A low-key, emotional coming-of-age about a repressed teenage boy growing up with immense privilege, which then shifts into adulthood that nicely juxtaposes the themes introduced at the start.

I think the first part will be a bit plotless for some people, but when you get through that and the contrast becomes more apparent—just as it does to the protagonist—things click into place. It’s a very quiet novel, with no bombastic or melodramatic conflicts occurring. But it’s well constructed and hits home regardless; which I would argue takes more skill.

The audio-arc I got from Netgalley had a great narrator as well. I recommend it. He does a great job differentiating the characters’ voices without devolving into caricatures for female voices, which too often happens.