In a debut novel that revels in language often raucous and raw, Alice Botelho takes an uncompromising, hard-hitting look at mental health.

Alice is twenty years old when she is admitted to a psychiatric clinic. For her, it’s a new and shattering experience, but other patients have been there for a long time. In this microcosm, affinities are born. Despite her illness, her idiosyncrasies, and her meds, Alice’s youth and vivacity win over other patients. In particular, she forges intergenerational friendships with a group of very endearing women. They each have their own unique stories, at once banal and violent. By spending time with them, Alice gradually becomes aware of her own challenges and reclaims her own history.