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A review by katiemack
Self-Portrait with Nothing by Aimee Pokwatka
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Based on the marketing, I expected this to have more horror elements, but the concept (which I won't spoil here) is innovative and has a sci-fi bent. (Think: twist on alternate universes.) Even though the attempts at genre-mixing fall flat at times, the narrative is strong enough that I was able to finish this in a day. Pepper's relationship with her husband Ike is sweet and relatable, and even though the format of their texts drove me nuts, their conversations add some levity to the plot. The ending is flat and disappointing, but it doesn't ruin the rest of the book.
Based on the marketing, I expected this to have more horror elements, but the concept (which I won't spoil here) is innovative and has a sci-fi bent. (Think: twist on alternate universes.) Even though the attempts at genre-mixing fall flat at times, the narrative is strong enough that I was able to finish this in a day. Pepper's relationship with her husband Ike is sweet and relatable, and even though the format of their texts drove me nuts, their conversations add some levity to the plot. The ending is flat and disappointing, but it doesn't ruin the rest of the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment