This might be one of, if not the, most difficult book that I’ve ever read; not because of the writing style or because I didn’t enjoy it (obviously) but; because of learning the hell that Iris had to endure day in and day out at the hands of an absolute monster: i've never gotten super connected to a character like Iris, so fast and rooting for them, their safety, and overall well-being every step of the way. 

I was deeply invested in every emotion, every thought, every inner dialogue that Iris had, and I STILL wanted to learn more about her! She was such a fascinating, strong (in every sense of the word) and compelling MC, and I loved her as if she was real, ok?!  Ryan’s ability to flesh out characters cannot be understated, man. I also appreciated the rich culture that was woven throughout the story. Iris’ Louisana/Creole roots and the way she talked about her identity/how it’s everything to her felt like it was its own character; it was beautiful! 

Lastly, the romance between Iris and August was EVERYTHING. August was such a sweetheart and I couldn’t wait for him and Iris to get their much-deserved happy ending.

Final Thoughts: Overall, I 100% recommend it! Though this story has so many difficult topics (please look up trigger warnings!), there’s no denying how important it is. From the commentary on domestic violence and remaining strong in the face of adversity, to taking a step back and giving yourself time to heal before you open up your heart again to someone, there are a lot of lessons to be learned here.