*Thank you to Faber & Faber for sending me a copy of Little Scratch in exchange for an honest review*

(TWs: rape, sexual assault, self harm)

Little Scratch is the evocative and emotional gaze into the mind of a young woman over the space of a 24-hour period, after she has been sexually assaulted. We follow her thoughts as she moves through the day, which shifts between mundane normality and the constant reminders by the things around her of what happened. We see how much of her brain this trauma takes up and how often it is triggered, but we also see a young woman trying to understand her place in the world.

This is a dark read at times, and intense always, but it’s also humorous, and the internal monologue of the protagonist is one that is, truly, dripping in wry commentary and enjoyable to read. Her responses to the world around her are relatable and very, very funny.

It’s told in an experimental style, lacking standard formatting and punctuation, with her thoughts taking up the space they need on the page. You can feel her when she’s closed in, and when she’s trying to break out. I know people have found this challenging to read, not just for the subject matter, but for the formatting.

I would really recommend this book if it’s not something that’s going to trigger you. I read it in one day and was blown away by it. It’s available now ✨