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 have a fourth child. What role will the “latecomer” play in this fractured family?
The Latecomer is a family saga covering decades in the lives of the Oppenheimers. None of them are very likable, if I am being honest. Johanna had a martyr mentality that I didn't like. Salo was a jerk for doing what he did to his family. The kids were a product of their parenting. Harrison, an arrogant jerk. Sally, vindictive in ways that were cruel. And Lewyn was just Lewyn. When Phoebe gets old enough to develop relationships with her siblings, that is when I see some humanity in the triplets. They progress from horrible people into almost likable characters. The end was every mother's dream, and I really did like the ending. It was satisfying.
Bottom Line - There isn't anything flashy or shocking about The Latecomer. But it is a book that will suck you in until the very last page.
Details:
- The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz
- On Twitter
- Pages: 448
- Publisher: Celadon Books
- Publication Date: 5/31/2022
- Buy it Here!
- Thank you to NetGalley!
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