A review by jaclyncrupi
Heartsease by Kate Kruimink

4.0

Heartsease is so structurally interesting. At first I was confused by the switches from Nelly’s first person narrative to Lot’s third person perspective (in which Nelly has just died no less). But these perspective shifts allow us to explore the layers of grief and connection between these two sisters who lost their mother far too young. Another challenge Kruimink gives herself is to set the first section of Nelly’s perspective in a silent retreat. Once you start to appreciate the perspective shifts and timeline you can just enjoy getting to know and understand these women and how they navigate through the world. The prose is beautifully written. This was a delightful surprise of a novel that caught me off guard with its close examination of grief, old and new.