Light read, but also a lot of character growth. I like novels that have the growth.

Thank you NetGalley and Vintage for my E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book follows Issy, a queer girl who suffers from depression as she moves away from home for the first time with her chinchilla, Abigail. It’s a big life change for her, but she has a great opportunity to work on a television show about art and live with three charming housemates.

This book was a lot of fun and had really great characters throughout. Issy’s roommates are all distinct and lovely, as are Aubry, Elizabeth, and their coworkers. Issy’s mom and uncle also feel very fleshed out and stand apart even with less time in the story. If anything, I just wanted to live in this world a bit longer.

For those who don’t do well with (or don’t want to read about) mental illness, this book will not be for you. That is a central tenant of this book and while there are some moments that are hard to get through, Laura Kay addresses the topic in a thoughtful way, while still being true to how devastating and unpredictable mental illness can be.

Even with some depressing moments about, well, depression, there are plenty of happy and funny bits too, including a scene I found rather hilarious about Issy’s first kiss at a club. Go out and grab buy this book (once it’s available)!