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The Latecomer

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About this listen

From the New York Times best-selling author of The Plot, Jean Hanff Korelitz's The Latecomer is a layered and immersive literary novel about three siblings, desperate to escape one another, and the upending of their family by the late arrival of a fourth.

The Latecomer follows the story of the wealthy New York City-based Oppenheimer family, from the first meeting of parents Salo and Johanna, under tragic circumstances, to their triplets born during the early days of IVF. As children, the three siblings—Harrison, Lewyn and Sally—feel no strong familial bond and cannot wait to go their separate ways, even as their father becomes more distanced and their mother more desperate. When the triplets leave for college, Johanna, faced with being truly alone, makes the decision to add a fourth child to the family. What role will the "latecomer" play in this fractured family?

A complex novel that builds slowly and deliberately, The Latecomer touches on the topics of grief and guilt, generational trauma, privilege and race, traditions and religion and family dynamics. It is a profound and witty family story from an accomplished author, known for the depth of her character studies, expertly woven storylines and plot twists.

©2022 Jean Hanff Koreliz (P)2022 Macmillan Audio Family Life Genre Fiction Psychological Fiction Witty

Critic reviews

"Jean Hanff Korelitz is an ambidextrous writer: not only can she write a tight and absorbing literary thriller like The Plot, but with The Latecomer she draws us in again, this time with her ease, grace and wit, in a satisfying novel that spans generations, lives and fates." (Meg Wolitzer, New York Times best-selling author of The Female Persuasion)
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Most relevant
If you are looking for a summer read to lose yourself in, this wonderful novel could be it. Proper old-fashioned family saga with super modern twists, intriguing characters and satisfying plot twists. Highly recommend.

What a joy

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In total
Agreement with other reviewers and have already given word of mouth recommendations to a number of people. It’s a book which builds, but grabbed me from the first sentence.
I love the clever way family dynamics and the curiosity as to how they work leads to examination of societal norms as well as a social acute social on certain demographics and cultural norms.
I agree that it’s a book we will all get something from . 

Fascinating book ( & another please read ..reviewer!)

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There are too many average to rubbish books out there. This is not one of them. A thoroughly engaging story and bingeable listen.

What a relief - A good book!

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I love a multi-generational story, and this is one of the very best I've read. The plotting is excellent, the pacing of the reveals too. Even though I saw them coming, the twists were still very enjoyable when they arrived.

The audiobook production is also spot-on. Perfect quality, and the narrator's accents for dialogue are in just the right point between being noticeably distinct and jerking you out of the story.

Brilliant

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I really liked the detail of this book and the development of the characters. The honestly of family dynamics

In depth a good listen

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