A review by eachz
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

dark emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I need to reflect on this more to give a proper review, but I really enjoyed it. This is my second Moshfegh novel and I'm once again struck by how she crafts these characters who you love and hate and root for and want to slap all at the same time. They're simultaneously realistic and ridiculous. I guess that speaks to the satirical nature of this story. Idk there was something profoundly relatable about the core of this story.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Abortion

Minor: Antisemitism and Schizophrenia/Psychosis