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Would anyone notice if I never came back?

Louse Finch has been on my radar ever since her debut-- The Eternal Return of Clara Hart --captivated me in January and propelled her future books to the top of my TBR. Iris Green, Unseen definitely hit different to Clara, but it was an equally powerful read.

The experience of reading this book was not a pleasant one. Iris experiences one of the worst forms of betrayal, and the damage it does to her self-esteem impacts virtually every area of her life. There was something very depressing and very relatable about being inside Iris's mind as she constantly doubts herself, worries her place in the world is as someone unremarkable, unworthy of love and happiness.

As Iris feels increasingly unimportant and invisible, the author adds a touch of magical realism by having her literally disappear.

At times, it was a very frustrating book. I longed for Iris to speak up for herself, scream and shout, tell Theo to go fuck himself, and stop finding her value through Baker, but Iris's growth was slow burn and I think perhaps this narrative will be important for teens like Iris who haven't yet found the strength to stand up for themselves.

You know, looking back, this book feels honest, and sometimes that meant going in directions I didn’t want it to. I didn't decide how I felt about the book until the very last minute� I could easily imagine myself writing a very different review because� well, I think it’s because Finch offers up a story that favours honesty over satisfaction. Much in this book is frustrating and unsatisfying, but it felt true.

It is ultimately a message about letting go of sadness and anger for yourself because others may never learn. How letting things go can be a powerful tool in moving on for yourself. It’s not fair, of course, and often the bad guys don’t get punished, but why sacrifice all of your future happiness on them?