“The past, though we carry it with us always, is untouchable.”

What an absolutely fantastic memoir. I fell in love with Lye’s debut novel, The Honey Farm, so when I saw that she had written a memoir, I knew I had to read it. And I’m so glad I did. Natural Killer focuses on two periods of time in Lye’s life: when she was 15-years-old and diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia called “Natural Killer” and when she was 30-years-old and discovered she was pregnant, despite cancer treatments that should have made pregnancy impossible. These two time periods are weaved together seamlessly and were such a powerful juxtaposition. This memoir provides an intimate look at sickness and survival, betrayal and trust, pain and hope. I loved it and I loved Lye’s vulnerability and honesty in telling her story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada (McClelland & Stewart) for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I double checked the quotation with a final copy of the book.