I don’t even know what to say about this book besides ‘wow,’ so let’s start there: Wow. Once again, Akwaeke Emezi has crafted a heartbreaking and expertly constructed story. Knowing from the beginning that Vivek is going to die makes each moment with him alive full of hope and sorrow. I was constantly searching for the ‘why’ and ‘how’ while also just enjoying the journey we were on. The narrative bounces from perspective to perspective and from pre-Vivek’s death to post-Vivek’s death, and not once was I confused about where were in the timeline. The story can be heavy at certain moments, but don’t run away from it. Lean in and experience it. Content warnings for homophobia and incest.