This is probably the most difficult review I’ve ever written, mostly because I generally review fiction and focus on the characters. This time I’m reviewing a memoir, and the “characters” are real people, so I really can’t talk about their choices and motivations.

I struggled with this book. I almost put it down several times. I always want to complete review books (even if I’m years late actually reading and reviewing them), but I came very close to not finishing this book. But I kept going. I’d like to say I pushed through to an epiphany at the end, but I really didn’t, I just made it to the final page.

It’s not a bad book. It’s beautifully written, though occasionally the vocabulary is a bit too Rhodes Scholarly. It jumps between the author’s younger life, current life, and what she learns of Lacey’s life through her obsession. But it is a very raw book at points and there were parts of it that were very triggering for me, and hard to get through.

This book should come with several content warnings, including suicide, suicidal ideation, child abuse, and sexual abuse of a minor, to name the biggest ones.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book through Net Galley on behalf of the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.