Publishers Weekly called the book a "pipercing domestic drama" and concluded that "Gu's quick pacing tends to merely skim the surface, but as the women's frustrations reach a boiling point, she keenly portrays the toll taken by gendered expectations.

"[3] Library Journal's verdict was: Via breezy, engaging storytelling, Gu's realist novel explores the roles of women, with protagonists who discuss parenting and work-life balance while contending with meeting social, cultural, and societal mores.

[4]Marie-Helene Bertino, in The New York Times, stated that "The novel expertly renders women's inner suffering" and said "Gu is an exciting writer in the contemporary renaissance in Korean art.

[6] PEN America said that the book "offers a sharp critique of gender roles, parenthood, and shared responsibilities, inviting readers to reflect on the cultural expectations of women in South Korea.

"[7] Gu stated that she didn't have to rely on stylistic, technical devices in order to drive her story forward, as "It was more than enough to pull from the unfair treatment I’ve experienced as a woman.