Reviewed by Isabella Agostino

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Disclaimer: I read Roxane Gay’s review on Goodreads before diving into this debut novel, and it was spot on. I, too, wasn’t convinced of the protagonist’s strong feelings toward Vladimir, even though the narrator kept pushing that message.

By the end of the novel, it’s clear that the protagonist’s manic feelings for Vlad were meant to be read with some skepticism. Throughout the story, she’s angry and confused about the scandal caused by her husband. She’s frustrated and weighed down by lingering guilt, which fades when she thinks about Vlad. She and Vlad are set to meet on the same day as her husband’s hearing. We are not meant to separate the protagonist’s feelings for Vladimir from her feelings about the scandal. He’s a foil for her marriage.

The novel is a sweet surprise in many other ways. The plot takes an unexpected turn, especially toward the end, and there’s a lot of subtle attention paid to the protagonist’s relationship with food, body image, and youth.

As others have said, this is a great read for academics or anyone familiar with that world. Ahhh, the campus novel! And an Upstate New York one at that—classic.