Iris Wolff finds a way to capture the intricate, quiet threads that bind us to the places we’ve left behind. In Clearing, she explores the burden of belonging through the lens of Lev, whose journey across borders is as much an internal migration as a physical one. The narrative navigates the shifting terrain of family—both the ones we are born into and the ones we choose—while asking whether redemption is possible without first confronting the past. Wolff’s prose is luminous and exceptional, yet the story’s quiet, interior focus may leave those looking for a more traditional, action-oriented plot resolution wanting more

My first introduction to Wolff but I loved this! Love the format of the book starting with end chapter and how the story is told backwards. Starting with that reconnection and continuing back through various moments of theirs over the years and moments of importance to main character. As a translated work, I think the translator did a good job in translating this work and gives good feedback to some words that have no translation. Thank you to Netgalley and Moth Books for the eARC!

This novel was an incredibly immersive reading experience for me. Iris Wolff writes with a lyrical, atmospheric style that creates not only a vivid sense of place, but also a deep emotional texture throughout the novel.

One of the things I loved most was how the tone lingered beyond the page. After reading, I found myself moving through ordinary moments differently — noticing small details and searching for beauty in the mundane in the same way the writing does.

The Romanian setting felt richly alive, and the historical and political context woven throughout the narrative added depth. I found myself researching the regions, history, and cultural background mentioned in the novel simply to stay connected to the world Wolff created.

This is the kind of literary fiction I personally treasure — thoughtful, sensory, emotionally immersive, and deeply human. I do not re-read many books, but this is one I could easily see myself returning to.

Thank you to Moth Books and NetGalley for the advance copy of Clearing.

Clearing by Iris Wolff was a unique read that captured my attention and held it throughout as it is written from the end to the beginning. It was almost like looking back and realizing the moments of importance that you didn’t know would be so important. Thank you to NetGalley and Moth Books for the ARC!

Iris Wolff has a way of capturing the delicate, often painful threads that bind us to the geography of our past. In ***Clearing***, I followed Lev’s journey not just across physical borders, but through the shifting internal landscape of memory and exile. Her prose is luminous, grounding a story of friendship and displacement in a way that I found both intimate and expansive. While I admired the novel’s deeply interior focus and emotional depth, I found that the meditative pacing and non-linear structure required a level of patience that might challenge those looking for a more traditional, action-driven resolution. For me, it is a resonant meditation on what it means to truly find one's place in a fractured world.

I found the language sensory and immersive, and quiet, thoughtful. I loved the format and structure of the book, beginning with chapter 9 and working in reverse chronological order. I felt a little confused by it at the start and mid-point, wishing that I could go back and read the first few chapters again once I'd finished.