About The Book
Laila Piedra only takes risks in the sci-fi worlds she writes about. When her supportive creative writing teacher is replaced by Pulitzer Prize-winning Nadiya Nazarenko, who is harsh and unimpressed, Laila becomes obsessed with earning her approval. She begins to feel like she has to choose between perfection and sanity, but deep down, Laila wonders if letting go of her mentor is the only way to truly find herself.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3Zw5gRy

My Rating

This book left me with mixed feelings. While there weren’t any major issues with the plot or characters, I just didn’t feel a strong connection to either. It follows Laila, a sci-fi fan who wants to be a writer, and her life changes when a new teacher takes over her creative writing class. The teacher becomes a big influence in Laila’s life, causing her to question both her writing abilities and her identity.

A key theme in the book is about losing yourself while trying to please others. The new teacher, even though they’re a successful writer, doesn’t really teach, which leaves Laila and her classmates feeling uncertain about their work. This really hit home for me—it reminded me that creativity is personal, and trying to get others’ approval can make you lose your own voice.

Redgate hints at Laila’s mental health struggles throughout the story, which become clearer halfway through. These hints add depth to her struggles with writing, friendships, and her sexuality, making her feel more real and layered.

That said, the event that triggered Laila’s mental health decline didn’t quite make sense to me, and I often found myself wondering why it had such a big impact on her. However, I believe the author used it to symbolize how a single event can deeply affect someone who is already struggling mentally—it was about losing stability and support in her life.

“Let’s short circuit in the rain.”

The romance in the book was okay, but I didn’t feel very connected to the love interest since the other characters weren’t fleshed out enough, in my opinion. The focus is mainly on Laila throughout the book, so we don’t get much insight into her other relationships, which made it hard for me to fully invest in her romantic storyline.

What stood out the most for me was Riley Redgate’s writing style. It’s engaging and kept me reading, even when I wasn’t totally sure where the story was going. While I probably wouldn’t read this book again or strongly recommend it, I do think it’s well-written and touches on some important themes.

Overall, the story explores finding your identity and the risks of looking for validation from others. It didn’t totally click with me, but its strengths lie in its writing and thoughtful approach, which could appeal to readers who enjoy character-driven stories.

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Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny