A must-read for anyone interested in community care, mutual aid and socialist movement survival.

The plotting in this book is marvellous. There are plot twists upon plot twists and all of the secrets come together to be revealed in a really satisfying way. The exploration of women's mental health and lesbian desire in the 19th Century also felt valuable and kept me hooked. However, I do want to point out that the characters make a lot of offensive statements throughout the novel. The statements and sentiments are historically accurate, so I believe the author was trying to be realistic, but it was still uncomfortable to read. These statements include homophobia, racism, sexism and a whole lot of ableism, particularly regarding mental illnesses and physical disabilities. I am not sure if I admire that the author didn't shy away from the horrible things people said and did in Victorian England or if I'm disgusted that she chose to include them to such an extent.