"It doesn't take a lot to be able to let go of your child. It takes everything"

As a mother to a daughter Maya's age where we are starting to navigate giving her more freedom whilst trying to keep her safe, I felt this in my soul.

I tell my daughters all the time that they need to be brave enough to speak up when they see injustice or bullying because silence is consent, and this book manages to encompass all of that sentiment and more.

I've seen criticism that the book isn't progressive, isn't addressing anything we don't know, but for me that was the most important point. Being a woman can sometimes feel like you're pushing a boulder up a hill just to get rolled over again. Reporting rape isn't easy, neither is the journey after, and words/how we use language is really important. I felt like Backman's writing captured that in a really beautiful, devastating way.

I wish there was a 6th star rating for elite level books!