This review is dedicated to me & my younger self. This book is heavy for me. My parent-mom is still alive but we have a terrible relationship. It wasn't always so rough. Like most west indian-jamaican mothers she is strict, physically and verbally disciplines (to put it nicely) , and has trauma from her own life. Otherwise she was always there doing for me not herself. Then I grew up wanted better from my family as I emotionally and mentally evolved. She didn't like the person I was becoming. Therapy and my friends kept me alive. She kicked me out. I can blame her husband, the family that abused her, my queerness, etc but it doesn't matter she made the choices. Our relationship will never be the same whether she is dead or alive. But im choosing to live for me. I dont want to make the mistakes of those before me. Thats what this book is about. Its interesting that a male author wrote from the pov of a fmc. But he did a really good job. I havent read a book by a cis man in years. I might just cry from how this book made me feel.