Saskia has returned home after her mother’s death, faced with memories and fears that she buried a long time ago. But now that he mother’s house has been left to a man that she has a history with, she has to face what happened all those years ago. Her pay as a piano prodigy, a girl who never fit in, who constantly struggled with her relationship with her mother, and the complicated history with an abuser all combine to question the depths of feminism, and how far someone will go to prove herself.

I had complicated feelings about this book. Described as My Dark Vanessa meets The Queen’s Gambit, the relationships with men and her love/hate relationship with her talent are very clear. There are for sure trigger warnings for sexual abuse of a minor, grooming, and a dark predatory overall theme. But there was also lightness interspersed with the fairy tales her mother had written from a feminist perspective that also made me smile. I have some unanswered questions as well. I believe there’s more than one predator of the story, and I feel bad for Saskia’s constant abuse coming from many directions, at childhood and as an adult. 

Overall, I’d give it a 3.5, and I’d recommend it for fans of My Dark Vanessa that can handle the tough dark themes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

 Wooo! So, this was a quite a ride especially towards the end. I did not expect the book to go this way. I must say that I saw the first plot twist coming but what the MC did towards the end? 🤯 Oh. My. God.

We follow Saskia as she goes back to her childhood home for her estranged mother's funeral. We fast learn they had a complicated relationship and Saskia was never made aware that her mom was sick. Being in that house brings back a ton of memories so we travel back and forth between the past and the present.

Saskia was a child prodigy. She played piano like no-one else but that also meant she had no time for social life. The house has always been in the family and Saskia is supposed to inherit it. That's until the will is read and that the house is gifted to Patrick, a much older man from Saskia's past. Not in a good way. She now has to fight to understand what made her mom give away the house to that man.

Before reading this book, please check TW as there are implies and mentions of grooming, major age gap with a teenager (not to say the P word) and drug abuse.

Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for a review.