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A review by amrsalehduat
Moon Dust in My Hairnet by J.R. Creaden
5.0
J.R. Creaden's Moon Dust in My Hairnet is the kind of book that challenges you to put it down—a challenge I kept losing from the first page all the way to the last, except for the brief moment when I finally managed to get some sleep. A small victory that passed quickly when my Kindle fell on my face and woke me up. Oh, I wasn’t joking about this story being gripping!
In all seriousness, I’ve never encountered a story that deals with survivor’s guilt and grief through such a unique, autistic lens that I could also call cozy. This could probably be traced back to the incredible voice Creaden gave their main character.
Speaking of which, Lane, the protagonist, was a very strong lead. She felt less like a fictional character in a story one might read and move on from, and more like a real person one might know in real life. Which is great since the entire story, from the tone to the plot, hinges on her. Fortunately, she was very much more than perfect for the task. A sentiment that is quite wholesome on a meta level now that I think about it. I very much fell in love with Lane and couldn’t help but root for her. So much so, in fact, that I found myself screaming at her a couple of times that she shouldn’t compare herself to her sister because she is great. I really can’t stress enough how much I adored Lane.
One incredibly fun thing Creaden added to their story was the epitaphs. Granted, I am a sucker for those, but I’m always annoyed by them when they don’t add much to the narrative. Here, they helped make the world feel alive. I especially loved reading the ones about the menu of the day.
All in all, Moon Dust in My Hairnet is a story that matches its protagonist; at first glance, it starts out simple, yet with each page turned, a new level of complexity is revealed that encourages the reader to think and reflect. It’s an incredible debut by J.R. Creaden, and I can’t wait to read their next work.
In all seriousness, I’ve never encountered a story that deals with survivor’s guilt and grief through such a unique, autistic lens that I could also call cozy. This could probably be traced back to the incredible voice Creaden gave their main character.
Speaking of which, Lane, the protagonist, was a very strong lead. She felt less like a fictional character in a story one might read and move on from, and more like a real person one might know in real life. Which is great since the entire story, from the tone to the plot, hinges on her. Fortunately, she was very much more than perfect for the task. A sentiment that is quite wholesome on a meta level now that I think about it. I very much fell in love with Lane and couldn’t help but root for her. So much so, in fact, that I found myself screaming at her a couple of times that she shouldn’t compare herself to her sister because she is great. I really can’t stress enough how much I adored Lane.
One incredibly fun thing Creaden added to their story was the epitaphs. Granted, I am a sucker for those, but I’m always annoyed by them when they don’t add much to the narrative. Here, they helped make the world feel alive. I especially loved reading the ones about the menu of the day.
All in all, Moon Dust in My Hairnet is a story that matches its protagonist; at first glance, it starts out simple, yet with each page turned, a new level of complexity is revealed that encourages the reader to think and reflect. It’s an incredible debut by J.R. Creaden, and I can’t wait to read their next work.