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Cute novella! I like the trope of the sweet, awkward eldritch being figuring out how to be a person. It’s relatable bc I’m a neurodivergent woman, & being human is hard! This story was short & to the point, but I was interested throughout. Not much happened, but I think the novella served its purpose. Silly, creature romance with a unique premise & world.

-reconnected & that Polly didn’t immediately take Enjd back without explanation, apology, & commitment to change/growth. The twist with Vin breaking in was surprising, & while I’m glad Enid forgave him, that’s crazy that he didn’t confess before she started moving! But another theme was that it’s better to be honest + transparent, even if we’re afraid of hurting people or seeming like bad people.

-would discover she wasn’t at fault & had assumed she was bc of her bully’s accusation. LOVED her complicated, but extremely loving relationship with her mom. That might’ve been my favorite aspect of the book. I liked that her mom also grew over the course of the story, & will hopefully get better w her depression symptoms since she’s dismantled her rumination over Enid’s dad. Loved that Polly & Enid-

-out & that Gina took it as an opportunity to become more open-minded. Loved the therapist’s approach to getting Enid to realize/come to conclusions herself; this is the best way to heal, when you can do it yourself (but with guidance & coaxing in the right direction)! Loved the twist of the fire (upon reflection, there was foreshadowing with the hot door, smoke smell, etc). I figured bc of her memory loss, Enid-

-because she was so swept up by making everyone else see the “correct” version of her. Similarly, she kept her friend at arm’s length & pushed away romantic interests bc she was afraid of being a “bad person” around them, which was actually her fear of her unique, neurodivergent traits showing, bc she’s afraid of those being seen as weird & wrong. Loved that her sisters & mom called Gina’s homophobia-

Incredible! As per usual, Emily Austin tackles a lot of under-discussed, human dilemmas. Here’s my takes on the themes: I liked the callback & analogy of “white dwarf,” symbolizing Enid’s growth into a truer, more openly complex version of herself. Loved the rep for autism, PTSD, living with disabilities &/or neurodivergence. With the intersections of being a lesbian woman too. Enid literally forgot herself-

This book is proving to be silly, with chthonic magic & cheesy (but pleasant) romance. This is a short book, & the humor is, as I mentioned, silly, but not overly so. It does seem to have similar themes to Someone You Can Build a Nest In, which I loved! Trillin & Sian are both awkward lesbians who are figuring each other out. One is a mage scientist, the other is an amalgamation of chaos. What’s not to love?

I’m glad Enid’s sisters are supportive, avid queer allies :)

-cringey white millennial. The narration keeps mentioning stereotypes about white men, but from what I’ve gathered, ALL the characters are white. The two POVs… are white women. The lack of self awareness is embarrassing. Does the author think the two groups don’t have much in common? Right…

So I’m officially DNFing this as the protagonist listens to “Cardi B’s WAP” while accompanying the decomposing corpse in her backyard. Holy. Cardi B (& Megan Thee Stallion) have more innovative, ingenious lines in that single song than Van Os has had in this entire novel so far. I find it ironic that the author uses “Disney adults” as an offensive stereotype, when this writing is coming off as-

-since she saw it on Joan’s phone. End being mean to her mom :( as a defensive reaction to her discomfort & irritation. Also relatable. When Enid talked about feeling delayed in her development bc she has spent sm of her life camouflaging instead of being introspective… I understood that, & I feel many queer &/or neurodivergent people can relate.

Enid & I share more similarities; a therapist discussing symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, & autism with us. The instances of Enid getting jumpscared by bald men keep making me laugh bc, while I don’t share her phobia, I do share a latent distaste for bald men (many men are bald & I’ve met several who are bad people). Enid pushing Polly away :( but Polly should know that’s the same copy-paste text Enid always sends-

Enid has repressed her high school memories bc that period of her life was uncomfortable for her. While she’s paranoid about a stalker, she does seem to have some evidence that someone’s at least been lurking outside her apartment. Maybe he’s just lost bc he’s new to the neighborhood?

Some of the OCD symptoms/rep I like, as someone who has OCD. Savannah just seems like a bumbling, chronically online idiot. I don’t think that’s intentional. We’re supposed to grit our teeth at some of her decisions, like her not immediately reporting Ava to the police & later becoming obsessed with her. But I think the narration style & humor itself is intended to be funny & appealing. Maybe if you’re 15.

-this novel will become dated & even more “cringey” as time goes on. It also breaks immersion & tension. It’s not gotten to a point where I feel determined to DNF, but adult novels feeling YA & corny is perhaps my #1 turn off in books. The prose, outside of aforementioned corniness, is mostly alright. Some of the metaphors/analogies have been decent. I agree with Savannah in that she is, indeed, a loser.

The premise of a woman struggling with mental illness/recovering from a breakdown & forming a bond with a corpse & her journal is interesting. Unfortunately, this intrigue is watered down by inner monologues/POVs that feel very YA. Savannah is 21, Ava was 33. The references to memes, pop culture drama, & slang lingo are increasingly corny. Especially in modern day, where slang trends come & go extremely quickly-

-Enid also has compulsions similar to OCD symptoms. She only feels safe via repeating specific, irrational rituals. She people pleases in a way where she’s constantly looking to mold herself into something she deems socially acceptable. It’s not as strong as the MC of Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead. But Enid is insecure & doesn’t feel like her authentic self is someone who deserves connection.

-shes at arm’s length, or its a (poorly) manicured version of herself. She overanalyzes social cues, info dumps as a form of affection, becomes uncomfortable w vulnerability & directly expressing affection. She has a close relationship with her mom, like me, since it was just the 2 of them. Her mom did a great job raising her & supporting her interests + neurodivergent behavior, esp considering her own depression-

This is gearing up to be my 2nd favorite Emily Austin book! I find this protagonist relatable; some of her traits resemble symptoms of ASD & OCD. She also has trauma from her father & consequently struggles to accept herself & feel safe. Both in the sense that she’s afraid of making other people uncomfortable, while also being uncomfortable herself. She doesn’t allow herself to connect with others unless-

-oppressive system & connecting with one another instead.

The fungus wasn’t a plague; it was separate from the radiation apocalypse. The men deceived the women into becoming a part of the fungus experiment. I like the literal & metaphorical themes of participating in something larger than yourself. I also liked that Nicole allowed the child to be herself while still taking care of her. Like fungi itself, the women are starting a new world by dissolving the men’s-

Yay, another Emily Austin! & narrated by Natalie Naudus! Another story about an easily distracted, chaotic lesbian with questionable tendencies.

Nicole was carrying a male fetus; was Silas trying to reincarnate his son? Are the mushroom clone women incubators, used for breeding in an attempt to revive past generations, then discarded as husks more so than actual people? Silas keeps giving Nicole the illusions of consent & agency, ugh.

-eager to learn more internally/where it’s safer. I hope the women/her & Teagan (sp…?) can escape! Better yet, I hope they eradicate their abusive husbands <3

-dystopian themes. Nicole having to walk on eggshells around him, anticipate his moods & try to regulate his emotions for him, having to shrink herself for him… ugh! All textbook symptoms of women living in abuse, sexism, & comphet. Nicole is an intriguing character; she’s trying to learn about herself through her fear & oppression. She is subservient as needed for her survival, but still remains stubborn &-

-a way that may be expected of a misogynistic villain. He’s not violent, angry, or aggressive all the time (like most abusers, despite what many fictional examples portray). He shows her some measures of patience, affection, & vulnerability. But still, he only allows things to be done his way. It’s all a veneer to keep things under his definition of control. It’s repulsive & realistic, when you set aside the-

-Is there really no life outside of their walled village? There’s so many lies about the nature of the fungus plague, so it’s entirely possible that it may not be that dangerous outside. The lab seems to be cloning new generations of women, taking the fungus dust/dirt & making the younger women eat it as they conceive. Silas is also a uniquely horrifying character. He’s not straightforwardly, directly evil in-

-for their situations. We see this irl as well. The girls not being taught how to read is heartbreaking, bc education is vital to freedom & empowerment. Language allows us to express our feelings, thoughts, & opinions. It allows us to understand the world around us. Christianity is unsurprisingly still present in this world. Speaking of, the mysterious, dystopian, post-apocalyptic setting is very interesting-

-a real life application, sexism would have women engage with each other less in a free capacity. Because when we do, we share thoughts, opinions, & expand our critical thinking skills. AKA progressive ideologies, or rhetoric of any kind, can spread. Maggie, Nicole’s (MC) sister, unfortunately has turned bitter & resentful as a result of their oppression. She blames her sister instead of the men truly responsible-

-wives. Physically, there are strict, ever changing beauty trends & norms women are expected to follow to be viewed as beautiful & normal. Similarly, we also shouldn’t be too big, strong, or expressive. Moreover, the fungus growths seem to allow the female characters to connect with one another, & their own inner feelings & senses as well. However, the men tell them the fungi are dangerous & must be removed. In-