thebisexualbooknerd's review
5.0
I’ve been blowing through a book a day because it’s summer and I’m temporarily free of the wrath of the United States education system. But this one... this one requires some savoring. Everything about it is exquisite. The vocabulary, the pacing, the landscapes, the visuals, the tone, the characters - everything is done with smooth, melancholy grace. It focuses on the details while still creating a meaningful whole. Mercedes Mendina’s evolution and depth of discovery of her sexuality and sense of identity is impeccably rendered and an experience to read. This is one of few books I’ve read that knows how to talk about LGBTQ identity in a smart, unique manner. It knows how to show the magnitude of exploring or discovering a new facet of one’s sexuality without making romance the sole focus of the story. Mercedes’ questions about her sexuality feel natural and are both intelligently handled and integrated. She’s a wonderfully engaging character: she knows who she is, but she also has questions about how to carry herself as she evolves. She’s strong, but anguished. She’s trapped, but has every opportunity in the world. She’s a formidable presence on the page. Every choice the author makes leads the story in a more authentic direction, and the book as a whole is elegant and faintly sorrowful without being maudlin.
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