This book was amazing. I didn't know what to expect going in or how dark it was going to be, but when this book hits you, it hits hard and you don't forget it. I cried more than once and I love a book that makes me cry.

One of my only critiques is that that scenes went by so fast. Not so much in terms of the action that happened in them, but the writing itself. I wish it had been slowed down a little more to give you more time with some important events and reunions. It felt like we were speeding through complex emotions.

But I adored the characters in this. I loved Ana, both as a child and a young adult in her two countries. I loved when she went back to Croatia as an adult and noted despite being born there, it was the first time she'd actually been in the country. I especially loved her experiences as a child trying to live her life despite the civil war and normalizing the trauma.

The Yugoslavian civil war is a huge blind spot for me in terms of ignorance. Like even just to follow the basic events that were happening in this book, I had to go read some wikipedia pages to get the general gist of who everyone was and why they were fighting. I've looked up a few more books on the subject to hopefully learn a bit more. I always think it's a good sign when I'm barely finished with one book and already looking up more related books to read.

I'd highly recommend this book. I thought it was wonderful and heart wrenching and just an all around great read. I already want to read more from Sara Novic.