When I started reading this book I was blown away. I adored Barron's writing and marked paragraph after paragraph.

"After a time, though, rather than acting as a salve, the stories created even more space inside of me until I felt cave-like and echoey. My life wasn't unapologetic or brave or tinted with magic. My life was just my life." p 10

I even contacted the publisher asking if it was possible to get a hard copy of the book as I wanted to review it on my website rather than just on Goodreads / NetGalley. Sadly I was advised they only offer hard copy books to those with certain numbers of followers [*shrugs*], so I was left with my digital version and then procrastinated for over a month (after finishing it) before finally putting fingers to keyboard.

Barron introduces us to Becky at a point of crisis. Her childhood friend Meg arrives to provide support and it's a combination her presence and the sense of grief Becky's experiencing that sends her back into her past and the arrival of Zoe into her life.

We go back and forth in time, but Becky's memories of her 18 year old self are now sharpened by maturity and experience. She considers the way she pushed Meg aside on the arrival of her bright new shiny friend and how it impacted on the relationship she had with her family, including her brother.

Barron creates a complicated and sympathetic character in present and past Becky. In some ways I found it unfathomable that she hadn't wanted answers before now but suspect the events in the present are the catalyst that finally allow her to deal with the past.

And though I was worried the climax could be a little too cliched or obvious, Barron takes us in a different direction - one I didn't see coming.

When I first read this book I noted that Barron was a manuscript assessor and writing teacher and though her experience is evident, so is her talent.

4.5 stars