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For fans of Miriam Toews, Effie Black's Women's Prize-nominated debut novel offers a humorous and heartfelt look at a taboo subject. Main character Jessica is a lesbian scientist in her 30s studying the evolutionary benefits of suicide in nature. Her interest is born of a longstanding familiarity with suicide, as readers learn early on of her father's attempted suicide when she was five years old.
In addition to this, Jessica has a close friend who died of anorexia and a significantly younger sister battling addiction. She has also recently ended a long-term relationship with her former partner, Jamie, due to a disagreement on whether to have children.
Jessica's interests and cynical attitude shift when she decides to help her sister, Freya through pregnancy and child rearing.
This book is fantastic in so many ways. In a sometimes glib tone, Jessica explores the impact suicide has had on her life and its potential benefits (from a scientific perspective) for humanity. This book is by turns profoundly touching and darkly funny. I also loved the fact that Jessica is a lesbian aunt, and felt this book did a great job of explaining and exploring the bond between aunt and niece, which is something you don't see a lot. It's a shame this book didn't make the shortlist, but Effie Black surely has a bright future ahead. I love a small book that packs a punch, and this is definitely a great one.