The story is told according to Katie's point of view and showcases the family unraveling as Eric is suspected to be tied to the young man's death.

[2] To capture the feeling of a teenage girl, she used social media platforms such as Instagram and Tumblr, and listened to music including Hull, Sleater-Kinney and the Savages.

[8] There is an element of Greek tragedy in the narrative, exemplified by Drew developing scarlet fever and Katie's worry that she is living in a "sick house".

[13] Booklist called the novel a "dazzling tale" that "explor[es] the agony and urgency of their desire, the unknowability of others, and the burden of expectations laid on the gymnasts.

"[12] Library Journal highlighted Abbott's strength for creating unpredictable plotlines, noting that "the plot consistently confounds expectations with its clever twists and turns.

"[6] Pittsburgh Post-Gazette echoed Kirkus's review, writing, "Rather than curve balls in the plot, it’s the chilling emotional twists that make the story so intriguing.

NPR's Maureen Corrigan called the book "a masterful thriller that also offers an eerily precise portrait of the way teenage and parental cliques operate.