Modern Lovers

Once upon a time, Andrew, Elizabeth, and Zoe were in a band together; their lasting legacies are their continued friendship and a song made famous by the fourth member of the band. Decades later, the three are struggling with different aspects of adulthood: Andrew is aimlessly seeking out a new career; his wife, Elizabeth, doesn’t know if it’s a good idea to sign away the rights to her song and life to a movie production company; Zoe worries that her marriage to Jane has degraded so much that they’ll never be happy again. Meanwhile, their respective children have also reached maturity…and started sleeping together. This is sure to be an unforgettable summer.

With Modern Lovers, author Emma Straub has delivered another amazing story about the complexities of life. The story is told in alternating points of view, giving readers a fascinating glimpse into the inner workings of the minds of each main character. We see Andrew’s struggles over Lydia and his desperate desire to feel needed, Ruby’s rebelliousness hiding insecurity over her future, and Jane’s deep love for her wife at arms against her worries about Elizabeth. This novel is smart, funny, and ends all too quickly.