A coming-of-age novel about queerness and addiction in rural America, and the heartbreak that comes from loving a place that doesn't always love you back.
The novel’s subject matter and framing device, unfortunately, make comparisons to Demon Copperhead unavoidable. Maren’s portrait of Appalachia isn’t quite as evocative or expansive as Barbara Kingsolver’s, but for those seeking a tighter narrative with a queer, female perspective, there is much here to savor.
Emotionally taut if thematically uneven ... Maren beautifully evokes both the natural beauty of Appalachia and Shae’s plaintive longing for Cam, though the characterization of the saintly Cam, who returns to take custody of Eva while still an undergrad, feels a bit flat.