Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

“The Absolutes” by Molly Dektar is a novel that delves into the depths of human desire and the complexities of power dynamics within relationships. Set against the contrasting backdrops of Turin’s aristocratic allure and New York’s corporate intensity, Dektar weaves a narrative that is as much about the internal landscapes of her characters as it is about their external experiences.

At the heart of the story is Nora, a young American woman whose encounter with Nicola, an Italian nobleman, sets her on a path of emotional and psychological turmoil. The novel explores Nora’s affair with Nicola, which begins with a chance meeting in the Alps and spirals into an obsessive relationship that challenges her understanding of love, danger, and obsession.

Not quite my cuppa, but could be yours. I mistakingly thought this one was more mystery than romance (and I was obviously wrong).

The Absolutes has no idea what it wants to be. is this meant to be a literary character study? A mafia romance? Or an erotic thriller? I'm not against the idea of mixing genres, but this wasn't executed well.

This was a mixed up file of a book.

Stereotypical portrayal of Italians...or are they really all mobsters, erotic lovers and art fiends?

I feel like it wanted to be literary fiction, but it tried to hard. Idk. I DNF this one, but I'm writing a review so the netgalley gods don't smite me

Woof! What a sexy, intriguing novel that had me enthralled. I was hooked by the complicated main character who gets caught up in a decades long obsession with a mysterious, Italian man that she eventually has an affair with. It's a fantastic New York book, and the pulsing city is the perfect backdrop to Nora's absolute undying crush on Nicola who seemingly takes advantage of her devotion. It's often hard to read, as many of Nora's decisions are terrible and we want her to let go and simply take care of herself. Content warning for domestic abuse.

I found this book really interesting, but all of the main character's relationships made me feel very sad. I was hoping for something more positive eventually.

one of those slow, quiet, hateable, beautifully written words of literary fiction that just makes the world go 'round for me.

As a teenager, Nora is sent to spend a school year with distant relatives in Italy. In a brief encounter, she meets Nicola, the son of a powerful and feared aristocratic family. Though their encounter was short, it forged a lasting connection that Nora couldn’t let go of.

A decade later, Nicola becomes a client of the New York City company where Nora works, and the connection she felt all those years ago turns into infatuation. As they begin an affair, Nora starts to see signs of danger. What started as attraction turns into something more sinister. Nora learns of a possible and secret plot that Nicola might try to overthrow his corrupt father, and she has to decide if the intimacy she longs for is worth the danger. It’s a sinister story of control, obsession, seduction, and the power of desire.

I had high expectations for this book after reading Molly Dektar’s first novel, but this one blew me away. Dektar deftly leads the reader on Nora’s journey, unveiling layers only as Nora discovers them. We are as seduced by Nicola as Nora is and then unsuspectingly caught in the same hypnotic and dangerous spiral. I found it as infuriating as I did captivating. This is a brilliant and terrifying story that you will not want to keep reading but will not want to put down.

Thank you for NetGalley and Mariner Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the advanced reader copy.

This week’s headline? After the affair

Why this book? Power dynamics galore

Which book format? ARC

Primary reading environment? Hospital and car

Any preconceived notions? Nope

Identify most with? “an ultraviolet feeling”

Three little words? “carrion, picked over”

Goes well with? Blood oranges, cigarettes, Palestrina

Recommend this to? I’m not sure (see below)

Other cultural accompaniments: https://lithub.com/beyond-tropes-on-writing-straight-characters-while-queer/

I leave you with this: “The words we said we’re not as significant as the way we occupied the space together.”
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The Absolutes is about an all-consuming affair between Nora, an American aspiring artist and writer, and Nicola, an Italian businessman with a corrupt family. The novel explores obsession and major power dynamics. The writing is, at times, beautiful and maybe poignant, but I can’t imagine this novel will stay with me due to a disconnect from the characters.

I’m not sure I actually liked this book. It took me weeks to get through about 40% of the book. I can't believe this book is only 336 pages because it felt much longer.

The Absolutes is now available.

Ive seen mixed reviews for this book, however I really enjoyed it. I think this book might be a bit outside of the comfort zone of people who are dedicated fans of certain genres because I am not sure how to classify this one. Its dark and sexy at times, but also conservative and restrained at other.

I was instantly drawn in to The Absolutes by the cover. In The Absolutes, we follow Nora, who is an anxious, American teenage girl who moves to Italy to live with some relatives where she meets Nicola, the son of a powerful family there. What felt like could have been an idyllic Italy romance, ends up being a massive thriller.

Would definitely recommend and categorize as a cool girl book.

The writing is a stellar portrayal of power and control. I whipped through the pages.
Many thanks to Mariner Books and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was in a bit of a reading slump this spring/summer but this book hooked me right back into reading!! From the beginning I could not put it down. This is one that I will definitely be rereading and sharing with my friends and family!

This veered too much into the romance genre for my taste - which is not a criticism of the book.

It is the story of a young American woman who becomes infatuated with an Italian aristocrat, whom she meets in Turin as a troubled teenager and then runs into again many years later in New York. She finds him mysterious and irresistible, but I rather found him arrogant and lacking in social skills and I wasn't willing to go along with the obsession.

I had exactly the same difficulty when reading Annie Ernaux's Simple Passion, finding it hard to believe that an intelligent and independent woman - albeit admittedly with a propensity to the dangerous - could be so powerless and make such irrational choices...

I loved the setting in Turin by the way, very well done and a very special city indeed.

Love, obsession, suspense!! Seductive as sin literature. I enjoyed reading and empathised the main character. Its a unique story. Although the character does romanticise abuse to some extent, so please proceed with caution if the subject is a trigger for you.

Thank you Mariner books for the gifted book!

I am so thankful to Harper Collins, Netgalley, and Molly Dektar for granting me advanced digital access to this jarring thriller. I couldn't put it down and can't wait to consume more of this like-minded content going forward.

Thank you to Mariner Books and Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

WHEW THIS BOOK. I actually finished it on July 10th, but waited to review it until today (July 17).

In short, some of the most compelling writing I've ever read. I feel like I highlighted half the book. Very interesting, albeit redundant (i think that was the intention) plot. Fascinating characters, interesting relationship dynamics, and surprisingly sensual.

This took so much brain power, but I'm pleased to have read this. I'd love to hear the author talk about some of the symbolism present throughout, in addition to the process of writing "The Absolutes."

A suspenseful and atmospheric story about love, danger and obsession! I found the main character, Nora, very intriguing and enjoyed reading her journey.

I wrote a line in my journal the other day about troubled men: "they're only sexy when you're writing a book dissecting them to be a NYT best-selling author." This book totally misses the mark on making troubled men sexy. And many other things. This book was astoundingly boring and incredibly confusing. It runs around itself in circles trying to make Nicola seem sexy and interesting and maniacal, so we can justify the main character's prolonged limerence with him while she sabotages her relationships and cries and whines. Other people call her out on it! She continues to exist in her Nicola-trance. This could have been a wonderful case study of limerence too, if it wasn't so pretentious and self-important and trying so hard to be cool. Instead it was a bunch of unbearable people talking about sex in incredibly vague terms, looking at art (and saying NOTHING about it. not only did they not say anything important, they just didn't say anything at all), and never actually making any conclusions that pretentious, well-loved books are famous for (anything by Donna Tartt, for example). It's a subpar book with passable writing, but not troubled or not troubled enough to say anything news-worthy.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for an ARC!

I had high hopes for this book based on the synopsis, but it fell flat for me. The writing felt very disjointed, and had short abrupt sentences, and this writing style really took me out of the story. I will say that the author does do a great job with imagery and dark topics, but they also went overboard with the philosophical jargon, and I just couldn't get past those aspects enough to overall enjoy the book.

This was interesting and, yes, thrilling but also a bit dark. I had no idea where it was going and it didn't really go anywhere but I enjoyed it all the same. It is very cerebral but if you've ever been obsessed with a person, you will fall into it quite easily. I definitely recommend this if you like beautiful writing and stories about obsession, even those that are a bit dark.

The Absolutes comes out next week on July 11, 2023, and you can purchase HERE! I really liked this one!

What is the feeling of something being better than you remembered? Something quite a lot better than you remembered doesn't feel like the same thing but somehow improved, like, for example, an apple but 10 percent sweeter. Instead it feels like a new thing. Like you thought you were holding an apple, but you bit into a nectarine. Alien, unresolved, toxic maybe.