Demon Copperhead

This was a heartbreak rollercoaster. It's as draining a read as I've ever dared to complete but I'm glad I did. The language is rich and immersive and it's packed with references and turns of phrase that provide an authentic sense of person and place. You really believe these characters exist somewhere, which makes every tragedy more painful to read. It's filled with these little daggers that you're almost certain weren't invented but pulled from someone's lived experience... but despite all that darkness, It's also very funny...? Demon is smart, charismatic and certifiably hilarious and his perspective is what makes it possible to actually finish this novel. There were so
many moments that had me laughing out loud throughout and while I wouldn't call the ending happy, it's lined with a kind of hopefulness that I wasn't sure would still be there by the conclusion. This is a moving and brutal character study that you should emotionally prepare yourself for before picking up.