An intoxicating debut that asks: how much should you have to sacrifice in the name of love?

Enola is almost thirty and she’s not quite where she thought she’d be. She wants to be a writer but can’t finish a first draft; she romanticizes her childhood while being estranged from her family; and she yearns to be someone’s other half in order to feel whole.

When an enigmatic, successful writer infiltrates her writing group, Enola falls hopelessly in love, dreaming about their perfect future. But the chasm between fantasy and reality couldn’t be wider. He’s distant, moody, and spends more time with his ex than with her. She’s desperate to play it cool, and despite all the red flags, she wants him, she needs him, she can’t live without him. That’s love, isn’t it?

Two tumultuous years culminate in an explosive twenty-four hours where everything Enola thinks she knows about love will unravel, forcing her to reimagine her vision of the future and—most importantly—herself. With the emotional acuity of Fleabag and I May Destroy You, What It’s Like in Words closely examines the ferocity of toxic love.