There's a well known motto that you should "never judge a book by its cover" - I must admit that the rabbit in the cover artwork partially influenced my decision to read Jessie Burton's The Confession. But Jessie Burton's impressive novel is one rare instance where the artwork nailed the vibes of the book perfectly. This is an emotionally gripping read featuring a cast of compelling characters and prompted readers to ask about deep questions related to self-knowledge: the notion of responsibility, womanhood, and self-expression.

What impressed me the most with The Confession is the characters. I thought the main characters are very well fleshed out (Connie's strong need for authentic self-expression, Elise's own insecurities, and Rose's internal conflicts). Not only they defy the usual pitfalls, but they are also written in a tone that felt very realistic to me: particularly the subtleties of the characters' emotional turmoil. I thought these are all vividly conveyed throughout the book.

Thematically, there's a lot going on in The Confession. But thanks to the superb storytelling from both the characters' point of view and the subplots of Connie's novels within the pages, I was welcomed a lot of thought provoking moments as the revelation slowly unfolds. Plenty of food for thoughts on the notion of responsibility and how one approaches self-expression / self-knowledge in a relationship. In some sense the storytelling felt continuous to me even though this book is written from dual perspective & timeline.

While the actual meat of the book is pretty impressive, I think a possible drawback in the writing is the slower pacing & the multiple perspectives. Personally I think the slow pace and the presence of subplots worked well for The Confession in that it gracefully builds up the defining moments of the novel: something that couldn't be pulled off without unrushed storytelling. Though I can also see why this type of writing style doesn't work for readers who are looking for a quick & simple read.

Another thing that I hope to see more of is what goes inside Connie's novels that were written in the pages of the novel. While I think thematically mentions of Connie's novels enhanced the character arcs, I personally would love to see more of the fictional world that Connie has created (since they sounded intriguing).

A few disclaimers aside, I have discovered a new author to look more into from The Confession. This is an engaging and gracefully written novel about responsibility and self-expression. It also features a strong feminist streak and an emotionally engaging f/f relationship. If you're looking for a character-driven story that excels in feminist themes & storytelling, look not further than this title!

N.B. This book contains following content warnings: alchohol, vomiting, emotional abuse, childbirth, self-harm, and abandonment