This book is EXCELLENT! I had it on my to-read for a while and was putting off reading it because the premise just sounded so weird, but it was recommended to me. I ended up being sucked in immediately!

It is fascinating learning about A’s life and I want to know more, but I also love A as a character. I love how they talk about the “enormity” and wanting to feel it. It is so appropriate for a teen’s emotions and self-discovery, and at the same time, it reaches into this deeper well of questions about humanity and life and what it means. We also get to see so many different versions of life as a 16-year-old, and the different challenges teens face were handled really well.

I tend to be critical of romance, but this romance really worked for me. A’s attachment is formed very quicky, but I love the way they talk about their feelings and I was really engaged in seeing if they could make the romance work. Plus the romance was more than romance- it was a discovery of how A could make a life for themself. There was also a longing for intimacy that was done really well and I couldn’t help but feel alongside A.

This book is queer as hell, which I adored. Beyond a general acknowledgement of the genderqueer nature of A’s existence- there are some wonderful internal dialogues and musings about queerness that felt really on point.

Really love the audiobook for this book!