Review: The Conditions of Will

The Conditions of Will by Jessa Hastings
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Most families are dysfunctional-many are toxic as well

Okay, I need to talk about this book because I'm still thinking about it and have gone to reach for it a few times to reread it, but I hesitated because I knew I didn’t have the emotional fortitude for that trip again. Many times, I put the book down and thought about my own family of origin and our dynamics.
Georgia is the kind of character who gets under your skin—she's intelligent and broken and honest in a way that makes you want to shake her and hug her at the same time. And Sam Penny? Don't even get me started. This man has the emotional intelligence of a therapist and the communication skills most of us only dream about in our partners. He's basically perfect, and I'm obsessed.
But here's the thing—this isn't just some fluffy romance. Hastings digs deep into family trauma and all the messy, ugly stuff that shapes us. She writes about addiction, grief, and toxic family dynamics without making it feel heavy or overwhelming. It's raw and beautiful, and the kind of book that makes you highlight quotes until your pen dies.
The writing is gorgeous—like, actually poetic—and Hastings has a way of describing love that made me stop and reread sentences because they are so perfectly crafted. This book is definitely a reread plus a recommend, and a permanent fixture on my shelf.

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