This was unexpectedly beautiful, even though highly recommended by a bookish podcaster and Patreon content creator that I trust. I think it was one of her top 10 of last year. So I found it at my library and opened the cover. What I found here is historical fiction mostly centering around two women. Isabel lives in a home alone, owned by an uncle. Her brothers check on her now and again and visit. Louis, who will inherit the home, brings girlfriend Eva home because he believes he is totally in love with her. Isabel sees Eva as flighty and fake. She immediately despises her and makes no secret of her distaste for Eva. What unfolds next is the rich and well developed understanding of each character from their experiences, thoughts, behaviors and preferences. It is lyrical and intense and propulsive. Also sensual and descriptive - it slowly develops into an open door relationship you hope will never end. A difficult story of past experiences. A beautiful story about falling in love in a completely unexpected journey. And the discovery of what lengths someone will go to in order to capture what they desire and make it their own.