I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I had a tough time with this one. (It didn't help that the marketing blurb somehow both reveals too much of the plot and is wildly misleading.) I appreciate Amy Zhang's raw exploration of anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and other aspects of mental health, particularly in young adults. This comes up not only for Ocean, but also for her roommates Georgie and, to a lesser degree, Tashya. Speaking of them, I loved the dynamic between the three girls--the way their relationships develop and the way they support each other is oddly heartwarming.

But Constantine. Constant. I couldn't stand him. I suppose that's the point, but I found myself skimming all of the Google Doc exchanges between him and Ocean. It was like all the worst, overly esoteric discussions I had in grad school. I understand Zhang's reason for including them, and some readers might enjoy them, but they didn't work for me.

I think this is worth picking up for Ocean's mental and emotional journey. Just, you know, skip the Google Doc ramblings if you don't want to think too much about philosophy or The Meaning of Life.