“Wildly original and captivating. ... In The Unravelling of Ou, the immigrant Canadian narrative is dismantled, and headstrong mothers and daughters clash with patriarchal structures that want to control their bodies, their vanity, and their desires. Vulnerable, brave, and heartbreaking, this powerful novel asks: how do women function in a world that is not designed to love them back? How do oppressed individuals understand and ultimately save themselves? Ghadery delivers answers in a lyrical and imaginative debut.”—Lindsay Wong, Villain Hitting for Vicious Little Nobodies

“With poignant and delicate prose, The Unraveling of Ou draws the reader in through the unique voice of Minoo’s puppet. ... A daring, not-to-be-missed short novel by the one and only Hollay Ghadery.”—Lily Nilofar-Soltani, author of Zulaikha

“The Unraveling of Ou is wonderfully layered, with a compelling plot and deeply realized characters. Its bracingly effective central conceit—first person narration by the protagonist’s sock puppet—is fresh and satisfying and, ultimately, quite moving.”—K.R. Wilson, author of Call Me Stan and An Idea About My Dead Uncle

“This novel is a delicious titration of acts of betrayal and care. I’ve never read anything like it before and yet it felt familiar in hard-to-reach places of the soul.”—Margo LaPierre, editor and author of Ajar

“Ghadery has written a surprising narrative that interrogates the treatment of young women caught in the crossfire of cultural norms and mental health. Beautifully told with her trademark use of evocative and poetic language, Ghadery has once again challenged readers to ponder identity and what it means to be seen.”—Lucy E.M. Black, author A Quilting of Scars, The Brickworks, Class Lessons: Stories of Vulnerable Youth

Tour of Ontario bookstores

Supported by River Street Writing