Under the Influence

I went into Under the Influence expecting a run-of-the-mill coming-of-age story, but what I got was a searing and unapologetic exploration of the darker corners of the teenage experience. Simmons' writing is razor-sharp, and her characters are multidimensional and relatable, if often infuriating. The narration by Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell is superb, capturing the complexity and emotional depth of the story with precision and nuance. My only criticisms would be that at times the pacing feels a bit uneven, with some scenes feeling a tad rushed in comparison to others. Additionally, I felt that the supporting cast could have been fleshed out a bit more, which sometimes made it difficult to fully invest in their relationships with Dalton. Still, these are minor quibbles in an otherwise outstanding listen.