I just love a book with an unhinged, unreliable female narrator. I also love reading about obsession, so this book really ticked all the boxes. The reviews on the front called this a “thriller,” but I’d take issue with that characterization. It was more of a deep dive into how romantic paranoia and obsession can spiral and self-justify. I loved how Ventura was compassionate toward her narrator; she doesn’t see herself as crazy — in fact, she believes she’s especially rooted in reality and fact

(as evidenced by her careful keeping of records in her diaries and using her students as outside perspectives, even though that’s wild too)

. Fun read inside a fun narrator’s head.

The twist at the end was awesome. Very much giving “you think she’s crazy? I’m crazier.” And that’s why they work! I laughed when I saw it was the husband’s perspective for the epilogue

.