From the moment I cracked open this book, I was transported into Rainy and Gramps' world—a place where carnival lights flicker with secrets and every character feels like an old friend.

Gwen Banta’s wit is like a secret ingredient—sprinkled into dialogue so naturally that I found myself laughing out loud on my commute (earning a few odd looks). The pacing? Dangerous. 'One more chapter' turned into 3AM realizations.

What surprised me most was how deeply I cared about these 'unusual' characters. There’s a scene where Rainy defends their makeshift carnival family—I actually hugged my Kindle. The nostalgia for childhood fairs hit harder than expected, with descriptions so vivid I could smell funnel cakes.

Pro tip: Don’t start this on a work night. Like cotton candy, it’s impossible to consume just a little. Now excuse me while I binge Banta’s entire backlist—this is my third favorite after Enduv Road.