Lexi Kent-Monning's debut novel, The Burden of Joy, is an incessant dagger to the heart. After Lexi's husband leaves her on Valentine's Day to join a commune that time forgot, her home stops belonging to her. Instead, she discovers a parade of dead animals, a man who turns her blue eyes green, true love in equal parts cocaine and MDMA, and a revolving door of solitude. In the end, Lexi must ask herself, is her craving to nurture virtuous or hedonistic