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poisoned_icecream 's review for:

Private Rites by Julia Armfield
4.0
challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Three sisters, Isla, Irene, and Agnes are forced to interact and come to a decision about what to do after their father dies. He designed homes as a way for people to escape the rising water, but they were also unaffordable. The sisters are constantly bickering and insulting each other while also wanting to be a family. It was hard to read this because of how bleak it is, but the writing had me hooked. The descriptions of how there's water everywhere and people insisting on continuing with what is "normal" had me so stressed out. Also the writing is gorgeous just like in Our Wives Under the Sea. I am looking forward to reading more from Julia Armfield.

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