In My Absolute Darling, 14-year-old Julia “Turtle” Alveston lives in isolation on the Northern California coast under the control of her abusive, survivalist father, Martin. Trained to live off the land and taught to trust no one, Turtle begins to question her father’s twisted version of love after befriending two boys and witnessing his escalating cruelty. As she fights to protect herself and a younger girl named Cayenne from Martin, Turtle must rely on her resilience and survival skills to break free. Gabriel Tallent’s debut is a harrowing coming-of-age novel that explores trauma, strength, and the difficult path toward healing.