The Dangerous Price of Perfectionism
The Minimalist by Kailee Pedersen left me completely torn, but I’m happily rounding my rating up to 3 stars. On one hand, Pedersen’s writing style is phenomenal—she has an absolute death grip on the English language that kept me glued to the pages, finishing the book in just two days. On the other hand, it desperately needed trigger warnings. The emotional toll was intense, and the narrative needed a few more pages to let the reader breathe between heavy depictions of grief, self-harm, and mental health struggles.
Stylistically, the story is told through nonlinear snapshots of Mia’s past—recounting her childhood as the adopted daughter of an emotionally abusive mother, her first love, and her rise as a burgeoning composer under a harsh mentor. In the present, she’s grappling with the sudden suicide of her ex-lover, the death of her lifelong teacher, and the monumental task of completing his final manuscript. What follows is a freefall into madness as Mia becomes convinced that self-destruction is the only path to creating artistic brilliance.
To put it bluntly: things get incredibly dark. The writing isn’t the most accessible, but that dense, elevated prose is precisely what makes these characters feel like genuine musical geniuses. While I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone unfamiliar with classical music—or those who dislike deep dives into niche subjects—Pedersen is an extremely impressive writer. I’ll definitely read her future work. Tread lightly with this one, but it’s worth the shot if you’re looking for a dark, compelling read.
Takeaway: Perfectionism is dangerous, and sometimes you have to learn to celebrate the little wins.
.
