This is the fourth book by Andrew Joseph White I've read, and the second of this year alone. And in the most complementary way, I've reached a point with his work that writing a review is hard because I've already said it all. It's hard to find new ways to say that White is revolutionizing YA and writing some of the most important social horror stories of our modern age. Once again, AJW writes a brutal, unflinching and poignant story that pulls absolutely no punches. Once again, he writes brilliant and complex characters that make me feel seen and loved amidst (and because of) their struggles. Once again, he absolutely crushes it.

White shoots to kill and has never once missed the mark. And this bullseye is a stunning love letter to the Southern working class about class warfare, systemic oppression, generational trauma, and family.

Thank you so much to the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

CW: violence, blood & gore, gun violence, injury detail, fire, immolation (past), addiction and withdrawal, child death, police brutality, animal death (not the dog on the cover, I promise), death, outing, transphobia, deadnaming, midgendering, bullying, hospitalization, emesis, medical content, car accident (past), underage drinking, internalized ableism, death of family members