Although this book invokes theatre as its Muse of choice, reading Perfect Hurt, for me, was more like watching dancers on a stage, marveling at the daring of various leaps and the skill of their landings, at the chiseled musculature of perfect form. One could easily lose oneself in the pleasures of this book -- an intellect exulting in its scope, a melodious voice testing the limits of its range -- but to yield to this temptation would miss the depths that reward more sustained attention. A charismatic and impressive debut.

– Monica Youn