Eden

You can also find this review on my blog.

cw: transphobia, kidnapping, underage drinking, drug use
disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for review consideration. All of the opinions presented below are my own.

I requested this from NetGalley mostly on a whim and ended up being pleasantly surprised. What I liked most about it was probably that it followed the aftermath of the sisters' kidnapping rather than focusing on the kidnapping itself. It was more of a study on how trauma impacts individuals as they age, as well as the role that relationships with others play in our lives.

“I own the ground, but not the water,” she said. “Isn't that something?”

The main character is a queer woman (I believe she's a lesbian, but never drops a definitive ID) and it's nice that it's just sort of a fact rather than a plot point. My one issue was the way she referred to another character: as “maybe trans” and later as another character's “girlfriend/boyfriend.” It didn't really feel like a respectful way to portray them and rubbed me the wrong way, although I'm a cis woman and can't speak fully to the representation.