A review by jess_esa
Self-Portrait with Boy by Rachel Lyon

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Like watching a slow car crash. The inevitably of what’s going to happen is palpable from the first page but you can’t look away. The characters who live in the apartment building are colourful and you really feel their absence when the inevitable does happen. You have to wonder at the life Lu would have had if she’d made a different choice. 

I need compensation for the rat scene which had me harrowed and somewhere between throwing up and crying.

The ghost and haunting scenes were a real surprise and I found them genuinely spooky at times. 

This book is definitely going to stay with me and I’m glad I finally got round to it!