As always, I have tried to be as thorough and inclusive as possible, so please let me know if I missed anything by contacting me on the form on my website.
The short, spoiler-free list:
- Substance use and abuse
- Child (teenage) death
- Religious trauma
- Homophobia and transphobia (no deadnaming)
- Child abuse (past, offscreen)
- Domestic violence (past, offscreen)
- Family estrangement, disownment
More details are below the cut. These may contain spoilers.
Substance use and abuse
Characters drink alcohol, smoke weed, snort unidentified powders, and use opiates.
A character fatally overdoses on opiates.
Child (teenage) death
A 17-year-old character fatally overdoses on opiates. This is on-screen during a flashback.
Religious trauma
Ely is estranged from her Orthodox Jewish community of origin. Throughout the novel she feels conflicted about her place in Judaism, particularly in Orthodox Judaism.
Although religion is not a major part of Wyatt’s arc, his family of origin–which disowned him for being transgender–is Catholic.
Homophobia and transphobia
Ely suggests that her childhood friend Chaya, who is lesbian, would not have been accepted by their Orthodox Jewish community of origin.
Wyatt was dishonorably discharged from the US Marines under Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.
Wyatt was disowned from his family after coming out as a trans man.
Wyatt notes that sometimes people are unpleasantly surprised to discover that he is trans.
Child abuse
Wyatt and his brother Liam were physically abused by their father (past, offscreen). There is a dent in the wall of his childhood bedroom due to his father’s abuse.
Domestic violence
Wyatt’s mother was physically abused by his father. Wyatt mentions that she was pushed down the stairs while pregnant with Wyatt and his twin brother.
Family estrangement, disownment
Both Ely and Wyatt are estranged from their families of origin. Ely was “asked” to leave during the course of her substance abuse problems, at age 18. Wyatt was disowned in early adulthood for being transgender.
While attempting to reconnect with their families of origin, they experience varying degrees of acceptance and rejection.