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whitwein's review
2.5
Definitely be in the mood for a book to be right on the nose. No escapism here.
Slapped in the face with all the terrifying stuff from white Christian nationalists with very twist and turn worse than the last. I had a hard time with this one. I should have read the synopsis and that’s on me.
It wasn’t bad writing just difficult subject matter with no respites of hope.
This world is on fire.
Thanks to netgalley and Sibylline press for an eARC
Slapped in the face with all the terrifying stuff from white Christian nationalists with very twist and turn worse than the last. I had a hard time with this one. I should have read the synopsis and that’s on me.
It wasn’t bad writing just difficult subject matter with no respites of hope.
This world is on fire.
Thanks to netgalley and Sibylline press for an eARC
markeefe's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
gwalt118's review
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I love everything about this new press - Sybilline Press - which publishes books by women over 50. This novel in particular was a dramatic whirlwind, one that I think my mother would have enjoyed reading. Shortly after Hazel's husband dies in a freak accident, her twin brother and his husband decide to have a baby using her brother's ex-girlfriend as a surrogate...and that is only the beginning of this interwoven, intricate plot.
Through the course of the novel, Hazel and her brother battle against the anti-LGBT laws of Idaho, MAGA-minded militias, and neighbors who literally threaten their lives. It is emotionally charged and raw, but it is also a reality in some places in America. Vitello does a great job of writing the extreme in a very real way. Vitello tackled a lot of topics very well in 272 pages, which demonstrates considerable talent.
The setting of this novel is a small town in the mountains Idaho, but it could be a lot of small towns in America. The sense of place is incredibly strong throughout the book. Hazel and her brother struggle through complicated feelings about their hometown, which I'm certain is relatable for many people. The publication timing of this novel - May 2024 - is just about perfect. I hope a lot of folks read this one.
Through the course of the novel, Hazel and her brother battle against the anti-LGBT laws of Idaho, MAGA-minded militias, and neighbors who literally threaten their lives. It is emotionally charged and raw, but it is also a reality in some places in America. Vitello does a great job of writing the extreme in a very real way. Vitello tackled a lot of topics very well in 272 pages, which demonstrates considerable talent.
The setting of this novel is a small town in the mountains Idaho, but it could be a lot of small towns in America. The sense of place is incredibly strong throughout the book. Hazel and her brother struggle through complicated feelings about their hometown, which I'm certain is relatable for many people. The publication timing of this novel - May 2024 - is just about perfect. I hope a lot of folks read this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Homophobia
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