4.5 stars. Unexpected. I missed the reveal initially, and before going back and rereading a good chunk of the book, continued to believe the boys were real for a long time. It was interesting viewing Ethan's story through those two different lenses (one as a doting, overprotective father, and one as a man coming unhinged after dealing with childhood trauma and weathering a pandemic), and I found his character both tragic and hopeful.