I'm genuinely glad I pushed through the opening of this book, because it starts with a bang. Literally. For a minute, I thought I had picked up straight erotica and was a little unsure what kind of reading experience I had committed to. Thankfully, I stuck with it long enough to realize that this book was doing something much more intentional and emotionally rich.

Yes, sex is present early in this book, but it isn't there just to serve the plot, and it isn't a shortcut to Feyi's healing/empowerment. That distinction mattered a lot to me. Feyi's grief and healing are major parts of this story, but her sexual choices are allowed to exist alongside that process rather than being reduced to a magical cure. Some of her decisions are messy, human, and maybe uncomfortable, but they are never framed as mistakes that need to be punished or corrected.

This is where the book really succeeded for me compared to others I've read about women reclaiming sexuality after trauma or loss. Here, sexuality is emotionally complex. It's exploratory, confusing, pleasurable, and sometimes risky all at once. Importantly, it's not the sole answer to Feyi's grief - she heals through multiple paths over time.

One of my shoutout praises is how emotionally intelligent and communicative the characters are. These are adults (who have probably been to therapy) who talk to each other. They discuss consent, expectations, and boundaries openly. Because of that, the conflict in this book doesn't come from lazy miscommunication.

That emotional intelligence also meant that I didn't know where the plot was headed at points, but I enjoyed finding the plot out along the way. I think the combination of these factors really shows that the author trusted the reader. It allows moments to feel uncomfortable or uncertain without immediately explaining or justifying them. If you stick with the story, things will unfold in time, in conversation with the larger emotional arc. It never felt like the author was rushing to reassure me as a reader or smooth things over.

And finally: the prose. This is the first Akwaeke Emezi piece I have read, but their writing style is unique for me, and I really enjoyed it, even if I can't exactly put my finger on why it was so beautiful and enjoyable.