Writing for The Guardian, Safah called the novel " a dark and chilling tale of abuse and secrets, of love and loss, of silence and courage." Safah further highlighted Berry's writing style, writing that the novel's "second person narration was one so unique and almost lyrical, with a rhythm and a kind of music I've never read before. Each chapter is usually only half a page long, sometimes less, it keeps with the way Judith might think, in short sequences. She's a very calculating kind of person and seems to always see deeper than others, as if her lack of speech opened her eyes and ears to a far more intricate world only she can see and the narration portrayed it wonderfully."
