A short novel, this is expertly written. Two people meet whilst on jury duty, and in the course of a week, form a relationship and realise this is not the first time the might have met. Sliding doors, and all that. It's a simple but evocative premise, and what Caiman is so good at (and has to be here because that's really all there is to the novel) is character and relationships. The dialogue is brilliantly written, and demonstrates the growing feelings the two have for each other, as well as demonstrating the intelligence and difference between the two. It's unresolved, which it should be, and whilst it's short, I think that's also narratively important, conveying the brevity of chance, 'fate' (if you believe in that) and life, generally. Loved it. Many thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for the ARC.

Given its controversial story line, I think the plot of infidelity should be more clearly advertised prior to reading. I wasn’t a fan of the mixture of punctuation techniques used during dialog, and instead would rather it have stuck to one. However, with this being my first book by the author, I can safely say I throughly enjoyed his metaphorical references. Specifically, the mentions of humans being similar to lava lamps, as well as the reference to having a ‘shadow home’, as a way to describe one’s internal universe.

I enjoyed this short novel though not as much as other Aciman novels. It was really joyous to read a love story between two older adults who are both dynamic and attractive people.
It’s also beautifully evocative of sultry summer in New York.
Having said that, I found the dialogue often implausible and I think a little more back story for both characters might have made them more engaging.

Small but perfectly formed, a story of a two people in their sixties who, through a chance meeting waiting to do jury service, make a connection. The chapters are divided into days, and we feel therefore that this will come to a natural end. The author is very good at managing our expectations, each day there is uncertainty and an inevitability of where this may lead. Their meetings are innocent, and conversations playful, but underneath lies a deeper understanding of life’s disappointments.

"Maybe I dread change, though I too long for it. But then, is change what I really want at this point in my life? Is there even time for change?"

Room on the Sea, Andre Aciman's most recent novella, opens up against the backdrop of New York's scorching summer, as Paul and Catherine, alongside a hundred others, await jury selection. During the span of a week, these two strangers, entrapped in a universe of their own, are constantly reminded of the strings pulling them in opposite directions.

"He was reading the newspaper. She was reading a novel. He looked at her once. She did not look back. She had fair hair, which was combed back, and from the way she held her book and rested it on the knee of her crossed leg, she had the hands of a pianist."

Room on the Sea offers a mature and thought-provoking exploration of the yearnings between two near-retirement adults, a seemingly accomplished life, where the unspoken words simmer beneath the surface, carrying more weight than what’s spoken. Aciman's prose oozes sensuality and maturity and love, with opposing subtlety and honesty. The character development, as expected from Aciman, is well-crafted; Paul and Catherine, both flawed and achingly human, are compelling characters. Their internal monologues and conversations and banter, filled with desire, guilt and possibilities, are the heart of the novel.

Then, with a touch of boldness that almost surprised him: "What’s the name of the hotel?”
“Its name is Albergo Segreto, i.e., the Secret Hotel.”
She pondered the answer. “Oh,” she finally exclaimed. “So you’re not going to tell me?” There was an affected, slighted pout to her voice."

The book delves into the complexities of human relationships, where unspoken words and desires occupies the veiled meaning between the lines. Aciman's ability to capture these nuances is remarkable. He creates an atmosphere of quiet urging, where every glance and every word carries weight, often coded.

“And the cilantro situation?” he suddenly asked, trying to steer the conversation to her husband and make her say more about him.
“The cilantro situation,” she mused, thinking how to answer. Then, avoiding a reply, she simply added, “Not much different from yours, I presume.”
“Are we speaking in code again?”
“How coded could we be if we both know what we’re talking about?”

Room on the Sea is a novella that demands to be savoured and reflected upon long after finishing. It's a testament to Aciman's ability to create a world from our everyday lives that is both beautiful and melancholic. I wholeheartedly recommend ANY of his novels to readers who appreciate exquisite prose, rich dialogues and reflections that explore the depths of human emotion and the elusive nature of life's choices.

“The problem with people our age,” she went on, “is that we’ve lived through or imagined too many variations on the same scene and know where most lead. We know we should claim to know less than we already do. We even know better than to speak our doubts, much less to those who shouldn’t hear them for fear they’d change their minds about us.”

Thank you, Andre Aciman and Faber & Faber Ltd, for the review copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Right from the first sentence you are drawn into the story, falling head over heels in love with the dynamic between Paul and Catherine, and their interactions with every other character they come across in the book.

In true André Aciman style, the writing is phenomenal. So beautiful. The imagery is so vivid that, at points, I felt like I was on an Italian getaway, and at other times, like I was strolling through Central Park. The dialogue is so authentic, I felt bashful when the characters did, and flustered when they did too.

Aciman captures their budding romance so well that I found myself lowkey rooting for them but also having to check myself because I kind of shouldn’t have been 😅.

All in all, a wonderful book. Easily the highest rated book I’ve read this month so far, and at this current point, in my top 5 books of the year.

‘Room on the Sea’ is a novella by André Aciman - who wrote the bestselling ‘Call Me by Your Name’.
Paul and Catherine, both in their sixties, meet whilst waiting to be selected as jurors in the fierce heat of a New York summer.
They feel an instant connection and as the week goes on light flirting becomes far more complex, not least because of their longstanding relationships with their respective partners.
By the end of the week they must make a decision whether to walk away or act on their feelings.
With themes of reality versus fantasy, regret and longing, this is a short sensitively written read.

Many thanks to NetGalley & Faber & Faber for an ARC

What a delightful short story/novella. Aciman's writing is so poignant and it's good to read about a couple in their sixties for a change. A quick read but one that will stay woth me for a long time. And one that I will probably reread - which is something I hardly ever do. Thank you for the e-ARC to read and review.

Aciman has such a gift for writing, such an enjoyable read! I think this might be in my top favourite books of the year so far!

maybe what keeps me alive at this point is waiting for something unforeseen to come along.

a slow and meandering musing on life, passion and infidelity, told through the perspective of two people who have become complacent with the last decades of their lives. the writing alternates between monologues and wistful stares across cafe tables, reading more like a screenplay than a book at times. the theoretical nature of the story though meant that this did not impact my enjoyment of the little tale - aciman is most interested in conveying a feeling than he is a plot, and these two little characters and the small week in their life that we get a glimpse at are only a vessel for that. the strong line of regret throughout this created a lovely mood, and even with that the ending was still hopeful, letting the characters still make choices to change their situations in their twilight years.

the e-arc provided only gave me one short story, although other reviews indicate this is a collection, which i am now very interested to read.

A couple in their mid to late sixties meet on their first day of jury service in New York City. He’s a lawyer, and she’s a psychiatrist. They’re both married and seem pretty happy with their home lives. But in the course of one week, as they await the call to become a jury member in a live case, they chat and slowly explore just how happy each of them truly is.

As I’ve witnessed during the one time I was called up for jury service (in the UK), there’s a lot of sitting around waiting, and most often you’re dismissed or asked to return after a break for lunch for a further wait. The pair use this time to visit a coffee shop (where they befriend the Italian barista), to eat Chinese meals, to explore parts of the city, and to visit art galleries. The chemistry between them is clear, but could there be any more to this brief encounter than simply two people who become friends for a short period before ultimately returning to their established lives and routines?

There is no awkwardness in their meeting or in the fact that they choose to spend this free time together. In fact, the whole picture is so well drawn that I comfortably fell into step with their daily activities and never doubted that this coming together felt anything other than natural. These are two intelligent people who just feel comfortable in each other’s company. But as the week draws on, it becomes clear that their friendship might be entering a new, more dangerous but potentially more rewarding phase. Could they have entered a space where difficult decisions are going to have to be made? It seems clear that they’d both have something to gain, but they would also lose something significant, too.

I really enjoyed the voyeuristic pleasure of spying on their daily adventures. I liked, too, that the ending is at once both definitive and yet also somewhat ambiguous. Others may see a clearer cut picture here, but I think the author has pitched it perfectly so that each reader can come to their own conclusion on this.

A thoughtful and charming novella. Perhaps not Aciman’s strongest but still beautifully written.

Thank you to both @netgalley and Faber&Faber for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange for my thoughts.

Andre Aciman – Room on the Sea ****
A man meets a woman as they wait in the central jury room to be selected for jury service in New York. He is reading a newspaper, she a novel. They barely look at each other. But by the end of this novella, they are passionately in love despite both having partners. So why?
In lesser hands a plot this fragile wouldn’t work. But of course, written by Andre Aciman, it does. It’s a moving story, set in the central jury room over the few days of the selection process, drinking at lunchtimes in the nearby bar, not knowing whether they will see each other again the following day.
For such a slender volume this packs a mighty punch. Highly recommended.

A charming novella that can be enjoyed in a single sitting but will remain with you long after reading. The writing is simple and elegant but packed full of arresting truths, with the author making masterful use of subtext to explore the characters’ feelings. In many respects, it reminds me of the works of Hemingway.

As such, this is a book that will suit readers who enjoy quiet, literary novels with character-driven narratives, and will be less suited to readers who prefer the louder feelings and more plot-heavy stories of commercial romance.

Personally, I found the story quaint and poignant, and after I finished reading it I wanted to go back and read it again, but more slowly this time, to really soak in its meaning and to linger in the bittersweet mix of nostalgia and hope it gave me. I will definitely be recommending it to fellow readers and to friends and family.

Many thanks to NetGalley, André Aciman and Faber and Faber Ltd for the ARC. My review will appear on Instagram, GoodReads, The StoryGraph and Amazon UK near to the publication date.

Love anything that André Aciman writes! His writing g is just so authentic and different from anything I’ve read before!

André Aciman’s *Room on the Sea* is a beautifully crafted novella that captures the quiet yearning and emotional complexity of two people who find an unexpected connection later in life. Aciman’s prose delicately captures the subtleties of attraction, nostalgia, and the way fleeting moments can hold profound meaning. Throughout the novella, Aciman explores themes of regret, the passage of time, and the roads not taken. *Room on the Sea* is a meditation on love, longing, and the bittersweet nature of human relationships, leaving readers with a lingering sense of both fulfillment and wistfulness.

I enjoyed this novella. I adore André Aciman’s stories and have read most of his work so this was a must read for me. I adore the prose in the story and the yearning and relationship building between the two characters. I thought the ending tied everything up nicely and left me feeling hopeful. I defintiley recommend this read If you enjoy Aciman’s other work or fancy reading some good yearning.

I think I am one of the very few people who hasn't read [book:Call Me By Your Name|36336078] or seen the film but when I saw this novel on Netgalley, I couldn't help but be interested.

At around 160 pages, this novella won't take you long to get through, and I did enjoy the writing. Room on the Sea tells the story of two people, in their sixties, who are called up for jury duty. On the first day, although both are married, they make an instant connection and spend the rest of the week trying to avoid being placed on a jury and spending as much time as possible with each other.

Although both marriages seem to be on life support, the subject matter is a little uncomfortable and it is difficult to be rooting for the couple. At the end of the week, they have a difficult decision to make - do they go back to their lives and forget all about each other, or do they take a chance on something special?

Thanks to Netgalley and Faber and Faber Ltd for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

"Sometimes a random moment occurs, and then you realise it came with a small halo"

Less is more; depth in simplicity and beauty . Room on the Sea is just this - a novella with a powerful and reflective message about life and unspoken dreams or regrets.

Catherine and Paul are strangers and are requested to attend selection for jury service; Catherine is a psychologist and Paul a lawyer. whilst awaiting selection, they strike up a conversation that will change their lives.

Set over the course of five days, the two sixty-somethings embark on a discovery- self exploration of the people they are, who they thought they were and what they could still be.

"We're just two ordinary lonely people who happen to be married and at this point may not want the furniture moved around too much."

André Aciman has a beautiful eye for the minutiae in lives- the unsaid ; those invisible withheld emotions and the joy of finding life in the smallest joys.

This is a moving story as the two characters embark through a work of transformation- rather like a Brief Encounter ( Noel Coward) for the 2020's.

Subtle, enchanting and exquisite - a novel to make those of a certain age reflect or maybe everyone ..life is precious and its easy to squander it.

A highly recommended read.

Quotes: " Ive forgotten what it's like to be with someone who is eager to laugh with me, to know what I like, what I think and with whomI'm dying to speak every day"

" The problem with people our age, " she went on, " is that we've lived through or imagined too many variations on the same scene and know where most lead."...... We even know better than to speak our doubts, much less to those who shouldn't hear them for fear they'd change their minds bout us."

I was excited to read this and it started off really well. For me personally, I just wasn't invested in it and found that towards the end I wasn't as hooked as I like to be when reading. But I shall give my review from start to end!

Firstly, I did think the premise of setting it up in a jury room was really exciting and fresh. It's not a typical or predictable meet cute and if anything it's kind of an awkward place to meet someone you have the hots for. So kudos to Aciman for choosing such a unique premise and setting to put these characters in. There was an immediate sense of ease and comfortability between Paul and Catherine that was definitely undeniable. I think Aciman writes the feeling of 'home' really well and this extends to finding home in others too. I really loved how he described moments in life sometimes occurring with a 'small halo' - this felt really beautiful and spoke to the earnestness of Paul and Catherines' relationship. I also think there was a deeply profound point made about familiarity and the rhythms/routines we all find ourselves victim of. 'We mistake familiarity for intimacy. It is not intimacy. All it is is habit - a habit is shorthand for silence' - deeply moving and perfectly phrased!

Speaking of their relationship though, there is an elephant in the room for me here. Both Paul and Catherine are in a relationship, with other people. They are married and whilst we learn about how unsatisfactory they both find their respective marriages - they are still cheating! At least emotionally. Now I'm not going to stand on a moral high ground here, but I feel like it was hard for me to get invested in their relationship when at it's core it felt deceitful and morally ambiguous. This aside, I also felt like other than their similarities and ease with each other I didn't feel much chemistry on the page. They are slightly more mature than perhaps characters in other romance books, but I didn't feel anything sizzle between them I just felt like I was watching two people have conversations in a coffee shop that often teetered on inappropriately flirtatious.

Personally, I also think the book lacked true development in the plot. Yes, they find each other and have a big realisation about how unhappy they are in their lives but I didn't feel like much happened - it was a bit lacklustre especially given how exciting it felt when they both saw each other for the first time.

Overall, this book didn't do it for me I liked the premise but the problematic cheating and lack of an overall movement in the plot (other than the cheating part) wasn't exciting enough for me.