[BWF] Alone With You in the Ether by Olivie Blake - 3 stars

[Jen K]

Aldo is neurodiverse, a theoretical mathematician teaching and working on his dissertation at the University of Chicago. Regan has her own bipolar mental health challenges and an artist but also an excellent forger. She is volunteering at the Art Institute as a docent after being found guilty of counterfeit. Both struggle with how to fit in and find their own way in life. They meet accidentally and are struck by curiosity for the other who also doesn't quite act as expected in society. They start off with 6 conversations because of bees and hexagons and try to figure out themselves alone and together beyond those conversations.

The story is very much a slow one with theories and feelings and character study. It is intense and dense. I'm not sure I loved the characters but I appreciated hearing their voices. The author has similar struggles which she shares at the end.

BWF Tenacious Trailblazers: Sad x 33