what a stupid fucking book. no one in that fucking town is sane. every single local is a bastard EXCEPT mattie who is a literal child. i'd whisk mattie, dominic, gabriel, and emma away to safety if i could AND LEAVE CLAIRE BEHIND.
book themes: lack of consent, adult bullying and coercion, dubious sexual content due to lack of consent, traditional wife gender roles, baby end game, religious overtones and moral absolution, and marriage HEA. this book was clearly for religious women trying to rebel a smidge.