Hoping he will provide the escape she so desperately desires, she embarks on an emotionally dangerous journey that slowly begins to consume her.

[14] Wootliff has discussed what appealed to her about the book, as well as the universality of the material for both men and women: "What I loved about it was the feeling of infatuation, of addiction to somebody [...] You know those relationships where you think 'why did I ever go there?'

"[15] A sentiment articulated by critic Mark Kermode of The Observer: "Anyone who has ever defined themselves through the eyes of others, or sought self-worth in unworthy romance, will recognise both the agony and ecstasy of Kate's predicament.

The website's critics consensus reads, "Elevated by its stars' magnetic chemistry, True Things mines complex, character-driven drama from an ill-advised romance.

"[17] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 68 out of 100, based on 22 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

"[23] Referring to the central character of Kate, Noel Murray of the Los Angeles Times highlighted the use of PJ Harvey's song "Rid of Me" as a "simultaneously sad and thrilling assertion of her own right to exist".