I received an advanced reading copy of this novel via NetGalley.

I went into this having only read the blurb and thinking it sounded nice but with no other expectations. It sounded like the sort of soft slice of life literary fiction that I really like, and that's exactly what it is.

This is a cozy, gentle hug of a book. There's drama and tension, but it's drama distilled through and softened by the years-long relationships of people who know each other well and have rubbed off each other's sharp edges. It's perfect for sitting down with a cup of tea and a couple of hours to spare and reading in one sitting.

My favourite thing here is that Gail is very clearly autistic, but this is never something that's explicit in the book and it isn't at all the focus of the novel. After feeling really alienated by All The Little Bird Hearts last year it was refreshing to see myself represented in a way that doesn't feel like fetishisation or like it's trying to tick a representation box. Gail just is who she is.

This is a lovely little slice of life, a time capsule of a long weekend that ends perfectly. I was enjoying it all the way through, but the final paragraph especially is perfect and brought a happy little tear to my eye.

This is just nice. Well worth the read.