Oof, this book tore me open in the best way. This book is about Sigrid, a twenty-one- year-old who is disillusioned by her life and her family, and Margit, her "perfect" older sister who also feels quite detached from reality and doesn't know who she is. They had a difficult childhood where their parents were always fighting, and they reacted to it in different ways: Margit turned inward and made herself small to avoid conflict as much as possible, and Sigrid got confrontational and angry.

This book really, really resonated with me - I found myself crying a lot. Austin writes with such clarity and emotional honesty about how complicated relationships with siblings can be, especially when you grew up with the same parental trauma but it didn't bond you the way you would hope. I related so much to Sigrid and Margit's struggles to connect with each other, and their sense that they would do anything for each other but also had no idea how to talk to each other. I was so touched by Austin's descriptions of Sigrid's mental health struggles and Margit's attempts to understand her, and the way Austin wrestled with coming to terms with your family as they are and setting your own boundaries was really moving. I didn't expect to feel so much when I read this book, but it broke me open and I'll be thinking about it for a long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for a honest review!