Book Reviews
More ambitious and assured that Onstad’s debut, but just as gripping.... Onstad’s timely new novel examines how and why adults choose to be parents, and what happens when you don’t have that much choice in the matter.... Ana and James are thoroughly convincing and their agony and triumphs compelling in this impressive sophomore effort.
Globe and Mail
A literary excursion into the poignancy and murkiness of loss, parenting and marriage.... This is sharp, edgy writing.... Onstad mines the emotions of flawed and wounded characters.... Impressive...intelligent, ambitious and unsettling.... Most definitely memorable.
Winnipeg Free Press
Unsparingly honest.... Never sentimental but always compassionate, this compelling book is hard to put down.
Hello Magazine
Everyone will recognize the all too common yearnings and failings of two people trying to figure out what will make them happy.
Chatelaine
This new book is very good, to get that out of the way: Onstad’s writing is always vigorous, funny and mean-because-it’s-true.... Onstad perfectly gets at her characters, and their so-called “status life”...the rhythms of rich, white city parents, who used to be young and who have problems that are at once real and magical. Writing all of it like this, so cruel and right, makes it feel even worse than it is, but by its very telling, a little bit better.
National Post
Revelations are both joyous and heartbreaking, and Onstad handles both aspects well.... The characters’ motivations, self-revelations, and discoveries are carefully elucidated, such that the reader is able to form connections not just with Ana and James, but with the supporting characters as wel.... Onstad delicately builds up layers and peels them away.
Quill & Quire