1/21: 4 stars. I loved this. It was so much being back in the twisted brain of Marisha Pessl. I'm a little unsatisfied with the ending---I wanted Agatha to TALK to us! Other than that, this was fab.

There are a lot of applicable tools in this book. I found it helpful but I do wish she had touched on perfectionism and neurodivergence. In the last section of the book she acknowledges that she left a lot of important topics out of the book and I'm assuming neurodivergence was one of them. Why though? It's ok to write long books.

Does this book need to exist? No, but I'm glad that it does! I really enjoyed this, far more than I thought I would. 

-1/4/25: I liked the setting and characters. The unaliving was super unique--like nothing I've read in any other cozy. The unaliving doesn't happen until over 50% of the way in if that bothers you (it didn't bother me). It also features a ghost-hunting dog so I'm sold. 

1/3/25: 4.5 stars

I went into this thinking it was a thriller but it was more a historical family saga. It explores gender inequality in the fashion industry across three different women's lives. One during WWII, one in the 1970s, and one in present day America. Themes it tackled were motherhood, making impossible choices, and managing family legacies. I enjoyed the francophone vibes and exploring the fashion industry, especially during the 1970s timeline. 

Iris doesn't need romance. Iris needs therapy.

I cannot stand Iris. She rapid-cycles emotionally, and she is a pathological lying liar liarface who absolutely does not deserve the insta-forgiveness she gets. She lies to a child for no reason at all. She is a manipulator who preys on Gio, a widowed man who is vulnerable, and we're supposed to just see this as a sweet little romance? Also, why does she feel the need to make herself homeless after they break up? That's so dramatic and unnecessary. Gio should run far, far away. It would be one thing if there was character growth. Iris has these "defining" moments in her head where she thinks she's suddenly healed or "remembers who she is" but then continues to behave exactly the same way and react to things the exact same way. So what was really healed? NOTHING. She's delusional. She is rationalizing her toxic behavior. I've known people like Iris and there's a reason I no longer associate with them! I do not ship Iris and Gio.

Silly, fun time.

I think you need to read her other book first to fully appreciate this one, but even without that, this was helpful. I can see it being helpful strategies not just for eating disorders, but any time you are trying to change a disordered behavior pattern. 

12/20: 4.5
This was my favorite book in the trilogy. Everything wrapped up nicely but not in a cheesy way. Clare's writing improved with each book. The world is well established and even though I'm reading them out of publication order, I'm excited to see how this storyline ties in with future series in the universe. 

This was a perfect little cozy mystery.