This may just be my new all-time favorite book.

Bennett's writing is absolutely captivating. I had to remind myself to slow down and savor the language because I just wanted to devour the story all at once. She has a way of describing the characters and settings in such a vivid way that effortlessly allows you to visualize every detail.

At its core, this is a tale that tackles the complexities of racism throughout both the U.S. and within the self. The story is told from varying points of view which allows the reader to connect with each central character. Bennett portrays individuals from varying socioeconomic statuses, races, sexual orientations, and gender identities and does so in a graceful way that avoids tokenization. I think that the intersectionality would allow any reader can pick up this book and find a character that they can relate to on a deeper level.

This beautiful novel and its topics of freedom, identity, racism, and complex relationships will stick with me for a long time. I'm looking forward to more from this author!