A review by jennyshank
Daphne by Will Boast

5.0

Daphne, in myth, transforms into a laurel tree when pursued by Apollo, while Daphne in Will Boast's arresting new novel similarly freezes when overcome by emotion. Boast's Daphne suffers from cataplexy, a rare condition that causes strong emotions to paralyze her muscles. She's forged a life in bustling contemporary San Francisco by keeping her days regimented to guard against hits of feeling and surprise, which cause her muscles to give out and land her in a heap on the ground. Boast's crystalline, visceral writing, and Daphne's winning, no-nonsense attitude are transfixing. She's on constant guard against love and other perturbations in a city that relentlessly churns the spirit and presents people who may be worth the trouble of loving them.