I found this a really compulsive read, mainly courtesy of the really inventive use of second person narration - which I don't think I've ever read in an adult novel before, especially not a romance-centred book. We follow Margot ('you') over the course of nearly two decades of love & heartbreak. The relationships, from blossoming to end, felt mostly plausible and it was really easy to feel invested in Margot's emotional journey. A bittersweet gem of a read.

This was a moving, horrific, devastating, and wonderful story. It felt really personal and relatable, and I'm sure every woman would find something to relate to when reading it. The ideas and decisions that lead us to locate a spouse, as well as how these can alter over time, are analyzed with nuance and a straightforward simplicity in the book; something so obvious but when proven, it brings some weird clarity. Although the main character, Margot's, behavior is frequently questionable, the second character narrative makes this feel very personable, and I almost cannot criticize her - for being sincere in her honesty (which really choked me up at times) in her own account of how she arrived at the end point. A thrilling debut! I think it's a must-read and one to keep an eye out for in April 2024; I'm looking forward to seeing more from Roxy Dunn.

I didn’t enjoy the use of the second person, and found some of the text stilted and unbelievable. But it was overall an enjoyable story with an empowering climax.

I found myself really drawn in by this novel - it is painfully relatable, refreshingly honest and extremely well-observed. I loved the use of second person narratives (which I know not everybody will like!) and it worked so well with this narrative. Margot strikes me as an intentionally flimsy character and the structure really makes you consider how women filter themselves through their relationships. A cracking debut!

I loved this book! Moving and at points, quite melancholy. I thought that actually, this was a really realistic story about a woman's young adulthood, moving into her thirties. There's so much that is relatable to the story and how I wished the fantasy with Noah returning at the end was true! I think though, that just perfectly demonstrates how wishful thinking feels and how actually, realistic endings are both happy and sad. Would really recommend this!

This is a really interesting read.

Written in the second person, and being about such a challenging and personal topic with such powerful observations is definitely a novel experience which can sometimes feel quite pointed into one’s own mistakes. It makes it relatable - and sometimes painfully so.

It is not so much a “story” in itself but an extended character background. This makes it no less a solid read. The characters are completely three dimensional, keeping reader investment at a high.

Definitely a book I enjoyed reading, particularly from a structural viewpoint. I will be looking out for more by this author.

This was a poignant, awful, at times heartbreaking and yet beautiful. It felt relateable on a very personal level and I'm sure every woman will find something they can connect with when reading it. The thoughts and decisions that drive us to find a partner and how these can change with time but also the equation we have with parents, siblings and friends are assessed with nuance and a candid simplicity in the book; something so obvious but when confirmed it brings some strange clarity. Although the behaviour of main character, Margot, is often questionable, written in second character narrative makes this feel very personable, and I almost cannot criticise her - for being sincere in her honesty (which really choked me up at times) in her own account of how she got to the end point. A riveting debut! I think its a must read and one to watch out for in April 2024, I'll certainly look forward to seeing more from Roxy Dunn. Thank you @netgalley @PenguinUKBooks @VikingBooksUK for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest unedited review. All views are my own.