“It would be too painful to hold to every memory of every life we’ve ever lived.”
I would encourage anyone interested in reading Jade Song’s I Love You Don’t Die (William Morrow 2026) to first read the trigger warnings as the novel deals with depression and suicide, among others. If you need help or just someone to talk to, please dial 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also contact NAMI and The Trevor Project. Stay another day.
Vicky has been obsessed with death for as long as she can remember. She lives above a funeral parlor, she collects zhizha (miniature paper creations that are part of a beautiful Chinese tradition for the dead), and she works for a startup company for bespoke urns. Most days she can barely get out of bed. Her best friend, Jenny, works for a wellness company. They’ve been friends since college. She loves her. Vicky knows she loves someone when she starts dreaming they will die.
Vicky meets Kevin and Angela on a dating app. She likes dating couples because it’s less work for her. Her and Angela immediately hit it off – they’re both “sad girls.” Vicky often thinks about the death of those she loves. Angela often thinks about her own death. You can see where this is going.
The novel was delicate and gritty at the same time. I enjoyed it, but I would never read it again. (Is “enjoy” even the right word?) Song is a talented writer, and I Love You Don’t Die is an aching portrayal of love, longing, and loneliness. Call your friends.
A Girl Named Tommi 