Wow. I regret ever waiting so long to pick up this book after it was recommended to me by a reddit thread that claimed this book was like The September House (which is one of my all time favorite books).

This is a dark and enthralling tale of trying to grow up and how to survive as an adult when your mom is abusive and your father is a loving psychopath. I know deep in my heart if I had been raised as Vera had I would have gone the same route, which made it all even more captivating as the story progressed. I only wish there was more time with Vera and her father before he got arrested, or even after.

I want to know what those damn letters said (Fuck you Duvall).

As someone who grew up in an environment that wasn't the best, I understood Vera and her motivations and her choices all completely. This story is darkly beautiful and I highly recommend it.

Though I must say of course I don't condone any actions in this book, even by the main character, I can't say that it made the story any less breathtakingly amazing for me despite it being horrifically sad in so many ways.

And to Daphne, Vera's "mother"... I don't care what you went through in life (even though you're a fictional character), nobody could ever make me like you. You deserved worse.