The Latecomer: A Novel by Jean Hanff Korelitz

4.3 (69)
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A New York Times Notable Book of 2022. A Washington Post Notable Work of Fiction An NPR Best Book of the Year A New Yorker Best Book of 2022 From the New York Times bestselling 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 have a fourth child. 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.

  • Suggested age range - Adult
  • Format - Hardcover
  • Product dimensions - 6.2" W x 9.4" H x 1.5" D
  • Genre - Fiction
  • Publisher - Celadon Books, Publication date - 05-31-2022
  • Page count - 448
  • ISBN - 9781250790798

Web ID: 15415166

Ratings & Reviews

4.3/5

69 star ratings & reviews

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1 year ago
from NY

Family Drama

The Latecomer is a slow burn tale about a wealthy Jewish family, specifically the three triplet siblings who feel no bond towards one another. Their father, Salo, has experienced an early tragedy, which shapes the course of his life and his future wife. Each chapter in this book focuses on a family member. There is quite a lot of history to the Oppenheimer family. The "Latecomer" blooms from a 4th child born via surrogate, Phoebe, much younger than her siblings. This book was a very slow go until Phoebe began to tell her story. Once Phoebe's point of view takes the steering wheel, I became instantly hooked. It is Phoebe who pulls this dysfunctional family together. Or rather exposes them. * This story is centered around so many themes: family drama, guilt, grief, class and race. While it is a slower read, it is a beautifully crafted tale, with very dry humor and enthralling family dynamics. While it took me a bit to get into this one, overall, I really enjoyed it! The Latecomer is slated for adaptation to a TV series. That, I cannot wait for!

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

1 year ago
from Atlanta, GA

Unique family sage

Salo Oppenheimer and Johanna meet in the most unlikely of circumstances, but manage to form a relationship, then a marriage. While Johanna falls in love first with a fabulous Brooklyn house, then with the idea of motherhood, Salo remains devoted to his own true love—art collecting. While Johanna maintains the illusion/delusion that they have a happy family life with their triplets (who barely tolerate one another), Salo finds someone else to love. And Johanna unfreezes their frozen embryo and finds a surrogate. Ostensibly a novel about this last child, the eponymous latecomer, this is really a family saga and a story about New York City’s transformation. Salo is impenetrable and seemingly uncaring, while Johanna cares too much. Salo is strangely reminiscent of Tom Buchanan—oblivious to those who he destroys. THE LATECOMER’s characters will stay with you long after you finish the story, with the secondary characters far more compelling and sympathetic than the protagonists, #TheLatecomer #NetGalley

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

1 year ago
from Georgia, USA

A deep, literary, clever family drama

The Latecomer, set in Brooklyn, is a remarkable novel. Admittedly, the start (1980s) is slow because there’s so much brooding; in fact, the subtitle Brooding in Brooklyn would be apropos. But things quickly pick up. The reader comes to intimately know the wealthy Oppenheimer family, from the first meeting of parents Salo and Johanna, under tragic circumstances, to their triplets born during the early days of IVF. The three siblings – Harrison, Lewyn, and Sally – feel no strong familial bond and cannot wait to go their separate ways, even as their father, Salo, broods and distances himself, and their mother, Johanna, seems obtuse about her family’s disconnectedness. The narrative arcs of each of the progeny - their school experiences (kindergarten to college) and wry observations speak incisively. Hanff Korelitz parodies late 20th century liberal and conservative treatments of religion(s), race, acquisitionism, and psychology. And with so many literary allusions and humorous plot twists! The eponymous “latecomer” might be the favorite character, but you won’t learn his or her identity until later, at which point you won’t be able to put this family drama down. Hanff Korelitz is the author of the novels The Plot, You Should Have Known (which aired on HBO in October 2020 as The Undoing, starring Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant, and Donald Sutherland), and Admission (adapted as a film in 2013 starring Tina Fey), among others. She’s married to an Irish poet, and they live in New York City where she hosts pop-up book groups in which readers discuss new books with their authors.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

1 year ago
from Dallas, Georgia

Fascinating look at IVF and family dynamics

Salo and Johanna Oppenheimer had tried having children. It was recommended that they try IVF. Eggs were harvested and 4 viable embryos were available. With no guarantee as to implantation, the doctor implanted 3. The arrival of the Oppenheimer triplets was a joyous event for their mother. How would three children that were born together get along? What happens to the fourth embryo? Jean Hanff Korelitz explores family dynamics in this deep look into the Oppenheimer family. She explores the bonds between siblings - are these bonds real? Does a sibling relationship change with tragedy? Her perspective on early childhood being an indicator of adult life is interesting and her characters are equal parts charming and frustrating. Being a sibling is complicated and messy. This book does an outstanding job of showing the frustrations siblings have with each other and their parents. Can they develop sustainable relationships without their parents? Check this wonderful story out and see.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

1 year ago
from Chicago, IL

Great read - complex family drama

Thank you to the publisher for early access to hthis book. This book was well written and densely layered - a complex family drama for those that enjoy Succession, etc. Very different than the Plot, which initially drew me to want to read this book. A pleasure to read.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

1 year ago
from NJ

Triplets Become Quadruplets

Jean Hanff Korelitz is becoming a favorite author, this is the third book I have read by this author, liked all of them but this is by far my favorite. This story is about a wealthy New York family, the Oppenheimers, who, thanks to IVF, eventually have 4 viable embryos, Johanna, mom, decides to have three of the four eggs implanted and gives birth to triplets. Her biggest wish and desire is for these three children to have a strong family bond and love each other. Actually though, just the opposite happens, the three really cannot stand each other as people. With dad, Salo, involved with his art and the triplets leaving for college, Johanna decides to unfreeze embryo number 4 and have another child. Kind of weird, right? I just loved the writing and family dynamics from each of the children’s point of view. I heard the author speak and love that Steve Martin, being a huge art collector, influenced her choice of artists to talk about in the story as well. Readers who enjoy family dramas, like ‘The Most Fun We Ever Had and ‘Ask Again, Yes’ will love this one.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

1 year ago
from Rockton, IL

Thought provoking!

It's been a long time since I read a novel that made me think about family relationships and dynamics as much as Jean Hanff Korelitz's "The Latecomer". At the start of the novel I quickly sympathized with Salo, a college student who is the driver in a terrible car crash responsible for killing his girlfriend and friend. However, my sympathy shifted frequently throughout this work, going from Johanna to her children (although not Harrison as much), and eventually reaching Ephraim and his mother Stella. Overall, I adored this novel and it truly made me reflect upon the importance of family, but also the notion that family ties don't ensure closeness and love. This book will definitely stay with me for a long time. Loved it.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

1 year ago
from NJ

Complex Family Drama

I really enjoyed The Plot last year and I was so excited to read The Latecomer. I loved this novel even more! It is a complex family story that is jam packed with drama and sadness with a backdrop of wealth and privilege, I loved going into the story mostly blind, and I would have preferred not even knowing what the title refers to. The author was so honest about how all families don’t resemble the perfect families represented in 60’s and 70’s TV shows, where everyone is so close, and any disagreements are resolved within the hour. Most families are gritty and raw and complicated and the author writes about all of it, which would make this such an excellent book club pick. Thank you to #CeladonBooks for early access to The Latecomer in exchange for my honest review! I was so happy to read it!

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com