The Layers

by Stephen Reynolds

The Layers is the debut novel from Stephen Reynolds, exploring how our identity is shaped by our relationships. The anonymous protagonist recounts his life story, showing us how the people he has loved - his parents, sister, grandfather, best friend, and partner - have all helped to form who he is. He is a different version of himself with each loved one, versions which combine to make up a whole person. However, as the book goes on and the protagonist starts to lose grip of people around him, he begins to wonder who he really is without them. Are the various versions of himself lost with those who knew them, or can he remain whole in spite of their loss? Struggling with overwhelming grief and its consequential identity crisis, he teeters on the edge of fading away completely. Can he find a way to pull those lost pieces of himself back together, or is he forever lost to the void?

Audible Audio

Published September 15, 2021

About the author

Stephen Reynolds began writing with a bestselling series of travel books about long-distance hiking. His debut novel, The Layers, was published by Valley Press in 2021. A story about the disparate versions of ourselves and what happens when we lose them. Darling Sorrow is his second novel and is published by the Book Guild in 2023.

Reviews

[readingwithlibby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was gifted to me by the author - I really enjoyed this book. I didn’t find it slow to begin with, and I was confused about the chapter structure at first, but once I got into the flow of it I loved it. Such a raw and heartbreakingly beautiful story of loss, grief, growth, depression and relationships. I definitely related to the main character through his depths of despair. I especially loved the addition of Marmite and the bond between the main character and his grandfather. The writing style took a little getting used to but the imagery and descriptions were beautiful and the ending was just right.

[Mr Thomas Michael Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoughtful character study of one man's life, framed through the lense of his relationships.

The Layers follows a split narrative between the now, and the then, of one man's life as we're introduced to him through the relationships that defined him.

It's a well written, heartfelt journey through the funny, sad, inspiring and reflective moments that keeps you turning pages right until the end.

[Sam Keenaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me cry so hard - such a love letter to the nuances of family

[Kate Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novel. Stephen Reynolds explores how family and friends shape who we are, in a story which is tender and heartbreaking.