This story is told different through different interconnected characters during the beginning of the pandemic in NYC. There were a lot of different character and at times it was difficult to keep track of everyone. Definitely brought me back to COVID times. The stories felt somewhat disjointed and the storyline didn't really flow together. Race was big theme within the story. I thought it was going to be more mystery/thriller but it ended up more about COVID and everything happening during that timeframe.

Special thanks to the author & @hogarthbooks for my gifted copy‼️

You know how you read something and aren’t sure what you’re reading yet you finish it anyway. That was this book for me cause idk why I finished it. It wasn’t a bad book but it wasn’t a good one either and it lacked structure and direction.

The entire narrative is stemmed around the Covid-19 pandemic, an argument about ancestral background, and a missing woman. My biggest issue with this was can we really say Darla was missing though? Her presence yes but in reality was she really missing and that annoyed me so bad. Darla and her husband Theo were complete airheads to me. His course of action to find her was giving guilty. All of the side characters and their backstories made me want to throw the book because why is this here? What does this have to do with anything Regina?

Then Theo and Darla with the open marriage made me spit out my drink. I was not expecting that from Theo IYKYK‼️Overall, the book was meh idk why I gave it a 3 maybe I’m crazy and lost a little common sense after reading this. But I was engaged enough to finish, it just left me more confused than anything afterwards.

The Rich People Have Gone Away by Regina Porter is a richly woven, multi-generational narrative that explores the lives of ordinary people against the backdrop of shifting social and political landscapes. Porter’s deft storytelling interlaces family histories, personal struggles, and societal issues, bringing together characters whose experiences speak to themes of race, class, love, and loss. I enjoyed this read! Thank you Regina Porter, NetGalley, and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for this ARC!

"The Rich People Have Gone Away" offers a thought-provoking look at the delicate balance of a tight-knit community thrown into disarray. Porter skillfully crafts characters that are both relatable and compelling, each struggling with their own unique challenges in the face of a changing world. The novel is a bit slow-paced at times, but the underlying tension and the exploration of social dynamics make it a worthwhile read. If you're looking for a story that delves into the human condition and the impact of societal shifts, this novel is definitely worth checking out."

I unfortunately did not enjoy this book as much as I thought. I think the main themes were good but I felt like there were too many points of view for me to stay engaged in the story. Also I think Covid-centric books will never be fun reading material for me.

The Rich People Have Gone Away feels like a 2020 retelling with a missing person. The main plot is a missing person story focused on two very unlikeable characters in Darla and her husband Theo, who get into a physical fight after Theo reveals information about his ethnicity. Shortly after Darla disappears and Theo is rightly investigated. In addition to this story, there are several other characters whose stories are interwoven with Darla and Theo.
This novel is interesting. It not only discussed Covid but also racism, social justice, sexuality and 9/11. While I completely understood what the author was trying to do, I could have used a few less characters and had more of the story focus on Darla and Theo. There's a twist involving another character that came out of left field but helps the reader understand more about Darla and how events in her life shaped and influenced her poor decision making. Although the pacing felt slow, the last 25% of the book makes sticking it out worth it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I unfortunately wasn't the target audience for this book but I would recommend this novel to someone who enjoys reading about complicated characters, mysteries, and exploring heavy topics such as racism and gentrification. Regina Porter is a great writer and I would definitely read another novel of hers. The plot of this novel simply wasn't for me but I can see others enjoying it.

The Rich People have Gone Away by Regina Porter. Set in NYC at the start of the pandemic, the novel explores how a variety of people deal with isolation and change during the quarantine period and the difference in privilege for those in different socioeconomic circumstances.

This book started out really strong for me. The exposition was interesting and hooked me in. But ultimately I think the book introduced too many characters and too many details and lost some focus in the second and third acts. It also sets itself up as a missing person thriller and it really isn’t that. I enjoyed this book, I just think it could’ve had some better execution in the second half. I thought the juxtaposition of two traumatic NYC events (9/11 and COVID) was interesting but the "twist" with it, while shocking, felt so forced. I understand this is a book about unlikable characters but I was not able to connect with any of the main characters in a meaningful way.

Regina Porter's The Rich People Have Gone Away explores the complexities of life during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic through the lives of its diverse cast. Theo Harper and his pregnant wife, Darla, leave New York City for their upstate summer home to wait out the lockdown, but an argument during a hike leads to Darla's disappearance, thrusting Theo into a police investigation. As the narrative unfolds, themes of race, class, and the pandemic's impact are intricately woven into the characters' lives.

Porter deftly balances the thriller aspects of the missing-person plot with a broader exploration of relationships, secrets, and privilege. The various perspectives add depth to the story, though some readers may find the many characters and side plots a bit disjointed. The book touches on timely issues, including the racial and class disparities highlighted during the pandemic, which resonate deeply in the context of the story.

While not without its flaws—some sections feel uneven, and certain characters like Theo are difficult to like—Porter's sharp prose and insightful social commentary make this a compelling and thought-provoking read. If you're interested in pandemic-set fiction that dives into the human condition, this one is worth picking up.

Overall: 4 stars for its ambitious scope and engaging exploration of timely themes.

3.5 stars rounded up.

While this is a novel that is set in COVID times, it somehow manages to be interesting. Let me warn you, the characters are brutal as in not likable. Theo Harper and his pregnant wife Darla leave their Park Slope apartment for their cabin upstate for a change of scenery during COVID. Theo Harper is the most annoying despicable character who is wife but spends an awful lot of time talking about his long-ago long black ancestor. Theo and Darla are in an open marriage, so Theo spends a good deal of time having sex with other men and he likes to do it in doorways. There is a whole internal siliolquy about this at the start of the book. So, the couple goes on a hike and only Theo comes out of the woods. Darla is missing and Theo goes back to Park Slope. Darla’s absence triggers connections between people who are out looking for her.

I must admit, I almost DNF'd this book, and I am so glad I kept reading!

The beginning chapters felt too disjointed/unorganized and Theo, the first character introduced, was a completely unlikable character, and I almost gave up on this book.
But around 25%, the book started to come together, and where the story was leading, became clear.
Ultimately almost all of the characters introduced have some connection. They are living during COVID, and each couple/family is dealing with their issues, some issues are born out of COVID, and others dealing with life. The book became more organized when each chapter was devoted to a certain couple/family, and occasionally another character was also a subject in that chapter.

This is a look into the lives of these characters, the good, the bad and the ugly. Decisions that are made which affect their futures and others in the orbit. Interwoven in these stories are issues of race, classism, mental health, marriage, and friendship.
There are twists and turns that are interesting and keep the story moving along at a fevered pace.

Thank you Netgalley to the eARC for reading and reviewing.

Propulsive, provocative, and delightfully twisty. THE RICH PEOPLE HAVE GONE AWAY is a book that begs you to binge-read and savor all at once.

This was a win for me! 4.5 stars, rounding up. Some context on me as a reader: I am far more likely to venture into experimental literary fiction than commercial mystery or ensemble stories, and that really worked in my favor when it came to reading this book. The Rich People Have Gone Away IS a mystery novel — perhaps less of a "whodunnit" and more of an exploration of a missing persons case — but it also dives deep into its themes and doesn't hesitate to pull us away from the flashy plot to do so. For some readers, that will be distracting or frustrating. For me, it worked brilliantly.

This is a COVID novel. It explores the lives of multiple interconnected families during the Spring and Summer of 2020 in New York City, and does not shy away from the class, racial, and political implications, as the title might suggest. Porter is a master of complex characters, and this book has made me want to pick up others she's written. I knew her writing would get along with my reading sensibilities when the first few pages made me say aloud, "Oh, I hate this man." I still did by the end, but I loved that the text never wrote him off — instead, it pushed the reader to see him as a human being without coddling or validating the many things he gets wrong.

I read a lot of ~sad girl litfic~, and if you're looking for the energy of complicated and often unlikable protagonists paired with the pace of a mystery and the commentary of a book that could only have been written from inside of and just after a global pandemic, this book is absolutely for you. Loved it, ripped through it in two days, would recommend.

Brooklynites Darla and Theo escape their condo to go Upstate during quarantine. Darla’s family has a ritual of taking a hike as soon as they reach their family cottage, and that’s when all hell breaks loose. 🤪

The rest of the novel explores all the people and their backgrounds in Darla and Theo's immediate sphere as they search for Darla. Yes, she goes missing after her dispute with her husband, and baaabbbyyyyyyy I was hooked until the end!

I was invested in some of the characters more than others, but their relationships to wealth, race, and Brooklyn made me want to learn more about them. I want to say more, but no spoilers! 🤭 I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Thoroughly enjoyed The Rich People Have Gone Away, a literary fiction story about a pregnant woman who goes missing after an argument with her husband in the woods. Like many others, Theo and Darla Harper leave NYC in the early days of the pandemic. On their way to Darla’s family cottage upstate, they stop in the woods for a hike as part of their usual routine, but this time, they do not leave the woods together.

This story follows Theo, Darla, and others in New York connected to the couple and the search for Darla. The Rich People Have Gone Away explores secrets, relationships, class, and more. The characters are flawed and authentic and even when I didn’t find certain characters likable, I felt invested in each of their stories.

The pandemic is a prominent theme in this book — 2-4 years ago, this would have been a hard pass for me because I just wasn’t interested in reading about it but timing is key, and I’m glad I gave this one a shot. While I can see that this may not be a book for everyone, it definitely worked well for me. The writing was smart and the story different, in a good way — 4.5 stars (rounded up)

This lit fic novel is heavily featured the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically in 2020, and how New Yorkers from different walks of life were effected. Major themes include racism and class privilege. All of this is set against a group of characters - some with strong ties, some with loose ties - searching for a missing woman. It was really interesting and I enjoyed reading it.

Delighted to include this title in the August edition of Novel Encounters, my column highlighting the month’s most anticipated fiction for the Books section of Zoomer, Canada’s national lifestyle and culture magazine. (see column and mini-review at link)

A book that felt like interconnected short stories. These characters are vivid and enjoy the way they interact with each other. They felt so real but I do wish there were fewer points of view in the story. I was more interested in Ruby and Theo than anyone else. I didn't connect with Darla even though she was the missing person.

I really liked this book. It captured me from the start and I was invested in the characters. I think this is a very strong "COVID novel" and it explores a lot of ideas around who we become in moments of crisis. I think there were a few too many perspectivs in the book overall, but think Porter pulled off a really solid book.

After an explosive argument with her husband while out hiking, pregnant Darla Jacobson goes missing. Her absence sets in motion a series of events that reveal long-hidden secrets that push Darla, her family, and friends to the brink.

This one is kind of tricky to rate/review. One of the marketing comparisons was the work of Patricia Highsmith, but it's really less of a domestic thriller and more of a collage of life during COVID where every pre-existing tension is pushed to the surface but with fairly low-stakes outcomes compared to the scale of events in the book.

The kaleidoscopic focus on so many different characters means that no one plot is fully rendered, and at times it's difficult to see how some of these vignettes serve the narrative/themes. The prose is also stylized, which I enjoy but could potentially put readers off.

Even though there are many elements of this book that don't quite work for me, I still enjoyed my time with it. It's ambitious with heart and humanity. It's not going to be for every reader and I understand why it's getting mixed reviews, but I'm glad I picked it up.

Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC via Netgalley!