Luster

Really 4.5, but I feel like I give too many 5s, and it starts to lose its meaning. That said...

Book is so good. The writing is so good. Premise definitely strains credulity, but within the construct, it is just excellent. The details are just great. Perfect and not presumptuous. Never feel pretentious or contrived or stuffed in there because the author is so self-satisfied with their mastery of ‘the craft”. Did not at all suffer from that so common first person, I am going to be guiltily responsible for shit that is not my fault at all. In part because the main character just does not do a lot of self-reflection (and DAMN does she need to), but also because what she does think feels really really real.

Protagonist needs therapy. Badly. Husband is a self-absorbed alcoholic douche bag. Wife is on the spectrum (there is an entire nother book written from her point of view). And Akila is the most whole, sane person in the story.

Two most unrealistic details: 1) where is this mythical Urgent Care where you can waltz in and get a D&C??? 2) What faceless unknown new roommate in the Gen Z age bracket has a record player lying around?