In her remarkable debut novel, Eliza Moss delivers a raw and unflinching portrait of modern love that feels both timeless and achingly contemporary. “What It’s Like in Words” follows Enola, a woman approaching thirty, as she navigates the complexities of an intoxicating but destructive relationship while grappling with unresolved childhood trauma and her identity as a writer.
The narrative unfolds over twenty-four hours while weaving through two years of memories, creating a tapestry of moments that reveals how easily love can become obsession, and how the stories we tell ourselves can both save and destroy us.
Writing Style and Structure
Moss’s prose is sharp and precise, with an almost surgical quality that cuts straight to the emotional core of each scene. Her writing style seamlessly blends literary sophistication with contemporary vernacular, creating a voice that feels both elevated and authentically millennial. The temporal structure—moving between past and present—could have been disorienting in less capable hands, but Moss handles it with remarkable skill.
Particularly noteworthy is how Moss uses repetition and variation to show the cyclical nature of toxic relationships.These recurring motifs serve as emotional anchors throughout the narrative, growing more poignant with each iteration.
Character Development
Enola
The protagonist’s journey from self-doubt to self-discovery is masterfully rendered. Enola’s character development is subtle but profound, shown through small moments of resistance and realization rather than dramatic epiphanies. Her struggle with wanting to be the “Cool Girl” while losing herself in the process feels painfully authentic.
Ruth
As Enola’s best friend, Ruth serves as both conscience and counterpoint. Their friendship provides the novel’s emotional backbone, offering a contrast to the volatile romantic relationship at its center. Their scenes together crackle with natural dialogue and shared history.
The Unnamed He
The male lead is brilliantly drawn—charismatic yet controlling, creative yet cruel. Moss resists the temptation to make him a simple villain, instead showing how his own insecurities and artistic ambitions feed into his manipulative behavior.
Themes and Symbolism
The novel explores several interconnected themes:
- The difference between love and obsession
- The inheritance of trauma
- The power of storytelling and self-narrative
- The complexity of mother-daughter relationships
- The tension between artistic ambition and emotional stability
Moss weaves these themes together with subtle symbolism, particularly through recurring motifs of water (the beach in Kenya, the bathtub scenes) and writing (the protagonist’s struggle with her novel, the importance of words and their meanings).
Literary Merit and Social Commentary
The novel succeeds both as a compelling narrative and as a commentary on contemporary relationships and creative ambition. Moss’s examination of how social media and modern dating culture intersect with age-old patterns of emotional abuse is particularly insightful.
Areas for Improvement
While the novel’s strengths far outweigh its weaknesses, there are moments where the pacing feels slightly uneven, particularly in the middle section. Some readers might find the temporal shifts challenging to follow, though this complexity ultimately serves the story’s themes.
Comparisons and Literary Context
“What It’s Like in Words” sits comfortably alongside works like Sally Rooney’s “Normal People” and Meg Mason’s “Sorrow and Bliss,” though Moss’s voice is distinctly her own. The novel’s exploration of toxic relationships recalls “Conversations with Friends,” while its handling of trauma brings to mind “Girl, Woman, Other” by Bernardine Evaristo.
Impact and Significance
This novel makes an important contribution to contemporary literary fiction, particularly in its nuanced exploration of emotional abuse and self-discovery. It’s especially relevant in an era where discussions about toxic relationships and mental health are becoming more open and necessary.
Final Verdict
“What It’s Like in Words” is an impressive debut that announces Moss as a significant new voice in literary fiction. While it occasionally stumbles in its ambitious structure, the novel’s emotional honesty and linguistic precision make it a compelling and important read.
Recommendation
This book is highly recommended for readers who appreciate:
- Complex character studies
- Experimental narrative structures
- Honest explorations of modern relationships
- Literary fiction with psychological depth
- Stories about writing and creative ambition
Note to Readers
Content Warning: The novel contains themes of emotional abuse, mental health issues, and references to suicide.
