The Catch
A rich and risky text ... Creat[es] an unreliable but fascinating relationship to reality ... A deliciously slippery conundrum ... The “book within a book” gimmick doesn’t flatten the characters or their motivations; if anything, it helps expand them, breaking open time and existence so we can better see what’s inside Clara, Dempsey and Serene ... Daley-Ward’s prose also shines from the start ... Not all of these experiments are so clearly successful, though. The book’s ending offers up several possible conclusions. It comes off a tad messy or overgenerous ... By harnessing both a poet’s heart and attention to language as well as a fresh ear for millennial humor and drama, Daley-Ward has penned a metaphysical experiment on grief, trauma, family and longing that holds all the excitement of a big summer read. The promises of Daley-Ward’s debut fiction are the same as some of the book’s darker motifs: It’s addictive and might take a lifetime to release you.
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Daley-Ward ventured into the world of fiction and created a genre of her own ... Daley-Ward illuminates the complex workings of the mind in a tale filled with intrigue and speculation that will leaves readers guessing long after the final pages.
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Elegant and unpredictable in the best possible way ... Inventive ... Daley-Ward explores the tension between the twins beautifully ... The novel ends with a genuine shock, but it’s earned—it’s a surprising conclusion to a beautifully written and structured book.
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