This was a book that I added to my TBR just for the cover alone. I didn't so much understand what the book was about. What I knew was that there was a funeral to plan, secrets to root out, and the label "Southern Gothic" attached. So I figured I knew enough.
I'm actually glad I jumped into this with very little knowledge or any preconceived notions. Personally, I felt going in blind meant I was taking it all in without expecting x or y to happen. Especially when the book is about a culture I know so little about. I didn't have any expectations other than that I was excited to get the haunted house.
Which I will say, did not disappoint. It was creepy, and from Phee's point of view, gave me chills a couple of times. It was an odd house, with odd rooms, and there for a minute I was really worried about Phee. Because, despite all her flaws, I really enjoyed Phee.
This book isn't very long, but in just over a hundred pages, Phee really goes through it. I stressed about her ending up with the Doctor, who was a massive red flag. Then family secrets start flying, and she's trying so hard to do the right thing. And, you just feel her guilt.
But I like that while she felt her guilt, stewed in at places, it wasn't a yolk around her neck. It was there, always in the background. But it was one of the things driving her to give her Aunt the best homegoing she could manage. So while that guilt is a big part of the story, it also didn't drag along the story, pulling it down.
I also really loved Phee's story arc through this whole thing. She grows up through the process of sending off her Aunt, and you get to watch as she discovers the type of woman she wants to be, and that was beautiful.
This book is also hauntingly sad. At one point, I was absolutely crying, in public, while reading this. It's a book that's going to sit with me for awhile I think. Just in the back of my mind. While the story itself wrapped up nicely, I found myself sad that it was over.
Sad to leave Phee behind. Sad to leave this beautiful world that Eden Royce has created. While I know this story is over, I also know I'd read a book about Cleo creating the town and finding herself after her family turned their back on her. It's such a wonderful world Royce created, and I need to check out other books she's written.
Because while this book broke my heart in places, it was wonderful.
HAPPY READING!!
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