I Love You Don't Die

by Jade Song

Acclaimed author Jade Song (Chlorine) returns with her latest literary exploration: a lyrical, poignant, and heartfelt novel about the meaning of love, friendship, debt, depression, and death in New York City—a coming-of-age for a new generation, in the vein of Sally Rooney and Ottessa Moshfegh.

For as far back as she can remember, Vicky has been fascinated and obsessed with death as the only inevitable thing in life. From living above a Chinatown funeral parlor to working at a celebrity start-up for bespoke urns, she has surrounded herself with death—in her home, in her work, and in her ever-growing collection of zhizha, paper creations meant to be burned for the dead, adorning the walls of her apartment. Yet, though living in Manhattan and working her dream job is all she ever wanted, she still struggles to have meaningful connections—or find any meaning at all—in her life. Too often she spends the day in bed, only drawn out from time to time by her best (and only) friend, Jen.

That changes when a dating app leads her into a throuple with an artist and a labor organizer, who offer exactly the kind of love she needs. For some time, it’s perfect, but no one understands better than Vicky that all things must end. As doubts grow over the love in her life, her friendship with Jen, and her professional success, the oddly comforting abstraction of death starts becoming something else altogether. With everything beginning to feel hollow and temporary, Vicky must decide how to keep moving forward. To try and hold on to what she has, or to once again do what she does best: destroy.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Literary Fiction, LGBT, Queer, Contemporary, Audiobook

288 pages, Hardcover

First published March 17, 2026

About the author

Jade Song is an artist and writer whose next book is Ox Ghost Snake Demon, a short story collection based on the Chinese zodiac animals forthcoming Jan 2027. Her other books are the novels I Love You Don't Die and Chlorine, which won the Writer's Center First Novel Prize and the American Library Association Alex Award and has been translated into multiple languages. Song pole dances and lives with too many books in Brooklyn.

Reviews

[emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

the type of vibe i bring to the function

(thanks to netgalley / libro.fm)
(review to come)

[Marcus (Lit_Laugh_Luv)]

I never thought I'd DNF a book by Jade Song, but alas, at 65% I am certain this will be a two-star read, and I don't see the point in investing time into it. As someone who loved Chlorine, I was excited by this release, but it missed the mark for me. It felt like a regression from her debut.

The premise of the book centres around mortality, depression, and the disillusionment that young people experience as a result of capitalism, climate change, burnout, gentrification, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Interesting premise, but the satirical commentary casts aside nuance entirely. We often get tangents and monologues about societal injustices that feel too shoehorned in; for example, the wailing sirens of an ambulance in the background turn into our protagonist reflecting on whether or not the patient has insurance, whether or not they can afford it, and whether or not the insurance system will con them. These monologues are constant and forced into scenes that are otherwise unrelated.

The cast of characters in the novel is limited, yet they aren't given any character development. Vicky comes across as melodramatic, and her mental illness does not feel particularly nuanced or personalized. Her cynicism feels very cheesy (e.g., she hates romantic movies because "like everything good, they always end"), and results in her self-sabotaging actions feeling entirely incongruous with her very self-aware monologues. Her past is seldom explored, and ultimately leaves her a very shallow narrator. Also, minor critique, but despite her mental illness and complete ambivalence towards her job, she is somehow a star performer, even putting in the bare minimum. It all feels a little cliché.

Other characters also feel more like caricatures than people - Vicky's boss is the stereotypical workaholic, bootlicking capitalist. Her best friend is a stand-in for wellness influencers. Her attraction to Angela and Kevin is built solely on projection, and their relationship has no organic development. The reader is just expected to take everything at face value.

Lastly, though likely no fault of Song, the marketing lists this as "in the vein of Sally Rooney and Ottessa Moshfegh" which entirely misrepresents the book. It is darkly comedic, tongue-in-cheek, and other than the genre overlap, I don't see the comparison. Had I known this was more akin to Emily Austin or Halle Butler than the aforementioned authors, I would have adjusted my expectations accordingly.

Overall, a long rant to basically say: this isn't the book I expected, which does not mean it is a bad book or others shouldn't read it, but it's not the type of literary fiction I enjoy. Thank you to William Morrow for the ARC!

[Mai H. · Rating 2 out of 5]

As someone who loved CHLORINE, this is heartbreaking for me to rate. I love death. I love Asian American representation. I love queer representation. Why didn't I love this?

I started off liking this well enough, but the death/friendship/throuple storylines got more convoluted as time passed.

Death - The workplace was interesting enough, but Urnie was a little much for me.

Friends - Some friends need to be dropped.

Throuple - I'm ngl the woman was more interesting than the man. Generally is this way.

And then I skimmed the last 1/3, because it dropped off in quality.

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow

[Sidney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was immediately pulled in by the cover alone & then I read the synopsis & thought "yay, a new weird girl lit fic to dive into" & well...what I got instead was a sad but tender story about love, friendship, mental health & death.

As a former sad girl I immediately related to Vicky. She's sad, lonely, wants to love & to be loved but doesn't always know the best way how. When things get tough or emotions are too high she's prone to self isolate/self sabotage. There's a lot about Vicky that I think people will relate to, which makes her feel a lot more real as a character.

Jen x Vicky's relationship shows us that even at our darkest, when we feel the most lonely, as long as you have that one person you're never truly alone. The relationship between Vicky, kevin & Angela felt a little...awkward?? I don't know, I just didn't really get the point of making the romantic relationship a throuple if we only focus on Angela & Vicky..what exactly was the point of Kevin if we see him for what felt like a chapter & a half? I get they were bonded over being depressed baddies but Kevin as a character felt unnecessary. For a big chunk of the story I forgot Kevin was even supposed to be part of the throuple because it's so focused on Angela & Vicky.

The writing is poetic, really capturing the longing & the grief throughout the story. There is quite a bit of rambling sentences going on that felt like filler to take up space on pages. Some of the dialogue lacked depth as well. Overall, an enjoyable read just make sure you're in the right headspace before diving in!

3.5 rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review

[Anna Dupre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding books that manage to encapsulate a current, lived in experience are hard to come by. Normally, it's years after a specific moment has passed that literature can reflect the deep uncertainties of a time, the darkness, the life, the love, the joy, the death, and the loss. To ask a book, no, an author - another human living this same incredible yet, harrowing experience that we are - to ensnare all those feelings seems like a really, really monumental task. Sure, we can all lament about the economy, our friends, and politics; but, to write a story with style, finesse, and palpable heartbreak that unpacks life's current conundrums is a damn accomplishment. And Jade Song has done so with I Love You Don't Die.

Summarizing a book like this feels trivial when so much complicated ground is covered. But the big, thematic brushstrokes of I Love You Don't Die paint a picture of adult angst, petrifying fear of the state of the world, walling off all threats as self preservation, vulnerability in every variation, love of every sort, and grief in equal measure. Coming from me, a 27-year-old trying to make the "right choices" and let the "right people" in, Song's ability to accurately and poignantly depict so many of the anxieties surrounding these topics walloped my angsty heart. And maybe it's just the artist's mindset, but writing about the struggle of love in such a timely light feels necessary in connecting with our peers, our colleagues, our friends.

You see, Jade Song writes about love as a threat - the closer you are to someone, the harder you love them, the closer to annihilation you grow. Death is inevitable, and to live a life under any other impression feels futile. This mantra feels so true as avoidance of pain seems to be part of the central coda for human existence. Yet, love finds a way. In the places you don't expect, from the smallest of sentiments to the greatest of people. And where are we then? When we care, but are depressed? When we yearn, but are exhausted? When we want to live, but we are terrified?

This feels more like a philosophical rant than a review. And, maybe it is. But this is where I Love You Don't Die has left me: in a state of reflection, immensely filled with gratitude for art like this novel, and in total awe of Jade Song.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 🫶🏼🫶🏼Whew. This book took me by surprise. I read Chlorine and wasn’t a fan, but I really wanted to give this author another go and I’m so happy I did!

In this book we are following Vicky who works a remote position at home, which is perfect for her because she really doesn’t want to live… or she likes the idea of not living…but she has this best friend Jen who is her lighthouse(codependent at times for sure) who checks in on her and loves her.

Vicky decides she wants to get back into dating..mainly because Jen pushes her to so she meets up with this other couple and they start dating..to an extent.

I loved Vicky so much. Her life has shaped how she views love and the limits she has set around it. While her and Jen don’t have this perfect friendship, I found it refreshing.

The ending of this book had me 🥹🥹

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC!

[Jan Agaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you liked Ripe by Sarah Rose Etter, you'll definitely enjoy this book.
This had all the elements of a 5-star for me, especially at the end, which is one of my favorite things to happen in book endings, but it was missing ✨️that✨️ 5-star feeling ya know? With that being said, I found so much of this book extremely relatable through several characters. Each character had such a strongly unique voice, and im glad we got chapters from the four main ones. I think about death all the time and am one who is hyperaware of my mortality so this was a perfect book for me to pick up.

[Mark Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an advanced
copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I was a big fan of Chlorine, and was very exited to get to preview her next release: I Love You Don't Die. In this novel, Song steps away from the more horror aspects of Chlorine as she touches on so many topics: Late Stage Capitalism, Labor Rights, Climate Change, Sexuality, Privilege, 3rd generation immigrant identity, Polyamory and non-monogamy. But most of all its about depression. Depression and the way it affects how we handle the tough things in life. The way this book is almost trying to do it all without taking away from the main story is insane.

Our main character, Vicky, struggles with depression as she works for a trendy tech-bro funerary company. Her avoidant attachment style basically runs her life and dictates how she handles all of her relationships, even in her choices to seek out couples rather than one-on-one
connection. As someone who has struggled with depression, I really resonated with each of the characters. We get insights into our side characters as well, who are each handling their own grief and mental issues in different ways. I wouldn't say any of the characters are exactly likeable, but this book sure was. Highly recommend, but be sure to take a peek at the TW list if you are sensitive to things

[Adrienne L · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up.

I suspected this probably wouldn't live up to Chlorine, and I'm sorry to say I was right. Sprinkled throughout, there are bits of insight and black humor about corporate sell-out culture and exploitation of marginalized groups, self-aggrandizement, and the monstrosity that is social media, but overall the story was as much of a mess as its characters were disingenuous and unsympathetic. I was mainly bored, the insta-love of the throuple was unconvincing, and the end was nonsense.

Rounded up because the best thing this book does, and does well, is immerse you in contemporary life as a young person in New York City. I'll still read more from Jade Song in the future; I'll just hope for much better.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

For all my Sylvia Plath and Ottessa Moshfegh girlies: this one’s for you.

This speculative fiction novel is steeped in death, grief, suicidal ideation, and the raw, complicated beauty of friendship. It follows Vicky, an Asian American woman whose life revolves around death literally and emotionally. She works at a company that specializes in helping people pre-plan their funerals. She struggles to form close connections, haunted by intrusive thoughts and vivid dreams of losing those she loves. Her mind is a battleground of suicidal ideation and deep, aching loneliness.

This is Vicky's story as she attempts to navigate young adulthood while living with major depressive disorder. Though there is a romantic subplot, the emotional core of the book is her relationship with her best friend, Jen. Their bond is messy, real, and heartbreakingly intimate. It's rare and refreshing to read a story where the protagonist isn’t "saved" by romantic love, but by a soulmate of a different kind: a best friend who sees her, understands her, and holds space for her pain when she can’t hold it herself.

The book is dark and lyrical. It doesn’t tidy up grief or glamorize mental illness, but rather sits in the discomfort. The prose is beautiful, melancholic, and precise.

If you liked Chlorine, you’ll find familiar threads here: an Asian protagonist, themes of mental illness, and the search for identity. But this novel carves a different and more intimate path. It’s haunting, human, and unforgettable.

[Melanie (meltotheany)]

2026 most anticipated list <3

Chlorine ★★★★

[Stacy (Gotham City Librarian) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The parts of this that I liked were little moments throughout in which the author really nailed a specific feeling, like being out at a bar late at night with friends when you’re young and everything is suddenly bright and magical, or how it feels to let all of your anger and stress dissolve into an incredible meal. Those sorts of experiences.

In some ways, main character Vicky is kind of relatable. But in others, she’s very frustrating. And that only intensified as the story continued. Her job at the urn company was interesting at first, but eventually I felt like it was encroaching too much on the rest of the story. Even so, not a lot happens in this book as far as plot until probably the last third or so, but I also wouldn’t call it a “just vibes” book, either.

There are empty conversations between characters that I didn’t want to be present for. (I don’t like meaningless small talk in real life, so I don’t enjoy it in books, either.) Another example would be the conference calls Vicky has to do for her job. And the ending felt melodramatic and over the top, especially given Vicky’s prior behavior. I mean, I know she’s struggling but I wasn’t buying it. It probably sounds mean to say that she came across as performative, but I’m going to say it anyway. (I’m being vague on purpose.) I understand why the POV switching was done for various chapters, but it felt uneven and disorienting.

I’m giving this one a 2.5 rounded up to 3. Parts of it that dealt with mental illness and addressed different sexualities felt real and capably explored. But the overall story and much of the scene work holding the chapters together didn’t keep me incredibly invested. I do have this author’s other book “Chlorine” waiting on my Kindle and I plan to read it when the weather gets warmer.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

Please mind the triggers on this one, especially if Depression/Suicidal behavior is a no go for you.

Biggest TW: Disordered eating, Anxiety, Suicidal Ideation, Substance Abuse, Racism, Depression, Self-Harm

[Stitching Ghost · Rating 5 out of 5]

It seems I'm in the exception here, but I loved this book. It was a 4 until near the end at which point it took me from 0 to sobbing in the span of 2 pages.

It isn't an action heavy book, it isn't even a story of deep emotional growth, I'd even say it's a little self-indulgent at times, but there's something about it that just worked for me that slowly sank its claws into my head and didn't let go.

The character can be a little bit prickly and dare I say, somewhat (very) annoying, but there's something relatable and endearing about her. The prose isn't overly stylized but it was pleasant enough.

Would recommend for people who enjoyed Diavola (ILYDD isn't horror but if you vibed with the character in Diavola I think you'll like the one in ILYDD).

[Misha · Rating 5 out of 5]

(rounded up from 4.5)

Chronic depression is a bitch, and this is a book that will showcase that to its fullest extent. This is my first Jade Song book, and I did enjoy the skilful way she captures a moment in time that is fleeting but somehow relatable. A birthday outing with people you love and singing karaoke badly. Being in a cemetery on a date with potential, and just inhaling. Finding someone whose sadness mirrors your own, while your partner doesn't have that shape of sadness in them. Pre-emptively escaping sadness because of the fear of being abandoned or numbing yourself to the idea of death because it fascinates and terrifies you. Incredible stuff with obviously heavy content warnings for depression and suicidal ideation.

[mary steven · Rating 2 out of 5]

im sure there is an unmedicated bisexual lady in bushwick who has a new favourite book after reading this

[Mallory · Rating 2 out of 5]

whatever girl, you could've just taken zoloft and gone to therapy instead of all that

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

She will descend back into her nightmares, the visions that had her screaming awake when she was fifteen years old after the death of her grandfather, which had brought the realization that no matter how hard and how deeply she loves someone, they will still die. A childhood lesson: Love did not save. Love meant grief.

▴▴▴

i can understand disappointment with this book, especially after jade song's fantastically surreal debut, chlorine. but this is a solid work of depressive fiction, bleak but tinged with a dark sense of comedic irony.

it's about stumbling through life, chronically depressed and passively suicidal, sabotaging relationships with negativity and noncommunication. i can relate to many elements of the self destructive depression narrative, but that doesn't make this a compelling or enjoyable story - the stale murky shadow of depression is not a pleasant place to inhabit, and this book puts the reader in that space.

our queer protagonist, vicky, lives in an NYC chinatown apartment over a funeral parlor, and she works on the marketing team for a corporation that sells personalized urns. vicky is fixated on death, and there's insightful commentary on the death industry and the commodification of all the details of death and dying.

there's also excellent representation of the crushing contrast that exists when you're deeply depressed and trying to survive by working a job that demands enthusiasm. such exhaustion from putting on that friendly team player mask every day, when all you want to do is sink into your bed forever.

it's hard to be a good friend when you're in a bad mental space, and i was cringing while watching vicky's many missteps. she is avoidant and she continually resists recognizing that loving someone requires showing up for them, being real with them, reaching out, being there even when it's hard to do so.

ultimately this book is about friendship, love, and the way the people we surround ourselves with can make a painful existence worth enduring. the relatively healthy nonmonogamy rep is enormously refreshing!

i appreciate the themes and the messaging, but unfortunately the first two thirds of the book make for a middling experience. it's slow, filled with dreary inner monologues and dull conversations. but i saw what was coming, and i'm glad i saw it through - the final few chapters are worth the patience it takes to get there.

it ends with angela's suicide, vicky's explosive grief and near suicide, a tender moment where she's saved by her bestie, then a wholly unbelievable arson. after such a slow book, i appreciate that the ending goes hard.

[Sheena · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was very not good... I loved Chlorine and this was so hard to get through. boring, repetitive, immature characters.

thanks to netgalley for an advanced copy of this book

[Taylor Penn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I Love You Don’t Die by Jade Song follows a death-obsessed young woman navigating loneliness, fragile friendships, and complicated love. As she forms intense bonds, she struggles between connection and self-sabotage. Moving through grief and instability, she searches for meaning in relationships that sustain and unsettle her, confronting what it means to stay, to love, and to keep going.

This is very much a feelings-forward story. I Love You, Don’t Die sits in the aforementioned loneliness, and grief. Capturing especially well the awkward space of wanting connection but not knowing how to hold onto it. The main character feels familiar in a frustrating way, making choices that isolate her even as she yearns for closeness.

Some of the relationships in this book stick the landing; especially that of Vicky and Jen feels grounding, honest, and necessary. The romantic dynamic, though, feels underdone. It drifts in and out, which made it difficult for me to stay invested.

True to form, Jade Song writes weird stories with a soft, poetic edge. At its absolute best, I Love You, Don’t Die captures longing with precision. At its weakest, it circles the same ideas without adding depth. In my humble opinion, a tighter edit would have strengthened the impact. Still, at its core, this was a mostly thoughtful, introspective read with moments that stick, even if the full picture doesn’t totally come together.

I found that some of my friends across Goodreads and Fable opted to DNF this book. I never considered stepping away, even when the trajectory of the book felt frustrating. I loved Chlorine, and while I only liked I Love You, Don’t Die, I’ll still pick up Song’s next release.

Thank you to the publisher for sending an advance copy!

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been compared to Rooney and Moshfegh, to me this felt like a slightly darker Emily Austin with a deeply interior and depressed protagonist.

There’s a real heaviness to this especially when it comes to suicide and suicidal ideation so be wary if this is a triggering topic for you. Additionally, these characters are complex and very unlikeable which may be offputting to some.

It’s rare to see ace and poly representation in litfic and even bi rep is pretty limited so I enjoyed seeing this here. While there is romance here, friendship is at the front and center, explored at its best and worst.

I also liked the exploration of Vicky’s identity as a 3rd generation immigrant who is both othered by white America and disconnected from her Chinese heritage.

There was something almost dystopian about this book despite it being set in the present day. It feels satirical in how it digs into the despair of late stage capitalism and trying to survive as a creative. It offers a sharp critique on identity as a commodity or a market waiting to be unlocked.

I did enjoy this, and I’m glad I picked it up despite not really vibing with Chlorine.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

[Jules · Rating 1 out of 5]

Immature novel of sad queer-ish 20somethings living in New York, stymied by ethical living under capitalism. Hopefully the page long paragraphs of musings of death, capitalism, food, sadness, art, etc were a kindle formatting error because by the last 40% my eyes were glazing over each time I reached one. Definitely too earnest for satire, with each opinion justified in dense text. I don't even know what to do with the end.
The one nice thing- I read one night when I couldn't sleep so it was a fast read.

[Ghoulfriend_pls · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
This is a dark and emotional book that’s like peering into a dark coffin. It shows the true depth of 6 feet and could possibly put a gravedigger to shame. This story has so many relatable elements in it that you’re bound to find at least one piece you relate to or empathize with. I think this will resonate with anyone who identifies as:
-Queer
-Goth
-Alt
-Emo
and/or anyone who has struggled with:
-Grief/Loss
-Depression
-Anxiety
-Self Worth
-Their job
-Balancing love for yourself with love for others

This book did a wonderful job of balancing struggles and dark subjects with clever tones and witty tangents. I don’t have a ton of patience for characters who are super self piteous or what I may perceive as “whiny” and given the title one could assume this is one of those-but it’s not. This is well balanced. The main character Vicky is morbid and has some real struggles but her growth and strength are inspiring. This also covers some interesting cultural traditions and ties one of them into the plot in an almost touching and clever way. I think this is definitely worth the read especially if you identify with any of the above, enjoy a reflective and introspective read, or enjoyed this authors other book Chlorine.

⚰️”Grief is illuminating but brief.”

This is one of the fun witty tangents I mentioned and I think is worth highlighting:

🛁”The sort of tub an urban explorer might photograph shoved onto its side in an abandoned former tuberculosis sanitarium, overflowing with darkness in the shape of a million uncontrollable Susuwatari—those spiky black spherical soot-sprites in Spirited Away —though her Susuwatari would be neither cuddly nor helpful. Hers would be vomiting out of the bathtub in the form of anxious thoughts, unstable emotions, and depressive behavior.”

[Queralt✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I rarely DNF anything, but Jade Song’s first novel annoyed me so much that I abandoned it pretty quickly. I found I Love You, Don’t Die to be better, but still very whatever. It’s the type of book that relies on hammering in sassy, quirky takes on a theme (in this case, depression) to keep the reader’s interest, at the expense of actually having a message, developing the characters, or building a plot. I guess it’s just a 100% vibes book and 0% anything else.

‘Chlorine’ really annoyed me because it kept describing bulking as something obscene when it’s not that deep. You eat more to gain muscle, then you cut. The end. This is gym 101 stuff. In this book, it felt like a “stop making fetch happen” situation, because it just kept repeating things we’ve all already seen on Tumblr without developing anything. Anyway, this novel can be summed up with one sentence: “It doesn’t make you special to be sad.” That’s all it is. A sad girl trying to get everyone’s attention, featuring Tumblr/Pinterest-style sentences.

1.5 stars. Rounded up even though I was annoyed and I found the book very forgettable too.

ARC received for free. This hasn’t impacted my review.

[Joy-Marie Karahkwiio &#x1f349; Canadian · Rating 4 out of 5]

TW!!!!! MENTAL HEALTH AND SELF UNALIVING


If you have any thoughts of self unaliving, suffer from depression and/or not “in a good frame of mind” I do NOT recommend going any where near this book. If I had read this book 15 years ago (it wasn’t even out yet, but that’s beside the point) I would’ve ended up in the hospital.

I am now more than ever in love with life and this books made me realize how much I’ve grown from when I used to suffer from severe depression.

Although these are strong topics that are discussed in within the book, they are very important to talk about. Very thankful that the author added different hotline numbers inside of the book.

[Liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

file under: books to tuck inside my ribcage

[Marie H.D. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m so disappointed by this. It’s not that it’s a bad book or anything, but I loved Chlorine so much that this just didn’t live up to it. There was so much packed into this book—too many themes and theses—that I lost the thread almost before I even reached the middle section. I understand what it’s trying to say, and it’s interesting, but I found the book far too confusing when it came to what its main goal actually was.

[claud · Rating 1 out of 5]

i'm sure i would've loved this book if i were still eighteen and miserable, but alas!

[Suki J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Bonnier Books/ Footnote Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars.

Vicky is a woman in her twenties living in New York, suffering from depression, and preoccupied with death. She is scared to form close relationships with people as she constantly visualises them dying, to the extent she will have vivid nightmares. Her only close friendship is with Jen, who she met at college.

Vicky meets a couple who are looking to invite a third person into their relationship, and ends up becoming close to them. As her feelings grow stronger she finds that life begins to cycle into a path of self-destruction.

I found this a very interesting and insightful read. I loved Chlorine by Jade Song, and I'm glad that I've had a similar experience with this novel. It was a dark look at mental illness, and I'd definitely recommend being in a good headspace when reading it as at times it was pretty intense. But what I really loved was the depiction of friendship between Vicky and Jen, in all its messy realness.

It nearly got to five stars for me, but not quite. However I thought it was a brilliant book and I feel it'll be one I'm pondering on for a while.

[Book Riot Community]

Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Books of 2026:

Song's debut Chlorine was one of the most visceral reading experiences I've had, and her sophomore novel sounds like a more-than-worthy followup. Vicky is obsessed with all things death. It brings her a comfort she's never had in making meaning or relationships in her life. Periodically, her best and only friend Jen can pull her away from spending her non-work time in bed. So when Vicky gets involved with a throuple thanks to a dating app, all seems to be changing for her. But it won't take long before death beckons to Vicky again. This one's got all of the weird girl vibes that make for excellent (and cringey) reading. —Kelly Jensen

[Leigha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Damn these girls are sad.
What do you get when you have depressed girls in a new but intense relationship and one of them is extremely codependent and never wants to be alone and the other one self isolates when feeling are too high and disappears for weeks at a time? A hot mess. Oh and Kevin is there too, sometimes.