Huntley gives imperfect, maddening, charming Stevie most of the narrating duties, sprinkling in brief chapters from loved ones’ perspectives for background. Loyal readers of Kelly Harms, Lia Louis, and Maria Semple will fall for this compelling novel of identity, reinvention, and the contrast between ordered spaces and hidden chaos.
Huntley has constructed a compelling protagonist who oscillates between obliviousness and excruciating self-awareness, building a complex internal landscape and allowing readers a layered understanding of Stevie's eventual personal evolution ... Stevie’s sections are by far the strongest; in general, some of the ancillary characters feel half-baked or cartoonish ... Though the plot unspools in a somewhat unsurprising way and its emphasis on self-discovery can be heavy-handed, its core is animated by genuine emotional resonance—plus a thoughtful exploration of addiction, anxiety about sexual identity, and the ways family bonds shift in adulthood ... An enjoyable if sometimes well-worn take on the self discovery/recovery novel.
