Eliza Moss’ debut novel, WHAT IT’S LIKE IN WORDS, offers an intense and intimate portrait of a toxic relationship through the eyes of Enola, a twenty-something struggling writer. This intricate story follows Enola as she comes to terms with her family trauma, provoked by her involvement with a somewhat older man, B.

"Is the ending a cop-out, a neat resolution or a cleverly anticipated denouement? That’s for the book club discussion."

Meeting B at a London pub, Enola is drawn to his louche confidence. He is also a writer who has an agent and a book contract. They pair off right away. But just as quickly, their relationship reveals its unhealthy nature, though Enola’s best friend, Ruth, sees it long before her besotted pal does. B manipulates Enola with subtle insults and criticisms, preying on her need for approval. She’s self-aware enough to recognize this, asking at one point, “Is his voice just louder in my head than mine?”

A disastrous visit to Africa, where Enola had lived as a child, becomes one of the moments when it seems that she will escape this addiction. But eventually she is drawn back in yet again.

Moss’ narrative can be challenging. And because the obsessive nature of her protagonist’s relationship is the main story, it can feel suffocating, even as it effectively mirrors the confusion and emotional turmoil that Enola experiences. The portrayal of gaslighting is particularly striking, drawing readers into Enola's world where reality is continually questioned. We are often tempted to reach into the book to shake her into recognizing and then escaping these abusive relationship cycles. However, just as this becomes an overwhelming need, Moss presents a brilliant conclusion that keeps us involved until the very last page.

Is the ending a cop-out, a neat resolution or a cleverly anticipated denouement? That’s for the book club discussion.