Queen of Faces by Petra Lord

Published Feb. 3, 2026 from Henry Holt and Co. 

1: A strong opening image. 

2: That’s a lot of crying.

1: This employer does not sound like a nice lady.

2: The image of the trash can being carried is a little vague. Could be more descriptive about its shape.

3: I don’t like the sentence fragment here, I feel like it’s being used more for convenience than effect.

1: Awkward phrasing.

2: Nice imagery.

1: Vague pronoun use, “it” could refer to the trash can or the ledge.

2: Could use more description of the seawall’s layout, I'm having trouble picturing it.

3: Weirdly phrased.

Verdict: Compelling premise but not for me.