This book has probably been one of the most recommended books I have ever actually read. I don't know whether I am maybe neurodivergent or perhaps incredibly stubborn but I never read recommended books. There's just something that makes me shy away from them no matter how much I know I might enjoy the books. I just needed to explain how rare it is for me to read recommended books at the time they're recommended to me before we start. So to find that this is an absolute smasher of a book makes me reconsider my whole policy (but in. reality I won't). I had to slow myself down so that I could read it for longer. The characters will stay with me forever (my favourite was the dog) and while I will stop short of saying the book changed my life, it got really close.

I was immediately drawn in from the start. I studied Chemistry at university so that aspect really intrigued me. I consider myself a feminist so really this was my perfect novel. I just absolutely adored it. I've started recommending it to everyone I know who reads novels. I cannot believe how good this book is. The whole thing was heartbreaking, tragic, funny, poignant, mysterious, frustrating, and intriguing in one package. Go read it.