This is such a fantastic depiction of difficult familial relationships, there is tension, there is dread and the writing is absolutely beautifully done. I cannot recommend it enough especially if you enjoyed her previous novel. Julia Armfield has created an intimate portrait of the three sisters in this novel. There is such depth in each of their respective parts, and the creeping sense of dread from unclearly unsafe weather permeates the pages.

Julia Armfield is one of my new favourite authors, she has a way of completely drawing you in. I loved the three daughters in the story and how different their worlds forged them into being. Something else to admire was the explorations of grief, queerness and desire.

'Private Rites' follows the story of three sisters after the death of their father. The world is now covered in water & won't stop raining, the novel follows the sister's fractured relationship as they each navigate their grief, their love lives (or lack of) while also dealing with what feels like might be the end of the world. The story is told through a present day narrative that at times gives us flashbacks into the past of each of the siblings as they start to believe that their parents may have kept a sinister secret. . Nobody writes like Julia Armfield. Nobody. Her way of writing is so beautiful that it sticks with you and leaves you breathless. She has this way of creating characters that you instantly connect with and this you know personally. The way she writes about queer relationships is phenomenal. While reading this you consistently get that really sinister feeling that something is going to happen, it fills you with dread as you start to piece things together! I adored how she writes about the sisters relationship and I think any one with siblings can identify with regardless of circumstance. I thoroughly loved this book, as I knew I would! Julia is an insanely talented writer.

A big thank you to the publishers for an advanced reading copy. Julia Armfield does such a good job at focusing on the trivialities that survive in a world that is slowly ending. Rotating between 3 sisters, we are caught up in their drama and fraught relationships whilst the world slowly crumbles around them. Definitely one of my favourite books in 2024, I loved every part of this very realistic end of days tale.

I’m struggling to find the words for how much I adored this book. Julia Armfield has further cemented herself as one of the most talented and exciting authors currently writing. Private Rites is an exploration of sisterhood in a world that is sinking further and further underwater. It is haunting and beautiful, and centres queerness in such a meaningful and special way. I will be shocked if I read anything else better this year.