A review by historyofjess
Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

3.75

This is NOT an easy read, but I did find it incredibly rewarding. Emezi tells a very dark story of mental illness and trauma in a very creative way, by focusing on the dissociative voices/characters within the central protagonist's mind. What results is a fascinating trip inside the mind of young woman who has weathered a lot of storms and is trying to find a way to survive in a body that has been misused by others, while also not feeling like home to her. It's a very emotional and spiritual (without being overly religious) read.