Thank you Netgalley for this arc. This book was moving, emotional, sad, and addicting. I was captivated by the characters and the plot. I enjoyed this so much. I can't wait to purchase a physical copy of this book. The author deserves all the praise for writing such an amazing book.

"The Slip" by Lucas Schaefer is a compelling and thought-provoking novel that explores themes of identity, loss, and personal transformation. Schaefer’s writing is beautifully layered, offering a haunting meditation on how our perceptions shape who we are. Although every page is brimming with beautifully written details, the pacing was a bit slow for me at times. However, after finishing the book, I felt very satisfied and would definitely recommend.

Huge thanks to @netgalley for the advance copy. Out June 3rd!

After getting in some trouble at school, Nathaniel Rothstein’s parents send him to Austin, Texas for the summer to live with his uncle. It’s a long way from his home in Massachusetts, and he is a sixteen-year-old kid, awkward and uncomfortable in his own skin. His uncle sets him up with a job at a local nursing home where he meets David, his charismatic Haitian boss, who changes his life forever. Through an unforgettable cast of characters and unlikely events, Nathaniel will come out of that summer a different person, in more ways than he could possibly imagine.

This book is kind of insane. There are dozens of characters and almost as many perspectives, ranging from a border-hopping twin clown to a group of middle-aged Jewish women taking a class with their local police department. Though it sometimes felt that Schaefer was employing certain plot elements for shock value and that some of these perspectives were unnecessary, the overall result is a novel teeming with life. The characters are richly drawn and unique, each of them so deeply interesting that it is difficult to not fall in love. It’s incredible that this isn’t just true of the main character, but of nearly every person in the novel.

Schaefer’s writing, too, is so energetic that it is inspiring. The details are vivid, creating an incredible sense of place and the people who live there. The imaginative story elements and flashes forward and backward in time lend to the creation of the narrative. The story is so well-crafted, building tension with each chapter to a highly rewarding end. So much of this is well-done, and I can’t wait to see the reception it gets in June.

This is a fantastic debut. I can’t wait to read more from Schaefer in the future. Four stars.

In its very best moments, The Slip resembles a mix of early Donna Tartt and Gillian Flynn. Immersive, claustrophobic in its microscopic examination of one small locality in Texas, a labyrinth that traps the reader; taking them further down into the mystery of a young teenager’s disappearance, and the wounds that are still felt by the community years later.

The novel’s one weakness is a strange dichotomy: There are chapters where the prose feels clinical and removed, reading like a dry newspaper-esque recount of events. This is juxtaposed against others where the world is much more vivid, compulsively readable, emotionally volatile and immediately available. One could peg this as intentional—but there aren’t specific narrative turns where this shift happens, so it might be a stretch to say so.

The pace is much more meditative than propulsive, but Lucas Schaefer performs an incredible threading of the needle—weaving in and out of multiple timelines with ease. This might aggravate some, but the slow burn does pay off. The last several paragraphs at the end are specifically moving.

(Thanks to Simon & Schuster for the arc, allowing me a chance to preview this title before its release.)

I absolutely loved The Slip by Lucas Schaefer! It’s hard to believe this is his debut novel. Growing up in Austin just after the time the book takes place, it felt especially nostalgic for me. It captured the Austin I missed after leaving, and I loved being able to revisit so many of the places mentioned in the story.

The pacing and writing were fantastic, and the way Schaefer built up the suspense was top-notch. The diversity of the characters was refreshing, and the ending was incredibly satisfying. I especially appreciated how each chapter was told from a different character’s perspective, each one playing a role in the mystery of Nathanial’s disappearance. All the pieces came together beautifully.

I definitely recommend this one—it's a gripping, well-crafted story that sticks with you!

while i found it initially difficult to follow such a vast array of characters, getting to know them truly paid off because this story surpasses so many stereotypes and tropes of the trans experience, immigration, blackness, sex work, and so much more. such an honest yet unique storyline that kept me wondering what would come next.

This was good just slow at times but the last third was immaculate! A wild ride just wish we got more of that in the beginning.

MY SHAYLA !! 😭

I picked up The Slip curious to find “the answer,” but what I got was so much more. This book is jam-packed with multiple POVs and intertwining stories that slowly piece together into something bigger than I expected.

I’ll be honest—there were parts that felt slow, and I really had to push through some sections. But sticking with it paid off. The way the story unfolded kept pulling me back in, especially as I started to realize just how deep everything ran.

And can we talk about the police system in this book?? I went in with this naive little bit of faith, thinking, they’ll help, right? But wow, they really proved me wrong. I had the audacity to believe they’d be useful—lmao! The way that unraveled was wild.

Part 3, though… Part 3 had me pulling my hair and gritting my teeth. That’s when the tension really hit, and I found myself getting super anxious about Nathanial. Is it embarrassing to say I teared up a little for this kid? 🫣 Because, yeah, I did.

Overall, the story is great. The way the different narratives and characters weave together just makes more and more sense the deeper you go. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys character-driven stories, mysteries, and narratives that keep you thinking long after you’ve finished.

Thank you @NetGalley for the ARC!
#NetGalley

The Slip is Jonathan Franzen's "Crossroads" meets James McBride's "Deacon King Kong"—a literary, historical fiction with hints of mystery and humor. Lucas Schaefer has crafted a story unlike anything I’ve read in years.

Set in the summer of 1998 and the years that follow, the novel follows sixteen-year-old Nathaniel Rothstein, who finds confidence and happiness under the mentorship of ex-fighter David Dalice at Terry Tucker’s Boxing Gym in Austin, Texas, only to mysteriously vanish one night. Meanwhile, Charles Rex, known as "X," seeks acceptance through a phone sex hotline, experiencing a fleeting romance. Over a decade later, Nathaniel's uncle Bob Alexander, driven by a tip, launches an investigation into his nephew's disappearance, involving various gymgoers, a rookie cop, and Alexis Cepeda, a promising lightweight boxer who crossed the US-Mexico border with a false identity.

As someone who has taken up boxing in the last few months, I was immediately drawn to The Slip. Lucas Schaefer has clearly done his homework on the techniques and the community behind boxing, and I absolutely loved it.

More importantly, I was captivated by this world, the characters, and their rich backgrounds (hopes, dreams, desires). Spending time with these fully realized individuals was a delight. Even the minor, background players are full of life and endearing to follow, including Dr. Gloria Abruzzi, whose chapter perfectly exemplifies this novel’s balance between humor and heartbreak. Another near the end is a “what if” scenario that had me close to tears, hopeful it was real and not just theoretical.

What I loved about this book also contributed to my main issue, however. As the story progresses towards the conclusion, it feels like some sections overstay their welcome. I felt it the most in parts that reiterated details from a different perspective. Of course, in a story like this, different viewpoints help paint the full picture. But, it ultimately impacted my enjoyment, especially as I tried to figure out what happened to Nathaniel. Even when it felt like it was dragging on and more characters were added to the plot, it never felt like padding or filler.

The Slip is a near masterpiece—tender, joyful, and heartbreaking. It also comes at a time when stories about queer characters are much needed. Bravo, Lucas Schaefer. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

I think this is a great mystery! It is filled with suspense, intriguing characters, and well written plot points that help the reader feel so much in their gut as the mystery plays out. I loved going with every twist and turn until we found out the answers at the end

Not usually a fan of murder mysteries but I did enjoy the pacing and the unique was perspectives from each character.

I picked up The Slip by Lucas Schaefer because it was compared to the writing of Jonathan Franzen—one of my all-time favorite authors. I couldn’t resist diving into what promised to be a bold, ambitious novel. What I found was a sprawling, deeply compelling tale that captures the essence of the Great American Story.

At the center of it all is Terry’s Boxing Gym, a no-frills, low-key warehouse in Austin, Texas where men who feel their glory days are behind them gather to punch bags, swap stories, and try to keep some semblance of pride alive. Bob Alexander is one of these morning regulars—amiable and unassuming. It's the summer of 1998 when Bob introduces his 16-year-old nephew, Nathaniel, to the gym. Nathaniel has been sent by his parents after an incident in his school, to find direction or at least get a job. At the gym, he meets David, a Haitian nurse and former boxing legend. The two form a unique bond, and David helps Nathaniel secure a job at a nursing home as his assistant. All is well for a moment.
Then, suddenly, Nathaniel disappears.

As the mystery of his disappearance unfolds, The Slip expands to introduce a cornucopia of unforgettable characters. There’s a young boy determined to change his life, a sex hotline worker grappling with her own struggles, a man crossing the border in search of something better, and the enigmatic coyote clown who guides him. Along the way, we meet cops, drifters, bullies, and others—each bringing their own stories and perspectives into a symphony of voices that are as gritty as they are captivating.

Lucas Schaefer ties these threads into a finale that is nothing short of breathtaking. The writing is bold, and deeply human, painting a vivid picture of Austin and the lives it holds. The characters feel so authentic, their stories so raw, that it’s impossible not to be swept away. Schaefer’s ability to capture both the individual struggles and the larger social dynamics at play is nothing short of magical. It’s the kind of book that leaves you in awe of how everything comes together.

The Slip isn’t just a novel—it’s an experience. It’s messy, beautiful, heartbreaking, and triumphant all at once. This is a cacophony of voices that demand to be heard, and Schaefer ensures each one is unforgettable. If you’re a fan of sweeping, character-driven stories that explore the complexity of life this is a book you cannot miss.

#SimonSchuster #LucasSchaefer #TheSlip #LiteraryFiction #GreatAmericanNovel #MustRead

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC!

This is a very ambitious, mostly successful debut. The characters are well-developed and the plot is truly unpredictable. I’m curious to see what Schaefer writes next. I will be recommending this to readers interested in queer, sports, and/or mystery stories.

i will never not think of this book when i think of austin now. the way each character was thought out, the way each life is interwoven with the others, the way the story unfolds so delicately. what a wonderful book, wonderful writing, wonderful story.

I will think about this book for years to come. WOW! There were so many subjects tackled in this book. It is one of the best debut novels I’ve ever read. This story is a book club’s dream. There is so much to discuss and analyze. I will be recommending this book to a lot of people.

I don't know much about the boxing world but I enjoyed this story. We follow multiple characters that frequent a boxing gym until one of them goes missing. Decades later Bob launches his own investigation into the disappearance of his nephew. It was quite obvious what the plot twist or the big reveal was going to be. But I still recommend this novel. The character's were well written and the plot moved at an enjoyable pace.

I really tried to get into this book, but I struggled. Maybe it was the boxing or the plot, maybe a mix of both. I just could not get into this story. What I plodded through reading was good, I just couldn’t keep going.

This novel is a great hybrid of coming-of-age and murder mystery, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the Texas setting - it felt so vividly realized, and I do not read a ton of books set in that part of the country.

This was a really well done novel, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed the concept of this. It had a feel that worked in the realism and was engaged with the overall topics being told. Lucas Schaefer has a strong writing style and was glad I read this.

"The Slip" by Lucas Schaefer is an engaging story that would make a great limited TV series. Set in an Austin boxing gym, this novel offers a cinematic experience through a kaleidoscope of characters.

The story is told through multiple characters’ narratives, which make the pacing move and shift like a boxer's footwork. Each character has a unique voice but shares the same environment, often struggling with how they are perceived in relation to their identity, including aspects like race, ethnicity, age, gender, and sexual orientation. They grapple with feeling pigeonholed/want to give the slip to the conflict between who society thinks they are and who they want to be or how they aspire to navigate the world. The plot also features an intriguing mystery that keeps readers guessing.

Similar to the characters, the book defies easy categorization. I highly recommend this book! It is engaging, thought-provoking, and keeps you guessing from beginning to end. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing the ARC.