Only docking that quarter-point because the resolution is relatively outlandish, but I loved this thriller. I was about a half of the way through when I realized it was the same author as ‘the woman in the library,’ which I also adored.

I almost didn’t finish this and admittedly sped-read through the last quarter. All the ingredients of a good story were there, but it just turned preachy and felt hastily written. To be clear, I support the medical and recreational use of cannabis, and even I got sick of the constant lectures on “the power of this plant.” The two main male characters that Betty forms relationships with speak to her like super aggressive therapists and then randomly in language coded to weird stereotypes about… Health food sellers? Hippies? Stoners? Their motivation to hound this woman’s boundaries so intensely is baffling. Her friends are awful stereotypes wrapped in nice bows. There was supposed to be some mystical part of this, but it fell flat to me. I don’t know. Bleh.

It was fun, but everything felt like it needed more development 

Fun system! Takes awhile to work out, but still easier than 5e 😂

Read out loud to my 9 and 11 year olds. This is so witty and sophisticated while still perfect for elementary kids. We loved it!

This book had me judging and occasionally feeling judged. This book makes you feel bummed out but you still can’t put it down. It’s grimy, gritty, nasty, fascinating, darkly funny in moments, and bitingly earnest in others. Dawn and Emily are extremely unlikeable and don’t hold your breath for redemption.