Books like My Absolute Darling: A Novel by Gabriel Tallent

Turtle Alveston is a fourteen‑year‑old girl who has survived the loss of her mother and the turmoil of living with her charismatic but torturing father, Martin. Raised in isolation on the northern California coast, she roams the woods, tide pools, and rocky islands, using the wilderness as both sanctuary and training ground. Turtle’s social world is limited to middle‑school interactions and her father’s oppressive presence, until she meets Jacob, a high‑school boy from a seemingly ordinary family. Jacob’s friendly demeanor and genuine interest open a door to new possibilities, encouraging Turtle to envision a future beyond her hazardous household. With newfound friendship and a budding teenage crush, Turtle begins to use the survival skills her father taught her to plan an escape and pursue a life where she can claim her own identity.

First publish date: 2017