Skye is a queer Black woman in her late 30s. She is hilarious, independent and unapologetically herself. She is also kind of a mess. With lingering hurt and resentment from her past, she actively avoids deep connections with people. And, running a travel business that keeps her away from her home base in Philly for months at a time, she’s pretty good at it. 

If Skye were my friend or family member, truthfully, I’d be frustrated with her. So often she thinks the right thing but then says or does the exact opposite. She’s the friend that you’ve known and loved forever but she just can’t seem to pull herself together and you’re kind of sick of it. But as a reader- I must protect her at all costs, regardless of her flaws. She’s not ignoring 𝘮𝘺 texts and showing up drunk at 𝘮𝘺 events so it’s fine.

In her 20s, Skye donated her eggs to a friend struggling to conceive. Now one of those eggs is a curious and clever 12 year old girl named Vicky who just skipped her way into Skye’s life. Begrudgingly, Skye attempts to establish something like a relationship with Vicky. It’s unexpected, complicated, awkward… and all kinds of beautiful.

Speaking of awkward, Skye recently hit on a stranger at a record store who turns out to be Vicky’s aunt. Of course this happens.  Skye is the Queen of Awkward.

While the plot is unique and engaging, the character development was the real win for me. I will be thinking about Skye and hoping that in my imaginary world where she continues to exist, she is holding close to the people who want to be there to catch her when she falls.