This book was a wonderfully nuanced exploration of grief and love and the bonds they form between people. The nonlinear narrative and the use of multiple narrators/points of view was very effective for telling the story that Akwaeke Emezi wanted to tell.

I’ve seen a lot of reviews from people who seemed to think that this book was a murder mystery, which it very much is not, and I for one am glad of that. 

The characters in this book are complicated, messy people who do a lot of questionable things. I loved them anyway, and I think that’s a testament to the author’s skill at inviting us into their lives and forcing us to understand them. But if you’re not willing to deal with difficult topics like transphobia and incest (yes, there is an incestuous queer relationship in this book), I don’t recommend reading it.