The Adult

Natalie’s descriptions of her experiences and feelings are interwoven with a pervasive sense of loneliness and naïveté, yet they never failed to make me feel infinitely less alone, more seen. Any book will be tough to follow after such a raw, fast-paced, and relatable novel.

Simple prose perfectly captures what it feels like to be young, clueless, insecure, and absolutely consumed by another person, by your first love - perhaps in an effort to escape or numb those other feelings of insecurity. It’s almost like Nora became Natalie’s religion, something to hold tight to in a time of emotional transition. I admired Natalie’s ability to surrender to her obsession and love so completely. It was a reminder to do the same in my life, to trust the rollercoaster ride of love and youth, because you really have no other choice, and it’s a lot more fun the sooner you do it. I saw my own thoughts in Natalie’s thoughts of jealousy and doubt, and it made me feel like they are okay to accept, rather than fight against or neglect.

A book that did, in fact, change my life;

hopefully these will be long-lasting changes.