I did NOT finish this book. I couldn’t do it. The writing was just not for me. I had really been anticipating this book and I’m so upset that it was a let down. The plot was amazing and had so much potential, and I feel like the book just didn’t do it justice. Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review

For a book that didn’t immediately hook me from the beginning, The Latecomer turned out to be a very well written, engaging, and entertaining novel.

The story follows three very different triplets growing up in the 1980s and 90s who were born (quite miraculously) due to lots of luck and multiple IVF attempts. Harrison, Sally, and Lewyn all have distinct personalities and interests and, despite the efforts of their mother, don’t seem to get along very well or even particularly like each other (or their parents for that matter). As the book’s title suggests, a surprising fourth child enters the family thanks to one remaining embryo, just as the triplets are preparing to leave for college. Secrets come out, lies are told, bonds are made, but you’ll have to read the book to find out the rest.

The book focuses a lot on religion, race, education, sexual orientation, and family dynamics and I enjoyed that there were a lot of different topics discussed that I don’t normally find in the fiction I read. The particular emphasis of Jewish and Mormon religions was intriguing, and there were some discussions regarding race that opened my eyes to the things people do to convince others that they’re someone they’re not.

Now about the characters…I do agree with some of the reviews I read that many of the characters in this book are not particularly likable at all. Some (I’m looking at you, Harrison) are honestly downright awful. I do think that as the book progresses, they become more tolerable, because what teenagers are really tolerable in the first place? I particularly liked Lewyn, and even Sally grew on me towards the end, with their younger sister Phoebe being a steady constant from the beginning, as the only person in the family that seemed “normal” and relatable.

The book is written in chronological order, and gives you a lot of insight into the experiences of each character, so it was a very easy story to follow along with. The start was a bit slow for me but I can say that each chapter had me more and more engaged and curious about how everything would end up.

I’m looking forward to grabbing a copy of the book once it comes out next Tuesday and I think you should to!

Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon for granting me access to this book!

So tough to write a review of this overlong novel which started so well but which seriously sagged midway through for me when I realized I didn't care about the ups and downs of privileged and kinda hateful college freshman as much as I did about their parents. Salo and Johanna married and, after IVF treatment, had triplets-Sally, Harrison and Lewyn- who don't like one another or their parents. Salo, a banker, loves art above all (including his wife and children) and he carries the burden of an accident during his college years in which two of his passengers were killed. One of those who lived turns up and changes his, and the family's life, especially because it leads to the birth of Phoebe, the latecomer who narrates the last part of the novel. There's a certain arrogance to this novel- the artists mentioned, the lifestyle, that the anti-woke Harrison goes to the nonexistent Roarke (seriously?) College where the all male population grows its own food and so on before heading to Harvard. I'm not entirely sure why Korelitz make LDS such an important thing for Lewyn in the addition to everything else. Sally knows her father's secret and keeps it to herself far past when she should have shared but then she also keeps other secrets from her brother Lewyn. So much dysfunction, so much drama over small things when the big events (including the really big one) involving Salo are almost glossed over. I've liked Korelitz in the past and kept reading, in part because I like her writing and in part because I was waiting for something more than whiny teens. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Others might find more in this than I did.

The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz delves into the lives of an affluent Jewish family in Brooklyn. I previously read and loved The Plot, so I was excited to receive an advance copy for this one. I found it fascinating and was immediately drawn into the characters' stories, which started from the late 1960s and moved into present-day. Though the book is fairly long, it doesn't feel that way when reading it. I absolutely adore the author’s sharp writing style. I listened to the audiobook which was masterfully narrated by Julia Whelan.

Thank you Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio for providing this ebook and audiobook ARC.

The Latecomer was a long, slow burn character study of the Oppenheimer family, a Jewish family in New York with triplets. They are one of the most dysfunctional groups of people I’ve read about in a while and each character was fascinating in his own way. Alternating chapters eventually tell the story of each family member (starting back with the grandparents) and how finally we arrive at the present. It was perhaps a bit too wordy & could have been shorter but overall a unique and rich story.

Summary: The Latecomer tells the story of Salo Oppenheimer and his wife Johanna. From their first meeting under tragic circumstances, to their struggles to conceive via IVF, their lives are filled with both drama and the mundane as they try to create a happy life for their triplets Sally, Harrison and Lewyn. Facing an empty nest as the triplets go off to college, while simultaneously dealing with the secret her husband has kept for decades, Johanna decides to have another child, “ The Latecomer,” in hopes that this fourth child will help heal their splintering family.

Thoughts: Let me start off by saying I do not think this one is for me. While I often look for books rich in character development, this book was all character, and little plot. And yet at times, it felt as though there was too much going on in the plot line (not sure how both could be true at the same time, but here we are). The author does a deep dive on the relationship of a dysfunctional family, The Oppenheimers, over many years and how they tackle issues of religion, racism, sexuality, etc.

This is book is a great depiction of the age old theme of past traumas of the parents negatively impacting the lives of their children. And while that on it’s face is a really interesting storyline, the execution here just didn’t work for me. At times it seemed to be more stream of consciousness than a streamlined plot. It was so verbose, I felt myself losing track of what was actually happening from one moment to the next. I think the same story could have been told in 300 pages and would have been a much more succinct and enjoyable book, at least for me.

While it wasn’t a favorite of mine, this book does have some very positive reviews. If you are on the fence, I would check this one out especially if you are one who loves intensive character analysis and epic family dramas.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for the advanced copy of The Latecomer. I loved the previous book written by Jean Hanff Korelitz that I read, The Plot.
It took a while for me to get into this book, but once I did it did not disappoint. I liked how the triplets did not really care much for one another, as I am used to twins, triplets, etc. having some kind of bond that nobody else understands.

Reading this felt like a chore - one that requires patience and a sense of hardiness, with not very much rewarded in return. At least for me, personally.

I enjoyed JHK's previous book, ‘The Plot,’ because of, well, the plot. lol. I really liked the content and the way the mystery was the focus of the story. It was enough to help me get past the difficulty I had reading JHK's writing style. But unfortunately, there is no plot in this novel to help me do that again.

This is well-written, without a doubt, but it's just not something that caters to my personal reading style. The narrative is very descriptive-heavy, with long paragraph after long paragraph of description. Very dense, very long, and very much in need of some editing down. Of course, this is apt writing for character-based stories, such as this. If you really enjoy character studies, then you might find the drawn out nature of the narrative to be engaging enough.

Overall, I did like the concept. I actually learned a lot about jewish families. But JHK's writing style just isn't for me.

Read this if you like: stories of grief, generational trauma, crazy family dynamics, slow burns

This book follows the story of the wealthy, New York City-based Oppenheimer family. Salo and Johanna have trouble starting their family so they use IVF. They end up with triplets, Harrison, Lewyn, and Sally. They are all pretty distant from their parents. When the triplets leave for college, Johanna, faced with being truly alone, makes the decision to have a fourth child. That's where Pheobe, the latecomer comes in.

Thie book touches on the topics of grief and guilt, generational trauma, privilege and race, traditions and religion, and family dynamics. I feel like most people are going to love this. Honestly, I should have known from the size (almost 500 pages) and the description that it builds slowly that it would be far too slow for me. This book could have been cut almost in half and I would have loved it. I struggled. It's extremely character driven and wordy. Just because I didn't love it doesn't mean you won't.

**Check the triggers as there are a few**

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Celadon Books for the gifted copy! ❤️

I don't think I'm the target audience for this book as of right now.
Im finding it really dense and hard to get into. The way the story moves back and forth makes it hard for me to keep up with the writing. Also, I simply do not care about the parents and have no reason to push through. I wish the story were more linear, I think it would help getting through the beginning.
Maybe I will come back to it later.

Thank you Celadon for the eARC.

Pub date: 5/31/22
Genre: family drama
In one sentence: The wealthy, New York City-based Oppenheimer family is made up of three triplets - until latecomer Phoebe comes along.

This book has a little bit of everything - family drama, politics, religion, and discussion of race and class/privilege. If you enjoy books with detailed character studies, you might enjoy this one. I liked getting to know the Oppenheimer family, but the book moved more slowly than I would have preferred. The family drama part of the plot was the most successful in my opinion - the triplets dislike each other immensely, leading to some pretty entertaining conflict.

Thank you to Celadon Books for providing a NetGalley ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Latecomer tells the story of the Oppenheimer family, from the unconventional first meet of parents Salo and Johanna to the unconventional conception of their triplets through IVF to the (slightly more conventional need for but unconventional method of) conception of their later in life child.

This is my first book from this author (I have heard a lot of praise for her other novel, The Plot) and I really enjoyed her sharp, witty and smart writing style. I also enjoyed the overall Jewish-ness of the novel- growing up in this culture I related to so many aspects of this book. I found humour and comfort in it. May is Jewish American Heritage month so it was great to read another book with realistic Jewish representation.

This book takes family dysfunction to a whole other level! The slow-burn story follows the Oppenheimers pre-and post triplets to the college years. After reading so many books about the bonds of "multiples" (multiple siblings), it was refreshing to read a take where they just didn't like each other. AT ALL. No triplet ESP. No unbreakable link. Just another set of siblings who cannot stand each other and want to be as far away from each other as humanly possible.

This book reminded me a little of Liane Moriarty's Apples Never Fall (which I enjoyed), with feuding siblings, unlikable characters and a little twist at the end. I will say that Part II ran slow for me and I had to power through the middle. It was also quite lengthy with lots of detailed focus given to characters I didn't really much care for (my favourite characters was Johanna), I do give high praise to the very clever and dry writing and acknowledgement of a story which was as layered, detailed, and complex (as most families truly are). Overall a 3.5 stars rounded down.

Thank you to Celadon books and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Pub date is May 31, 2022.

. . . 𝓷/𝓪*
This book has been pegged one of the must-reads of the summer, and had received so much positive attention that we did not hesitate to request it from our ever beloved NetGalley.

Unfortunately, this was a no-go read for me. Stylistically, I found it really hard to get through, so much so that I simply didn’t. Get through it, that is - here lies the second dnf for me this year.

The premise of this book sounded so unequivocally “me”, but I struggled right from the beginning to connect with the story, the characters, and the writing in general - essentially in that order. The story felt a bit disjointed despite offering an origins start, the characters felt intangible, and then the writing was just not for me. Ultimately, it was the writing style that caused me to put it down - if I’m distracted from the story by the way it is written, there is little hope that I’ll be able to immerse myself and enjoy the book.

With that being said, just because it wasn’t for me, doesn’t mean that this couldn’t be an amazing experience for you - go check it out - some readers are absolutely raving about this one, and it could be just the right book for you!

And while I’m disappointed, not necessarily at the book so much as the unfulfilled desire for a great read, there’s a lot of promising potentials on my tbr shelf, so I shan’t be disappointed for long.

~👩🏻‍🦰

⧞ The Latecomer hits shelves May 31st - thank you to @netgalley & @macmillan for offering a digital advanced reader’s copy of this book.

I really enjoyed the Plot by this author and was excited to receive this arc. I felt like this was definitely in a different vein than the Plot, but I definitely did like it also. It was a tale about a family, specifically the very different lives of triplets who were born in vitro and their sister who was born later. The author deftly delves into the complexities of families and skillfully portrays the opinions of all three siblings. We don’t know who is actually narrating until later and it is a bit of an aha moment. The characters are all credible and realistic, and many readers will relate to the intricacies of families, the good, the bad and the ugly. The ending went in an interesting direction, which was both satisfying and heartfelt. This is a good one for book clubs.

I thought the plot sounded interesting, but this book wasn't for me. It was too slow and too wordy. I feel like the book was about 100 pages too long. I really struggled with this one,

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I'm going to start this out with the statement that I don't generally care for literary novels. This is most definitely one of those, with all sort of family drama. However, I was captivated by the writing, the word usage. I found it quite lyrical in places. I also found the fact we don't meet the narrator until the last third of the book novel and interesting.
There is no great mystery in the story, unless you count the things not said that might have cleared up misunderstandings. We have Salo Oppenheimer, who married Johanna, because why not? They had 3 children IVF because the other way wasn't working for them. The children, born together, were called 'the triples', even though they really weren't triples. They didn't like each other, and tried to get as far apart from each other as they could while still obeying their mother's rule about gathering on their birthday each year.
Salo collected art. Johanna tried to create the illusion of a happy family. The children concentrated on getting through high school so they could leave home and go to college elsewhere. Lives lived in parallel.
The children left for away school. Johanna remembered a fourth embryo, frozen at the time of the IVF procedure. Why not thaw it out, hire a gestational surrogate and have another child to raise? Up to this point, the lives of the Oppenheimers would have matched most other lives in their socioeconomic status. The new baby changed everything.
I liked this book. The new child has lots of personality, but then she would need it dealing with her siblings. This is a charming book. I'm glad I read it.
I received the copy of the book I read for this review from Netgalley.

Thank you to Celadon and NetGalley for the gifted ebook of The Latecomer! All opinions in this review are my own.

Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. I DNFed it 17% when I realized I didn't really care about the parents and couldn't push myself to get to the triplets' section.

The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz is my first book by this author. This book started slow, and I did think about not finishing but then all of sudden it kicks in and the pages started turning. I definitely changed my mind on this one! This is a complex story that deals with a dysfunctional family! The only thing that holds them together is their last name. A story that deal with privilege and tragedy, identity, belonging, race and class. These characters are complex and I would even say unlikable but they are tolerable. They are definitely multi-dimensional! I enjoyed this book by this very talented author, she really takes the family drama to a different level.

Thank you NetGalley, Celadon and Celadon Readers for an advanced copy of this truly captivating story in exchange for my honest review.
#netgalley #celadon #celadonreaders
#thelatecomer #jeanhanffkorelitz #arc

The Latecomer combines a family drama with elements of infidelity, race, class, religion and art. Korelitz does an excellent job of describing intense family dynamics where not only do the parents pull away from each other, but the siblings pull away from the parents and each other.

Conceived with the help of modern medicine, the Oppenheimer triplets are born into a wealthy, upper class family living in New York. Harrison, Sally and Lewyn are not close and can’t wait to go their own separate ways after high school. Faced with an empty nest and an increasingly distant husband, Joanna decides to use the fourth embryo thus bringing the latecomer, Phoebe, into this dysfunctional family. As Phoebe becomes an adult, she pushes each family member into confronting their secrets and complex relationships.

I found the flawed characters to be believable and expertly detailed. A contemporary drama that weaves modern issues of politics, race, real estate and art into the story, Horelitz’s newest novel is sure to be a big hit!

Korelitz is a successful American author whose last novel was "The Plot". This new novel is not a thriller, but more an examination of the relationships in a wealthy NYC Jewish family. It follows the parents and then the triplets who are born using IVF. They grow up wanting nothing to do with each other, much to their mother's disappointment. When the triplets are grown the mother chooses to use the one remaining embryo and the fourth child is born. This is a complicated story that deals with family, grief, sexuality, wealth and race. It is a good recommendation for fans of books such as Ann Patchett's "Commonwealth" or Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney's "The Nest".