I loved this one almost as much as "Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead". Both main characters are kind of similar, but I connected more with Gilda than Enid. However, I still enjoyed her characterization and how she interacts with those around her. I especially liked the relationship with her mom and the sisters subplot, as well as how her relationship with Polly progressed. What stands out to me is definitely the great depiction of phobias and how hard it is to get over them. Once again, I wish the book had been longer. Not because the ending felt rushed, in fact, it was better than in her previous novel, but because her prose in so engaging that I always want more pages. I thought I didn't care about Enid at the beginning/middle of the novel, but when it was time to leave I even felt a little sad.

An enjoyable read, but it didn't move me as much as I expected to based on most reviews. I found Satoru's and Nana's relationship very heartwarming and the other characters' backstories were entertaining too (some more than others). Despite its melancholic side, it is quite a calm, introspective and low stakes read. The biggest downside for me was its predictability, but I get how the book had other goals and themes in mind rather than focusing solely on the impact of the "twist". It is hard to pinpoint why exactly this didn't work for me, it just felt a little flat overall.