so incredibly grateful for the eARC from netgalley!!

wow… just wow. nymph has, without a doubt, exceeded my expectations. i wish i had gone into this book blind, since i initially thought that this book would be centered around sapphic yearning and longing (which, don’t get me wrong, is still present). the narrative however delivers a far more complex exploration of a young woman’s coming of age, and centers on themes of trauma/grief/loss. i will say that the pacing/tone of the book was pretty slow and languid, and far more character-driven than plot-driven, but this aligns well with the vibes of an aimless italian summertime— and my tastes lol :)

i deeply appreciated that the primary “conflict” of the story is all the aches and pains of growing up and coming into oneself, rather than the more trite and surface level coming-out stories that we see in most queer media. rather than fixating on the “taboo” of leo falling for another woman, the text’s focus is on her journey in understanding herself and her wants/needs/desires. it’s more about her unfolding and discovering herself in relation with those around her, which i found to be so profound and beautiful.

sofia montrone’s prose is so delicate and thoughtful, so incredibly descriptive and beautifully written, with each passage dripping with immense depth and meaning. she has definitely mastered the art of showing (rather than telling), which i unfortunately find many contemporary authors struggle with now. as a debut novel, this makes me so incredibly excited to see what other work she comes out with!

Jaw dropping. As someone with a ton of fear and anxiety around pregnancy, this really got under my skin. I was so sickened by the idea of an unwanted pregnancy, with the added horror of gender dysphoria. The author did such a good job creating the constant unease and discomfort.

This will be sticking with me for awhile. Horror/gore never really shocks me anymore, but this fucked me up a little. Like I was struggling to finish the sentences with my hand on my mouth gasping in horror. I’m impressed and obsessed.

Where do I begin with this wonderful book? Mad Sisters of Esi is a fever dream in the most beautiful way possible. It envelops you in the deepest hug while pushing you into a world of unknowns, trusting that you will make your way back to center as the story unfolds.

The characters will stay with me for the rest of my life. Each of them feels so different, but somehow all incredibly relatable. I found myself in each one as they went through absolute highs and devastating lows.

The setting and writing style are my favorite aspects of this book by far. Each new place is an awe-inspiring walk through cosmic dreams. And the way we are constantly flipping from one POV to the next, from diaries to academic journals, you're constantly kept on your toes in the best way possible.

I wanted to stay with the mad sisters and never leave them. This book demands to be read at a steady pace, to ensure you are fully taking it in. But I never wanted to finish because it meant having to say goodbye. Mehta has written a novel truly out of this world and I can't wait to return home to it.