squiggly_cj 's review for:

The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry

4.5

challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I’m trying to work out how I feel about this book. It reminds me at times of Ursula Le Guin’s The Lathe of Heaven, with its creative power of dreaming but quite different ethics. I don’t like the condoning of rape or how the interpersonal harm of addiction is treated. I liked the weaving of Indigenous stories into a complex cosmology. I struggle with themes of self-sacrifice/suicide being justified. 

So overall I think I appreciate that this book challenged me, and I enjoyed its explorations of time and multiple universes.

New word: meniscus

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts