Thanks to Netgalley and Knopf for the ebook. Filled throughout with incredible verbal gymnastics, Sebastian, who is just starting to see some light at the end of his long mental health issues, meets his twin sister, Olivia, who he did not know existed. This book shows how they meet and deal with one another in the backdrop of their friends and family.

Greatly enjoyed this. St Aubyn is a technical wizard and his evocation of Sebastian’s disturbed ,mind is both compelling and convincing, indeed is the throbbing heart of the book. One might argue about the length of time spent with the ultra rich Hunter, and the ecological dimension, which are tied into a tidy package by the end, but I’m not quibbling. This is a strong and delectable work which I will be recommending.

4.5, rounded down.

I've read almost everything St. Aubyn has put out, so I started this with great anticipation ... but I got to 9% and something seemed off - I just wasn't connecting to what was happening. So I started again and got to 17% - and then realized the problem was that this was actually a sequel to 2021's Double Blind - which I HAD read, but I have a mind like a sieve and could barely remember anything about it. So - I went back and reread THAT - and then moved on to this.

That was a great help, and although this potentially COULD be read as a stand-alone - it makes MUCH more sense as part two of single cohesive work. That said, this ALSO ends on a distinct hint that there will be at LEAST a third part, and hopefully some dangling threads (not least Lusy's struggle with a brain tumor!) will be resolved there.

Be that as it may, this was largely a delight to read, although some parts did tend to get bogged down and sometimes a bit 'preachy'. But St. Aubyn's wit and erudition made such minor complaints rather nil.

Thanx to the author, Netgalley and Knopf for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Picking up from characters in the brilliant 2021 novel Double Blind, St. Aubyn returns with edgy wordplay and humorous reflection on the hopeless but hilarious human condition.

Sebastian (Seb) is a fast-witted, rapid-fire speaker, thinker and schizophrenic. His twin sister Olivia was adopted at birth by Seb's eventual therapist. While she was nurtured, Seb wasn’t so fortunate. Characters orbit the twins and create a vivid galaxy whether artist, TV producer, tycoon, pilot or cancer survivor. St. Aubyn uses professions and labels with unbound freedom, creating plot lines that feel limitless. Clever storytelling and scene setting make this a highly entertaining read.

Parallel Lines is smart without feeling forced. While it may not carry the same literary heft as the generational achievement of the Melrose novels, it is giddy fun and composed beautifully. This novel works well as a stand alone or as a complement to Double Blind.

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the review copy.