I loved this eerie, emotional, and moving book. The synopsis describes this as a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and the premise is definitely that - Birdie is a single mother living in rural Alaska, and she falls in love with Arthur, a man who lives out in the middle of the vast forest and who the community has misgivings about for various reasons. Birdie and her six-year-old daughter Emaleen move out to Arthur's remote cabin, and things . . . unfold (I really don't want to spoil anything, so I'll leave this vague, lol).

I love a fairytale for sure, and this one was beautifully done. Ivey's descriptions of the Alaskan wilderness are beyond breathtaking, and Birdie and Emaleen are both delightful characters. Emaleen's childlike wonder and imagination really brings the woods to life, and Birdie's strong pull to be free is really resonant and works so well for the story. The "mystery" surrounding Arthur is revealed to the reader relatively early, which personally I kind of like in a book, and Birdie and Emaleen's slow realizations and the facts becoming clear is spooky and creeping and perfect. The writing is gorgeous, and I loved getting other characters' perspectives. I just loved this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing House - Random House for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!