✦ BLURB ✦
✶ PRE-READING ✶
This is Natalie's first book - she's well known as an audiobook narrator, but this is her first work that's her own, and it's heavily based on her own upbringing. I didn't know what her style would be like, but I find cult narratives fascinating and I thought the lesbian aspect would add an intriguing layer to this one.
✶ POST-READING ✶
As I thought... Valerie's tight knit church community was stifling to read about; I can't imagine actually being part of it, and yet I know that it's perfectly normal for many people, especially in America. Natalie kept the pace even throughout the book. It did have some instalove which often puts me off, but given Valerie's sheltered upbringing I can let it pass.
It surprised me by... Valerie has access to the internet and knows what a cult is, but hasn't realised she's in one? I know it's much harder to see when you're inside, but it still seems odd to me. I loved how deeply it delved into Valerie's feelings, and Riley's to a lesser extent, and let us understand their slightly different points of view.
✦ RECOMMENDATIONS ✦
Book Recommendation: Devoted by Jennifer Mathieu is another novel about a teen girl coming to realise that her upbringing is not normal. It's a less romantic look at it; Rachel has to rely on herself rather more than Riley does, but they're both very realistic.
TV or Movie Recommendation: The Half of It (2020) It's a coming-of-age film with a beautiful queer romance at its heart. Like the book, it focuses on a quiet, introspective teen navigating complex emotions and relationships in a small, conservative community. It also explores themes of self-discovery, breaking free from expectations, and the pressures of loyalty to family and community.
✧ VIBE CHECK ✧
A colour palette: Soft lilac and muted gold - these hues can evoke both the warmth and freedom of the blossoming romance while nodding to the quiet, controlled environment Valerie’s in.
A soundtrack: Gentle piano with subtle synths - a sound that’s soft and introspective, but still with a sense of movement, like something breaking free or evolving.
A season: Late summer, when the heat still lingers but the first signs of change are in the air - like the tension between staying where things are safe and familiar versus stepping out into something new.
A mood: Quietly rebellious, tenderly hopeful - there’s that underlying pull toward self-discovery and love, but also a bit of tension from the situation Valerie is in.
A scent: Fresh-cut grass and sandalwood - grounding, earthy, and comforting, but with something a little warm and exotic about it, like the feeling of sneaking out into a hidden world.
★ TAROT CARD PULLED ★
Judgement (Tarot for Me and You)
Valerie is undergoing a massive reckoning - internally with her identity and externally with the world she’s been raised in. Judgement speaks to that moment of awakening, when the veil lifts and you see clearly, even if what you see is painful. It's also about answering a call that changes you forever, which fits Valerie’s journey as she confronts love, shame, and the possibility of liberation.
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