surprisingly quite a good book. at first, i was a bit thrown off by the style of writing, but the book lays out important concepts and understandings re: the science of the human body in very easy-to-understand ways. she's imagining a cis woman reader of a certain age--in that way, the book is very much a product of its time. in terms of her focus on concepts like discipline and habit, and her motivation ("this knowledge belongs to everyone"), the book is very much ahead of its time.

Like other readers, I came to this book after reading and loving some of Pagán's other novels. This one has a distinctly different voice and is, frankly, devastating all the way through. It is tragic beginning on page 1 and becomes increasingly more tragic as you move through it. I spent the first third wondering if I should keep reading; the second third feeling hopeful for the characters and also groaning at their choices; and the final third reminding myself that reality can be painful and I didn't need a book to tell me so, but then also crying while reading. Good writing and lots of beautifully crafted sentences, but this wasn't as easy or quick a read as Pagán's other books seem to be.