I was very engaged by this family drama, which centers around grief—a theme I often connect with due to my own personal experiences. I felt a strong connection to the characters, especially Dawn, who stood out as a powerful and empowering protagonist. 

The writing had a very cinematic quality, which makes sense given that the author is also a screenwriter. That said, I did find the pacing a bit slow, and I didn’t love the frequent perspective shifts in this multi-POV novel. 

I’m glad I chose to tandem read this with the audiobook—the narration was excellent and helped hold my attention more than reading the physical copy alone. I’m also curious to one day watch the film this book is based on, to see if I prefer that version of the story. 

Overall, this was an empowering and emotional story about a trans woman, a family’s grief, and their life on a farm in small-town Nova Scotia.