A review by cortnyjoy
A Dress the Color of the Sky by Jennifer Irwin

4.0

A DRESS THE COLOR OF THE SKY is raw, poignant, and painful while also being frighteningly relatable...even if my life and Prue’s life don’t share many circumstantial similarities. Irwin did a stellar job of weaving the main character’s inner monologue with the events of the story in a way that humanizes Prue enough to create a kinship. I so appreciated the author’s willingness to go THERE—the dark, hidden, socially unacceptable places—in many scenes. They were adeptly crafted to increase reader empathy rather than for dramatic effect. In fact, I wanted even more nitty gritty. In a world of filters and sensors and glossing over and avoiding to save face, I admire Irwin’s bravery and vulnerability with this story. To expose human struggle as an author is to invite questions about our own heart, mind, and experiences. She went for it and achieved success in my opinion. If you’re looking for a story that doesn’t tread on the surface, but digs into the uncomfortable, unsavory aspects of humanity and relationships WHILE ALSO exploring the power of healing and self-love, this book is for you. Sometimes the worst parts of one season prepare us for the best parts of another. Sometimes the things we think will save us aren’t as we imagine. Bravo, JI. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️