Catriona Ross’s The Which Word takes readers on a magical South African journey through Cape Town, sisterhood, self-discovery and the extraordinary power of language.
Cape Town, South Africa (28 September 2026) – There are books you fall head over heels in love with, books you enjoy, and then there are books that leave you thinking about the ideas they introduced long after you have turned the final page. The Which Word by South African author Catriona Ross sits somewhere in that third category for me.
It is a strange, wonderfully South African, slightly witchy journey into sisterhood, self-discovery, community and the extraordinary power of words.
At the centre of the story is Rafaella “Rafi” Paterson, who moves into The Plex, a suburban complex where absolutely nothing seems quite normal. The doors are painted different colours, meditation is encouraged, body corporate meetings take place in a dark warehouse, and even the neighbours seem to exist somewhere between eccentric and supernatural.
And then there are the godsisters: Elvi and Bruna, who arrive in Cape Town for a reunion and become part of a much bigger mystery when an academic disappears, and a rather unexpected sex diary becomes a clue.
What I loved most about The Which Word was the sense of place. Ross knows Cape Town, and it shows. The city is not simply a backdrop for the story. Its streets, contradictions, beauty and darker edges become part of the atmosphere. There is something particularly satisfying about reading a magical story that does not need to transport us to some faraway fictional kingdom. The magic can happen right here, in our own backyard.
And that, to me, is one of the things worth celebrating about this book. It feels proudly South African without needing to announce itself as such.
Then there is Rafi. Her journey is really the heart of the novel. Watching her begin to understand herself, her place in the world, and the power she carries is what kept me invested. The idea that every person has a particular “word” that belongs to them is such a beautiful premise, particularly in a story so interested in identity and the way language shapes us.
The book also has a lot to say about women and the relationships between them. Sisterhood is not presented as perfect or uncomplicated. These women have histories, personalities, frustrations and differences, but there is an underlying sense of connection that gives the story its warmth.
There is also something lovely about the way The Which Word brings community into the story. The Plex may be an eccentric place, but it is still a neighbourhood, and the relationships between people matter. In a world that can often feel increasingly disconnected, there is something rather wonderful about a story reminding us that the people around us can become part of our journey in unexpected ways.
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The important thing is that the sexual content is clearly intentional. Ross is exploring sensuality, the body, identity and the way we talk about sex, and other readers have also noted that these scenes form part of the book’s wider exploration of selfhood rather than simply being there for shock value. It just wasn’t the part of the book that spoke to me, and that is totally ok.
What did speak to me was the magic.
Not the broomsticks-and-spells kind of magic, but the idea that something extraordinary might be hidden inside ordinary people. That our words matter. That knowing ourselves matters. That the women around us can help us discover parts of ourselves we didn’t know were there.
I also enjoyed the mystery woven through the story, particularly the idea of trying to work out the different power words along the way. It gives the reader a little puzzle of their own to solve and adds another layer to a story already playing with language. Other readers have mentioned trying to work out the ten power words themselves, with varying degrees of success.
Ultimately, The Which Word wasn’t a book I fell completely in love with. And I think that is okay; I wanted to be honest but also celebrate the parts of the book that absolutely shine.
A book doesn’t have to be perfect for you to appreciate what it is trying to do.
What I can wholeheartedly celebrate is Catriona Ross taking something deeply rooted in South Africa, placing it inside a magical and mysterious story, and giving us female characters who are complicated, curious, powerful and connected.
I loved the Cape Town setting. I loved Rafi’s growth. I loved the emphasis on sisterhood and community. And I loved the central idea that somewhere inside each of us there might be a word waiting to find us.
Just maybe not during one of those sex scenes. Because, apparently, my word is Prude.
Back of the Book
Your word will find you, whether you can handle it or not.
Your word is loyal; it does not give up on you. It will stay with you until the end of your life. No one can take it from you — unless …
Each door at The Plex is painted a different colour. As Rafi Paterson soon realises, this is no ordinary suburban complex. Residents are urged to meditate, body corporate meetings take place in a dark warehouse, and the martial arts trainer from the end cottage offers to attack her to improve her self-defence skills.
What the hell?
Then the godsisters arrive for a two-week reunion in Cape Town: Elvi, the impeccable younger sister, and Bruna, the glamorous Italian who once lived with the Paterson family as an exchange student. When an art academic disappears after a party at The Plex, the godsisters turn to the sex diary found under Rafi’s bed for answers.
If you had the ability to avert a global disaster, would you step in — even if it meant never finding your way back?
Infused with subtle magic and sensual realism, The Which Word is a novel about selfhood, women’s bonds, and the dangerous power of language.
If you would like to learn more about this book, visit its website here. It is also available at all major literary retailers and online.
Interested in more proudly South African books? You can find more of our book reviews here.
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