A complex, character-driven & moving debut!

This novel is a slow-burner but it creeps up on you and pulls at your heartstrings. Set over the course of one evening in a dive bar on the edge of town main character Emma is musing the life and loss, she wasn't always alone but she is now.... why? what happened?

The writing is all-encompassing, amusing in places, and heartbreaking in others. There are some brilliant lines in the book, I found myself highlighting throughout it is so quotable.

"You can worry all you want, but you'll never predict the thing that will destroy you."

The atmosphere in the bar is perfectly captured, you can easily imagine you are sitting right there, part of the community.

It's ending is devastating but it leaves you with a sense of hopefulness. There is only so far you can run before you have to confront your emotions in order to move forward.

This is a fascinating accomplished debut! Perfect for fans of Celeste Ng. I can't wait to see what Bruno does next.

A huge thanks to Anne Cater & Scribner for gifting me a copy in return for an open & honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐