her.

But if Mollie really knew what Nora got up to outside of school, she would not - should not - look at her with those large, pleading brown eyes.

402 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 6, 2026

About the author

Anna Woiwood is a writer of mid-century Sapphic stories. Her debut novel, The Veracity of Lies, was a finalist for a 2023 Golden Crown Literary Award in historical fiction and A Tiger in Suburbia was a 2024 Golden Crown Literary Ann Bannon Popular Choice finalist. She lives in Kansas City with her small cat son, Walter. Find her on Instagram @anna.w.writes

Reviews

[Michela Santoro · Rating 5 out of 5]

rtc soon I honestly can't think straight right now and need 3-5 business days to cope

Edit:

iconicometer: ♾️
spiceometer: 🥵🥵🥵🥵


Why so iconic? (unserious version)

✨ nora is deeply problematic, which unfortunately makes her incredibly hot 🥵 💀

✨ she kept mocking america and I'm so here for it lmao

✨ sitting in your car outside her house just to fantasize about her, what she might be doing and wondering if she might be touching herself 👀

✨ the nile is their favorite river apparently lmao

✨ flirting through the phone OH GOD

✨ strong carol vibes

✨ chapters 33, 34 and 42 need to be framed.

✨ some of the most intense spice I have ever read. so hot I actually got dizzy at some point I WAS UNWELL

✨ I want to give nora the biggest hug, she needs to be protected at all costs


Why so iconic? (serious version)

✨ the writing is so good that nora's distress is actually palpable and I have never wanted to hug and save any character as much as I wanted to hug and save her.

✨ this book is not for everyone. it's really dark, probably anna's darkest one to date. if you're easily triggered by abuse, violence and substance abuse, I would stay away from it.

✨ I loved that, among MANY other things, this was probably also anna's way of mocking america and showing how it was built on exploitation and brutality, and how that narrative has often been flipped and hidden

✨ this book has made me realize that a lot of contrasting feelings can coexist at the same time; there is so much duality in it. if you think it's only black or white, think again. this book is very much gray and every other color in between.

✨ most of it is delicious and disgusting. it's deliciously disgusting and disgustingly delicious.

✨ I keep thinking about this book and I can't get it out of my mind. I'm still in a trance. I have never had such a strong reaction before.

✨ there is no way for me to pinpoint exactly what this book is about and tell you. it's such a layered, dense, deep book, and anything I say about it feels reductive. you need to read it, trust me.

✨ this book is for all the noras in the world.

[The Wild Weary Cow Reads Sapphic · Rating 5 out of 5]

💫ARC READ- release 6th Nov

THIS BOOK WILL NOT MAKE YOU SMILE! 🥺😂...

There are three authors who can break me... Jo Haven and J E Leaks

But the ALL time Queen of shattering me is @anna.w.writes

I've been a massive fan since I stumbled on A Tiger in Suburbia, then - The Veracity of Lies, The People Next Door and Betty Hughes

All historical books set in the 50-60s
All about the women of those times and what they went through... Very much a cautionary tale of how we don't want to go backwards!

Now, these books are NOT for the faint hearted... You won't get Hallmark in these.. please read the trigger warnings ⚠️

These are the stories that rip you apart, rip you again and put you back together, but you'll never be the same.

These characters will play on your mind at the most random times!
And you'll feel your chest ache

I'm not ashamed to show you what a mess I've been today finishing the newest book from Anna - Copacetic

I really don't want to give too much away right now.. so I'll wait for Anna to drop some hints 😂...

Just know that I told her I wanted to Rip the MC out of the book and hold her tightly!

This is a morally 🩶 story... Teacher/ student.....It's seriously dark and gritty but we expect no less from Anna!

AND AS HER FANS WE FOOKING LOVE IT!!.

💋 Thank you Anna for letting me find my new obsession lol Nora

[Jamie B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genuinely do not have words for how good this book is.

[rawFM · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book left me speechless...

Have you ever read a book where the characters linger with you long after the final page and continue to occupy a little spot in the back of your mind?

At first glance this does not appear to be your run-of-the-mill love story, but it truly is a story of love, demons and overcoming adversity. Perhaps just a bit on the dark and morally grey side (who am I kidding? Very dark and morally grey - consider yourself warned)

Woiwood has a fantastic way of writing that evokes the emotions and experiences the characters are having, while making the reader feel those same feelings as they follow along in their struggles and victories.

Oh Nora! If only she knew what we know, and could see what we see. But then really would we have been able to go on this beautiful heartbreaking journey with her?

Thank you to the author for this ARC. I have officially been ruined.

[Frederique Marsh · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

This book took my ARC virginity: A disquieting experience (but in a good way).

Ok, so… let me start by saying that readers of this book would very likely benefit from a comprehensive list of the many, many potential triggers contained within (which I imagine will be included in the final version… right? Right, Anna?).

It took me a few chapters to get into this one, so if you start off and you’re not too sure, persist. I couldn’t really understand why the MC’s every thought and action had to be described, but the reasons fell into place as the story picked up (happy to discuss with anyone who’s interested) so any hesitation I felt quickly dissipated.

One of the things I love most about Anna Woiwood’s books is how flawed her MCs are. She is so good at pulling you right into the grit of their lives and stripping them down to their most intimate selves. Something she (yet again) executes beautifully with this story.

It is dark, however, and if you’ve read The Veracity of Lies (which remains my favourite of hers), you will get an idea of the type of dark I’m talking about. Copacetic has a similar vibe, just with the dial turned up a few+ notches and a little less light to buffer the darkness.

Now, I like dark. If you do as well, great! Just note that there is still a good chance that at least some parts will make you feel uncomfortable. Whether it’s in the brief but detailed descriptions of past traumas suffered by the MC, the madness she experiences in her present day, or the fact that her love interest straddles the razor’s edge of legal adulthood, something is bound to twist your gut at least once.

Just be prepared, is all I’m saying.

If, like me, you’re a fan of Anna Woiwood’s novels, then you will not be disappointed. Do it. Read it. It’s good.

If, however, you’re planning on picking this up without having been primed by her earlier work, you may want to consider scooping up a cat (or dog or parrot or anything soft-ish with which you can stroke your way through the discomfort) before sitting down to consume this one.