This dual-perspective psychological thriller invites readers into the fraught lives of two girls who are caught in a spiral of secrets, guilt, and betrayal. Told in the voices of Syl Jameson, a 17-year-old who dies in a suspicious car crash, and Viola Harrison, also 17, her estranged former best friend and prime suspect, the book deftly balances the paranormal with gritty emotional realism. Syl’s ghostly narration pulses with quiet intensity as she pieces together what happened and why, while Viola’s voice exposes the complex impact of friendships, privilege, and trauma that defined their relationship. The small-town American setting of Lovell (ironically nicknamed Love Hill) feels like a character in its own right. The heavily Christian community, established in the late 1600s “by white supremacists,” pushes queer residents into hiding. This work by Belgian author Paul, who wrote it in English, features sharp, emotionally resonant, and deeply atmospheric prose. The structure of the book, which lets readers choose whose version to read first, cleverly emphasizes the subjectivity of truth but can at times lead to repetitiveness. Even though some revelations lack depth, the narrative maintains a steady pace and will linger long after readers turn the last page. All characters read white.
