This is a story about 3 women. Simone, Fiona, and Liv, and their relationship with a charismatic professor at a small liberal arts college. Simone, Oliver's wife is left behind in Berlin. Hence a love triangle between Oliver, Liv, and Fiona. The characters were not particular likable, although Fiona was a somewhat sympathetic character. The plot and story seemed to drag on, not one of my favorites.

This is the story of women, especially Simone, Fiona and Liv, and the man who became the catalyst for change. Oliver Ash, a briefly famous and infamous writer took a job in a small American college and became the center of attention for the young women there. His fame came from both his writing and the fact that his academic career had been derailed because he slept with an underage student.

Simone is his wife, left behind in Berlin, struggling with a failing project and difficult child. She was victimized by his magnetism and has been involved in a failing marriage.

Oliver managed to disappoint all these women. Amazingly, even the the adoring Fiona who was incredibly attracted to him, found herself disappointed and walking away. Despite her inability to get over the death of her sibling, walking away from Oliver seemed like a turning point in her life.

This book sweeps through an American landscape and into both Paris and Berlin. It is somewhat disappointing to read another novel about college friendships and the inevitable disintegration after graduation. I found the young women superficial and I found myself sympathetic to Simone, Oliver’s beleaguered wife.

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very enjoyable and well written book, and it is the rare book in which all of the various unlikable characters actually become likable as you get to know them. I was sad to say goodbye to them at the end. It had been a nice year in their company

TW: About 80% into the book a girl confides to her friend that she was raped, and the friend asked if she was just drunk. Putting it in there now even though it’s not a big part of the story because some people may need to know that going in.