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Lake Effect
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From the New York Times bestselling author of The Nest and Good Company comes a wry and tender portrait of two families forever changed by one lovestruck decision that will reverberate for decades.
It’s 1977 and an air of restlessness has settled on the residents of Cambridge Road in Rochester, New York, a place long fueled by the booming fortunes of Kodak and Xerox and, for some, the mores of the Catholic church. When Nina Larkin is given a copy of The Joy of Sex by her newly divorced friend, she can no longer dismiss the nearly nonexistent intimacy of her marriage. Just as her oldest child, Clara, is falling in love for the first time, Nina finds herself longing for the a midlife awakening. An intoxicating fling with a prominent neighbor brings Nina a freedom she never thought possible—but also risks the reputations of both families and unravels Clara’s world, just as she stands on the threshold of adulthood.
Years later, Clara, now a successful food stylist in New York City, has never been able to move past the long-ago scandal. Drawn back home by the pull of a family wedding and wrestling with her own demons, she makes a pivotal decision that turns her life upside down. Written with Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney’s signature humor and insight, Lake Effect is a wise and probing look at love and desire, mothers and daughters, loss and grief, and what we owe the people we love most.
It’s 1977 and an air of restlessness has settled on the residents of Cambridge Road in Rochester, New York, a place long fueled by the booming fortunes of Kodak and Xerox and, for some, the mores of the Catholic church. When Nina Larkin is given a copy of The Joy of Sex by her newly divorced friend, she can no longer dismiss the nearly nonexistent intimacy of her marriage. Just as her oldest child, Clara, is falling in love for the first time, Nina finds herself longing for the a midlife awakening. An intoxicating fling with a prominent neighbor brings Nina a freedom she never thought possible—but also risks the reputations of both families and unravels Clara’s world, just as she stands on the threshold of adulthood.
Years later, Clara, now a successful food stylist in New York City, has never been able to move past the long-ago scandal. Drawn back home by the pull of a family wedding and wrestling with her own demons, she makes a pivotal decision that turns her life upside down. Written with Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney’s signature humor and insight, Lake Effect is a wise and probing look at love and desire, mothers and daughters, loss and grief, and what we owe the people we love most.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 3, 2026
18447 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
3 books2,098 followersCynthia D’Aprix Sweeney is the New York Times bestselling author of The Nest, which has been translated into more than 25 languages and optioned for film by Amazon Studios with Sweeney writing the adaptation. She has an MFA from the Bennington Writing Seminars and lives in Los Angeles with her husband and children.
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February 16, 2026I'm happy to share this is our April 2026 Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club selection and author Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney will be joining us for a chat! This domestic novel unfolds in three parts: in 1977, two families who live across the street from each other in Rochester, New York dissemble and reassemble practically overnight. Neighbors Nina and Finn, unhappy in their respective marriages, divorce their spouses and remarry each other, leaving their teenage kids aghast and angry. Flash forward to 1994, when the now-grown children continue to struggle with the long-lasting aftershocks of that betrayal. And in 1998, the family comes together to confront a crisis and finally attempt to heal old wounds. I loved this for its perceptive family dynamics, realistic portrayal of what it looks like to turn your life upside down, and culinary details galore, including one chapter told entirely as a 1990s Food TV episode transcript. Recommended for fans of Anne Tyler and Sweeney's Good Company.
September 17, 2025
This novel is a tour de force of complex family relationships. There is so much to unpackage when two married people choose to have an affair and subsequently leave their families for quick divorces and equally quick nuptials. The ramifications of their decisions unfold over the next two decades – all seen from the perspectives of the couple, their betrayed spouses, and their respective children.
The sensitivity and compassion displayed by the author in exploring the emotional spectrum displayed by the characters is remarkable and accurate. What makes the novel even more remarkable is the cultural milieu of the times – 1977 through 1998 in a traditional family neighborhood rooted in Catholicism. The consequences have both personal and social overtones.
I found the characters appealing and relatable – even in their darkest moments. The writing style is engaging and the pacing kept me reading long into the night. Overall, this is a well-crafted historical novel that delivers a rich and satisfying experience.
My appreciation to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The sensitivity and compassion displayed by the author in exploring the emotional spectrum displayed by the characters is remarkable and accurate. What makes the novel even more remarkable is the cultural milieu of the times – 1977 through 1998 in a traditional family neighborhood rooted in Catholicism. The consequences have both personal and social overtones.
I found the characters appealing and relatable – even in their darkest moments. The writing style is engaging and the pacing kept me reading long into the night. Overall, this is a well-crafted historical novel that delivers a rich and satisfying experience.
My appreciation to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
January 1, 2026
I love family dramas told with nuance- and Lake Effect delivered. The book was also filled with references to Rochester NY. So much of the book rang true and pays homage to the unique culture of our city. The time period of 1977 was perfect and I enjoyed trying to decide if Finnigan’s was a Wegman’s- and how many of the characters were inspired by real Rochesterians. The impact of Nina and Finn’s decision start a new life together reverberated through their children’s lives. Nina was unaware her daughter, Clara, had fallen in love with Finn’s son, Dune. The decision Nina and Finn made to divorce their spouses and marry each other reverberated through their families for years to come. Sweeney also captured the changing social mores around divorce, sex, and the impact of the Catholic Church in Rochester using "The Joy of Sex" as a catalyst. I loved this book - thank you to the publisher for an advance reader copy! I also listened to part of the book via NetGalley and narrator Marion Ireland does a terrific job.
September 14, 2025
I’m not at all surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! I’m a big fan of family dramas that span generations, and this one grabbed me from the very beginning.
What sets this book apart is the intricate exploration of the adults’ marriages, which are unlike any other I’ve read. Additionally, witnessing the story unfold through the lives of their children—both during their formative years and later in their adulthood—provided an enriching reading experience.
This book certainly gives me vibes of Mary Beth Keene’s writing style, so if you’re a fan of her novels, you won’t want to miss out on this one when it releases in March 2026!
What sets this book apart is the intricate exploration of the adults’ marriages, which are unlike any other I’ve read. Additionally, witnessing the story unfold through the lives of their children—both during their formative years and later in their adulthood—provided an enriching reading experience.
This book certainly gives me vibes of Mary Beth Keene’s writing style, so if you’re a fan of her novels, you won’t want to miss out on this one when it releases in March 2026!
October 1, 2025
Compulsive family Drama with a capital D! All of the main characters were captivating, & the author did a fantastic job of telling their stories in a way that made me withhold judgement, even when I disagreed with choices. I’ll be thinking about Cara’s grief for a long time. Fantastic storytelling, and the end…. Just wow.
Thanks you #NetGalley & #HarperCollins for the ARC e-book.
Thanks you #NetGalley & #HarperCollins for the ARC e-book.
August 28, 2025
Right off the bat I loved the setting of this book taking place in the 70s. All of the characters are so entertaining and relatable. There are many themes in this book to relate to like grief, coming of age, affairs, love, and bad decisions. The scandal is juicy and the connection the characters have with each other is addicting. I laughed, I frowned, I cringed and gasped. Beautifully written, this book had me consumed from the first page to the very last word.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 21, 2025
I’ve been in a real reading rut—fearing that my attention span for intensive amounts of reading wanned—but this novel pulled me right out of it. Vivid, engaging characters in a story about romantic and familial relationships that feels so true. Equal parts Judy Blume adult novels of women of the 70s discovering and acknowledging their desires and 90s family drama in the best ways. There are some loose ends and characters whose importance slips away but that all feels true to life. The ending gutted me but also felt entirely right.
January 11, 2026
A beautifully written book a family saga with characters that come alive.An affair that shakes& shapes the lives of two families neighbors in this small town social friends and suddenly a couple .A fast elopement leaving their children distraught.Love the fact that we follow these people for years delve into their lives and the effects of this one act the elopement on their emotional lives.This is a book that stays with you even after you read the last page.This authors books are so entertaining just a joy to read.
October 5, 2025
Strong family drama with relatable characters and complex relationships over the course of 20+ years. I enjoyed it! 9/10.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Ecco for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Ecco for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
January 23, 2026
I just loved this book set in Rochester, NY (mainly in 1977 but also parts occur in the 1990’s). I loved references to the family grocery store that could only could have been modeled after Wegmans and I especially adored a shout out to Keuka Lake. This family drama made me think and cry and what more could I want? Add this to your TBR. Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC.
February 18, 2026
Oh, how I loved this beautiful , heartbreaking family saga filled with real, flawed people who hurt those they love, get hurt, forgive, take chances and learn to live authentically.
4.5 stars bumped to 5 because Marin Ireland makes everything better.
Thank you to NetGalley for my review copy
4.5 stars bumped to 5 because Marin Ireland makes everything better.
Thank you to NetGalley for my review copy
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Highly recommend if you loved “Hello, Beautiful" by Ann Napolitano and/or “Buckeye" by Patrick Ryan.
September 13, 2025
Rochester NY, the setting for this poignant novel, holds a very special place in my heart. It is where I went for radiation treatment for my breast cancer. I'm from Fairbanks, Alaska and in 1998, when I was diagnosed, there was no radiation therapy available in Fairbanks. My daughter lives in Rochester and I stayed with her while I received my treatment. Not only was it an opportunity to grow closer with my daughter, but I also gained special insight into Rochester, a city rich with art, music, culture, and history.
Ms. Sweeney intertwines themes of family, love, grief, anger, and pain throughout these pages. This results in a delicious and unique smorgasbord, always rich but sometimes bitter, recipes that cannot be replicated yet are universal. The poet, Theodor Roethke, says it best as I quote him here: "What is madness but nobility of the soul at odds with circumstance." We all have choices; how we act when faced with choice, lays the groundwork for our future.
Rochester, New York is located on the southern shore of Lake Ontario in upstate New York. Its weather is precarious and often unpredictable, causing what is known as 'lake effect'. Finn, one of the protagonists in this highly readable and meaningful novel, states that lake effect means you could never be sure what was coming. How true this is, not only with weather, but with life.
One day, apparently out of the blue, though not totally unexpected, Finn runs off with Nina, his neighbor's wife. Nina's two children, Clara and Bridie, are left emotionally ravished and deal with their grief and perceived abandonment in very different ways. Both feel pain and loss, but Clara believes that the only path to her recovering from this maternal betrayal, is to gain control of her home. She tries to attain this control through cooking, a choice that leads to her future profession but also destroys any future ability for her to engage in intimate relationships.
Ms. Sweeney deftly uses the metaphor of cooking to portray the unfolding of emotions. Characters in this novel cook with love and forgiveness, but also with fear and regret. As one character states, "I don't know what else to do. I cook."
The novel moves through the 1970's into the present time. Rochester's economic boom is contrasted with its downturn as Kodak and Xerox, its two economic mainstays, go under, at odds with the new tech frontier developing in California.
While this novel is character driven, it is also a page-turner. I thought this would be a beach read, but it is so much more. Family secrets, and their concomitant shame, are explored as themes of homosexuality, revenge, and anger come to the forefront of daily life. It grabbed me by the heart and immersed me in the hopes, dreams and disappointments of every character. It is definitely a novel to be savored.Rochester NY, the setting for this poignant novel, holds a very special place in my heart. It is where I went for radiation treatment for my breast cancer. I'm from Fairbanks, Alaska and in 1998, when I was diagnosed, there was no radiation therapy available in Fairbanks. My daughter lives in Rochester and I stayed with her while I received my treatment. Not only was it an opportunity to grow closer with my daughter, but I also gained special insight into Rochester, a city rich with art, music, culture, and history.
Ms. Sweeney intertwines themes of family, love, grief, anger, and pain throughout these pages. This results in a delicious and unique smorgasbord, always rich but sometimes bitter, recipes that cannot be replicated yet are universal. The poet, Theodor Roethke, says it best as I quote him here: "What is madness but nobility of the soul at odds with circumstance." We all have choices; how we act when faced with choice, lays the groundwork for our future.
Rochester, New York is located on the southern shore of Lake Ontario in upstate New York. Its weather is precarious and often unpredictable, causing what is known as 'lake effect'. Finn, one of the protagonists in this highly readable and meaningful novel, states that lake effect means you could never be sure what was coming. How true this is, not only with weather, but with life.
One day, apparently out of the blue, though not totally unexpected, Finn runs off with Nina, his neighbor's wife. Nina's two children, Clara and Bridie, are left emotionally ravished and deal with their grief and perceived abandonment in very different ways. Both feel pain and loss, but Clara believes that the only path to her recovering from this maternal betrayal, is to gain control of her home. She tries to attain this control through cooking, a choice that leads to her future profession but also destroys any future ability for her to engage in intimate relationships.
Ms. Sweeney deftly uses the metaphor of cooking to portray the unfolding of emotions. Characters in this novel cook with love and forgiveness, but also with fear and regret. As one character states, "I don't know what else to do. I cook."
The novel moves through the 1970's into the present time. Rochester's economic boom is contrasted with its downturn as Kodak and Xerox, its two economic mainstays, go under, at odds with the new tech frontier developing in California.
While this novel is character driven, it is also a page-turner. I thought this would be a beach read, but it is so much more. Family secrets, and their concomitant shame, are explored as themes of homosexuality, revenge, and anger come to the forefront of daily life. It grabbed me by the heart and immersed me in the hopes, dreams and disappointments of every character. It is definitely a novel to be savored.
Thank you Ecco and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this advanced reader's copy.
Ms. Sweeney intertwines themes of family, love, grief, anger, and pain throughout these pages. This results in a delicious and unique smorgasbord, always rich but sometimes bitter, recipes that cannot be replicated yet are universal. The poet, Theodor Roethke, says it best as I quote him here: "What is madness but nobility of the soul at odds with circumstance." We all have choices; how we act when faced with choice, lays the groundwork for our future.
Rochester, New York is located on the southern shore of Lake Ontario in upstate New York. Its weather is precarious and often unpredictable, causing what is known as 'lake effect'. Finn, one of the protagonists in this highly readable and meaningful novel, states that lake effect means you could never be sure what was coming. How true this is, not only with weather, but with life.
One day, apparently out of the blue, though not totally unexpected, Finn runs off with Nina, his neighbor's wife. Nina's two children, Clara and Bridie, are left emotionally ravished and deal with their grief and perceived abandonment in very different ways. Both feel pain and loss, but Clara believes that the only path to her recovering from this maternal betrayal, is to gain control of her home. She tries to attain this control through cooking, a choice that leads to her future profession but also destroys any future ability for her to engage in intimate relationships.
Ms. Sweeney deftly uses the metaphor of cooking to portray the unfolding of emotions. Characters in this novel cook with love and forgiveness, but also with fear and regret. As one character states, "I don't know what else to do. I cook."
The novel moves through the 1970's into the present time. Rochester's economic boom is contrasted with its downturn as Kodak and Xerox, its two economic mainstays, go under, at odds with the new tech frontier developing in California.
While this novel is character driven, it is also a page-turner. I thought this would be a beach read, but it is so much more. Family secrets, and their concomitant shame, are explored as themes of homosexuality, revenge, and anger come to the forefront of daily life. It grabbed me by the heart and immersed me in the hopes, dreams and disappointments of every character. It is definitely a novel to be savored.Rochester NY, the setting for this poignant novel, holds a very special place in my heart. It is where I went for radiation treatment for my breast cancer. I'm from Fairbanks, Alaska and in 1998, when I was diagnosed, there was no radiation therapy available in Fairbanks. My daughter lives in Rochester and I stayed with her while I received my treatment. Not only was it an opportunity to grow closer with my daughter, but I also gained special insight into Rochester, a city rich with art, music, culture, and history.
Ms. Sweeney intertwines themes of family, love, grief, anger, and pain throughout these pages. This results in a delicious and unique smorgasbord, always rich but sometimes bitter, recipes that cannot be replicated yet are universal. The poet, Theodor Roethke, says it best as I quote him here: "What is madness but nobility of the soul at odds with circumstance." We all have choices; how we act when faced with choice, lays the groundwork for our future.
Rochester, New York is located on the southern shore of Lake Ontario in upstate New York. Its weather is precarious and often unpredictable, causing what is known as 'lake effect'. Finn, one of the protagonists in this highly readable and meaningful novel, states that lake effect means you could never be sure what was coming. How true this is, not only with weather, but with life.
One day, apparently out of the blue, though not totally unexpected, Finn runs off with Nina, his neighbor's wife. Nina's two children, Clara and Bridie, are left emotionally ravished and deal with their grief and perceived abandonment in very different ways. Both feel pain and loss, but Clara believes that the only path to her recovering from this maternal betrayal, is to gain control of her home. She tries to attain this control through cooking, a choice that leads to her future profession but also destroys any future ability for her to engage in intimate relationships.
Ms. Sweeney deftly uses the metaphor of cooking to portray the unfolding of emotions. Characters in this novel cook with love and forgiveness, but also with fear and regret. As one character states, "I don't know what else to do. I cook."
The novel moves through the 1970's into the present time. Rochester's economic boom is contrasted with its downturn as Kodak and Xerox, its two economic mainstays, go under, at odds with the new tech frontier developing in California.
While this novel is character driven, it is also a page-turner. I thought this would be a beach read, but it is so much more. Family secrets, and their concomitant shame, are explored as themes of homosexuality, revenge, and anger come to the forefront of daily life. It grabbed me by the heart and immersed me in the hopes, dreams and disappointments of every character. It is definitely a novel to be savored.
Thank you Ecco and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this advanced reader's copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Lake effect, in Finn's understanding, just meant you could never be sure what was coming.
Lake Effect offers a quiet, powerful slice of suburban life as the characters navigate the changes between the 1970s and 1990s in Rochester, New York.
This is one of those books that seems to be about nothing and everything at once. Nothing, because very little happens beyond the characters' daily lives— their love affairs, family fallouts, dreams and ambitions. And everything, because, well, for most of us that is everything.
Characters change, grow, grow apart, actions have consequences (good and bad), and people are shaped by the actions of others.
It takes a book like this to capture the extent of the changes between the 1970s and 1990s. Such a short time, really, but the difference in attitudes to divorce and the way women viewed themselves was massive. The 1970s brought Comfort's The Joy of Sex, a now-dated but then eye-opening book for many women who had previously not known that they, too, could be enjoying sex.
Shortly after, Fat Is a Feminist Issue arrived, Orbach's indictment of diet culture and the obsession with starving oneself to thinness. In Lake Effect, the generational divide here is clear, with Honey pushing her daughter to join WeightWatchers while Fern's generation push back and dare to (somewhat) accept their bodies.
It is interesting to see authors exploring the way a book can change a generation. Last year I read The Book Club for Troublesome Women, which explored the effect of The Feminine Mystique on middle class women in the 1960s. One person's idea can change everything.
We're indentured servants in our own homes, forced to obey the whims of children and husbands. It's exhausting and maddening. We can't catch a break. We've been told we have more opportunity, but nobody's giving us a hand with our existing opportunity. How are we supposed to do all these new things liberation has brought into our lives and find the time to still run everyone else's lives?
Where I found this one more successful than TBCfTW was in the complex and spirited characters. Sweeney does a great job of juggling a large cast and spending time developing them all. I understood fully how each one had become the person they were, from a combination of their own personal experiences and the cultural events and ideas that shaped generations. You can see both Finn’s point of view— the despair of a loveless, sexless marriage —and Honey’s, her trauma about sex and her own weight.
The world of the novel looks very different as you move through the different third person perspectives. A character who seems uptight and tyrannical from one person's perspective becomes deeply sympathetic when we step inside their mind. I think this balanced view makes for truly fascinating storytelling and character craft.
Please be aware that the book contains on-page depiction of sexual assault and substance abuse.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received a free eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I’d kind of forgotten I had this, but I was looking for a palate cleanser amid my Thursday Murder Club binge. I *loved* The Nest (I think I liked Good Company? But I confess to not remembering much about it). This was fine, but I feel like the character development was lacking - it reads more like a series of vignettes than a cohesive plot.
Nina is a bored suburban mom - her marriage is mostly fine, her daughters are great, but she’s feeling that “shouldn’t there be something *more*” sort of pull. She starts having an affair with the neighbor (Finn Finnegan, which is an excellent name), and they eventually run away together. I never really got what they saw in one another though. By the time we meet them, it seems like the affair is already in progress? The blurb mentions Nina having some kind of awakening after her divorced friend gifts her The Joy of Sex, but we mostly see daughters Clara and Bridie reading it. It seems like she has the affair because she’s bored (and maybe a little because she finds Finn’s wife Honey a bit insufferable and wants to put one over on her?). And she seems to immediately regret the whole running away gambit, but goes along with it anyway. And then…they just settle into life as a boring married couple. As one of Clara’s friends tells her later in the book, the only interesting thing Finn and Nina ever did was run off and get married.
For her part, this is a defining moment in Clara’s life and she Will Not Let It Go. She keeps going on and on about how her mother ruined their lives with her selfish choices and guilt trips Bridie into not spending time with Nina either. The problem with this is that we never actually SEE any of this supposed trauma. We keep jumping forward in time (I was going to say we keep jumping *around*, but that would imply that there are flashbacks, and the narrative is at least linear) and all of this stuff has already happened and someone is stewing about it after the fact. The bulk of the book is set in the 70s/80s timeline and the last third jumps forward to the 90s (where Clara is a food stylist with a grudge). It felt like we just sped through so many big moments in favor of…I’m not sure what exactly. You could set an entire novel just around Bridie’s wedding, for example.
There are just so many characters; and it’s not that I had a hard time keeping track of them, but I felt like we never truly got to know any of them. By the time we hit the unexpected tragedy of the final act, I was largely unmoved, because I never felt like I got to know these people well enough to be sad for them. Ultimately, this is a fast read, and I did enjoy it. I just wish I had enjoyed it more.
Nina is a bored suburban mom - her marriage is mostly fine, her daughters are great, but she’s feeling that “shouldn’t there be something *more*” sort of pull. She starts having an affair with the neighbor (Finn Finnegan, which is an excellent name), and they eventually run away together. I never really got what they saw in one another though. By the time we meet them, it seems like the affair is already in progress? The blurb mentions Nina having some kind of awakening after her divorced friend gifts her The Joy of Sex, but we mostly see daughters Clara and Bridie reading it. It seems like she has the affair because she’s bored (and maybe a little because she finds Finn’s wife Honey a bit insufferable and wants to put one over on her?). And she seems to immediately regret the whole running away gambit, but goes along with it anyway. And then…they just settle into life as a boring married couple. As one of Clara’s friends tells her later in the book, the only interesting thing Finn and Nina ever did was run off and get married.
For her part, this is a defining moment in Clara’s life and she Will Not Let It Go. She keeps going on and on about how her mother ruined their lives with her selfish choices and guilt trips Bridie into not spending time with Nina either. The problem with this is that we never actually SEE any of this supposed trauma. We keep jumping forward in time (I was going to say we keep jumping *around*, but that would imply that there are flashbacks, and the narrative is at least linear) and all of this stuff has already happened and someone is stewing about it after the fact. The bulk of the book is set in the 70s/80s timeline and the last third jumps forward to the 90s (where Clara is a food stylist with a grudge). It felt like we just sped through so many big moments in favor of…I’m not sure what exactly. You could set an entire novel just around Bridie’s wedding, for example.
There are just so many characters; and it’s not that I had a hard time keeping track of them, but I felt like we never truly got to know any of them. By the time we hit the unexpected tragedy of the final act, I was largely unmoved, because I never felt like I got to know these people well enough to be sad for them. Ultimately, this is a fast read, and I did enjoy it. I just wish I had enjoyed it more.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Lake Effect by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney is one of those novels that quietly disarms its reader. When I first began it, I braced myself for disappointment—anticipating thinly drawn characters and a breezy but ultimately vapid domestic drama. Instead, within a matter of hours, Sweeney resoundingly proved me wrong. I read the book in a single sitting, absorbed and unexpectedly moved, reluctant to leave its world when it ended.
Set in 1970s Rochester, New York, the novel opens with a destabilizing act of domestic rupture: two neighboring adults abruptly leave their spouses, divorce, and remarry one another in the Dominican Republic. What could have easily become a sensational or gimmicky premise is treated with remarkable emotional intelligence. The true subject of the novel is not the scandal itself, but the long reverberations of that choice—how it fractures families, reconfigures loyalties, and quietly reshapes the inner lives of everyone involved.
Sweeney excels at rendering complexity without heaviness. Her characters—particularly the children caught in the wake of adult desire—are distinctive, psychologically astute, and deeply human. Their responses to betrayal, confusion, and shifting family dynamics feel authentic and earned. Equally compelling is the way the adults reckon with their own decisions: regret and self-justification coexist, and personal growth is neither linear nor guaranteed. No one is reduced to a villain or a victim; instead, Sweeney allows contradiction to be the animating force of her characters.
The historical setting is more than decorative. The social and political undercurrents of the 1970s—its evolving attitudes toward marriage, freedom, and self-fulfillment—subtly heighten the emotional stakes and lend texture to the narrative. The era’s restlessness mirrors the internal turbulence of the characters themselves, deepening the novel’s resonance.
What the Lake Effect ultimately offers is a meditation on consequence: how a single impulsive decision can echo across years, shaping identities and relationships in unforeseen ways. It is a deceptively breezy, quick read, yet one with real substance beneath its surface—emotionally engaging, propulsive, and quietly wise. I could not put it down, and when it ended, I felt the familiar ache reserved for books whose characters have begun to feel like companions. This novel is, quite simply, a winner.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review
Set in 1970s Rochester, New York, the novel opens with a destabilizing act of domestic rupture: two neighboring adults abruptly leave their spouses, divorce, and remarry one another in the Dominican Republic. What could have easily become a sensational or gimmicky premise is treated with remarkable emotional intelligence. The true subject of the novel is not the scandal itself, but the long reverberations of that choice—how it fractures families, reconfigures loyalties, and quietly reshapes the inner lives of everyone involved.
Sweeney excels at rendering complexity without heaviness. Her characters—particularly the children caught in the wake of adult desire—are distinctive, psychologically astute, and deeply human. Their responses to betrayal, confusion, and shifting family dynamics feel authentic and earned. Equally compelling is the way the adults reckon with their own decisions: regret and self-justification coexist, and personal growth is neither linear nor guaranteed. No one is reduced to a villain or a victim; instead, Sweeney allows contradiction to be the animating force of her characters.
The historical setting is more than decorative. The social and political undercurrents of the 1970s—its evolving attitudes toward marriage, freedom, and self-fulfillment—subtly heighten the emotional stakes and lend texture to the narrative. The era’s restlessness mirrors the internal turbulence of the characters themselves, deepening the novel’s resonance.
What the Lake Effect ultimately offers is a meditation on consequence: how a single impulsive decision can echo across years, shaping identities and relationships in unforeseen ways. It is a deceptively breezy, quick read, yet one with real substance beneath its surface—emotionally engaging, propulsive, and quietly wise. I could not put it down, and when it ended, I felt the familiar ache reserved for books whose characters have begun to feel like companions. This novel is, quite simply, a winner.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
A charming novel about messy entangled suburban lives that I couldn't stop reading. The dramatic 70's divorce is basically its own subgenre of story, but Sweeney wants to dig a little deeper. Yes it was a trend--the introduction of No Fault Divorce laws in the US in 1970 kicked off a wave of rethinking divorce, though those laws weren't in effect in 1977 Rochester where this is set. All kinds of trends come together in the lives of our characters the way they do in reality: Weight Watchers groups, The Joy of Sex, even the wave of semi-religious musical theater.
This book wants to make it complicated. It wants you to see everyone's point of view. And it's pretty determined not to have any heroes or villains. (At least until the last third or so.) It also isn't content to just give us the leadup and the fallout, it wants us to look 20 years later to see the way it still impacts everyone. This is where Sweeney surprised me. I was already reading this book feverishly, but when we move the setting to 1998 and the children are no longer teenagers but 30-somethings who arguably should have their lives together. For us as the reader it is all still fresh, so it's easy to empathize with Clara who still has not managed to let any of it go, even as we see how irrational and damaging it is.
The last section is the weakest, mostly because we focus in so much more deeply on Clara and the conflicts she creates for everyone. The book is at its best when you get to move between all the characters.
I was skeptical of this book, I had to admit. I never read The Nest. And suburban divorce as a subgenre is usually quite boring. I was even more concerned when basically every character in this book goes by the kind of cutesy WASP-y nickname that makes me roll my eyes. But oh boy did it pull me in and take down all my defenses. Ok yes the left-spouses are too one-dimensional. And I really wanted to get back into Nina's head after everything happened, since I know she and I both had our doubts about how this was going to go long-term. But I had such a good time reading this book that it's hard to get too concerned about my doubts.
This would be a great book club book because it will inevitably start some fights and because it's so readable that you're much less likely to have people who only read half. I really truly enjoyed it. It is such a gift to just enjoy a book, friends.
This book wants to make it complicated. It wants you to see everyone's point of view. And it's pretty determined not to have any heroes or villains. (At least until the last third or so.) It also isn't content to just give us the leadup and the fallout, it wants us to look 20 years later to see the way it still impacts everyone. This is where Sweeney surprised me. I was already reading this book feverishly, but when we move the setting to 1998 and the children are no longer teenagers but 30-somethings who arguably should have their lives together. For us as the reader it is all still fresh, so it's easy to empathize with Clara who still has not managed to let any of it go, even as we see how irrational and damaging it is.
The last section is the weakest, mostly because we focus in so much more deeply on Clara and the conflicts she creates for everyone. The book is at its best when you get to move between all the characters.
I was skeptical of this book, I had to admit. I never read The Nest. And suburban divorce as a subgenre is usually quite boring. I was even more concerned when basically every character in this book goes by the kind of cutesy WASP-y nickname that makes me roll my eyes. But oh boy did it pull me in and take down all my defenses. Ok yes the left-spouses are too one-dimensional. And I really wanted to get back into Nina's head after everything happened, since I know she and I both had our doubts about how this was going to go long-term. But I had such a good time reading this book that it's hard to get too concerned about my doubts.
This would be a great book club book because it will inevitably start some fights and because it's so readable that you're much less likely to have people who only read half. I really truly enjoyed it. It is such a gift to just enjoy a book, friends.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to both #NetGalley and Ecco for providing me an advance copy of Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney's latest #literaryfiction release, Lake Effect, in exchange for an honest review.
#LakeEffect is a character-driven, #generalfiction novel set primarily in Rochester, NY, over the span of the late 1970s through the mid-1990s. The plot centers on multiple characters from two families who live in the same small town. This book was written for those who enjoy #familydramas and stories written about daily life.
This is the third novel by the author that I have read and reviewed. I strive not to compare earlier novels when reviewing works by the same author. Try as I might, however, I must still be chasing that high of my initial introduction to her writing, #TheNest. For me, unfortunately, this was the weakest of the three.
I encountered many of the same gripes I experienced while reading, #GoodCompany, namely, that there did not seem to be an underlying message to the story, and that the characters are one-dimensional by the second-half of novel, which made it difficult to connect or envision any of them. Either the characters require further development, or some should be omitted to make others stronger. Perhaps even both edits should occur, considering the story is character-driven.
Additionally, the plot was tenuous come the conclusion and the writing was not as strong as her previous novels. While the story was interesting enough in the first-half to keep the reader engaged, the ending felt rushed and there were many disjointed points throughout the passages. For instance, while history may repeat itself, there were one too many present-day allusions, yet none of the story occurs in the 21st century.
In sum, the novel borders on the cusp of a literary, character-driven novel, but lacks the fully-fleshed characters and crisp syntax. I struggled to rate Lake Effect because the pacing and plot are solid, though could benefit from focusing on either the decade, certain individual characters, or some oomph element, which makes it difficult for the reader to care or feel emotion for anything that occurs in the end. This also might be a story for someone who is older, wiser, and can commiserate with some of the characters' experiences or the time period. Overall, 3.0 stars.
#LakeEffect is a character-driven, #generalfiction novel set primarily in Rochester, NY, over the span of the late 1970s through the mid-1990s. The plot centers on multiple characters from two families who live in the same small town. This book was written for those who enjoy #familydramas and stories written about daily life.
This is the third novel by the author that I have read and reviewed. I strive not to compare earlier novels when reviewing works by the same author. Try as I might, however, I must still be chasing that high of my initial introduction to her writing, #TheNest. For me, unfortunately, this was the weakest of the three.
I encountered many of the same gripes I experienced while reading, #GoodCompany, namely, that there did not seem to be an underlying message to the story, and that the characters are one-dimensional by the second-half of novel, which made it difficult to connect or envision any of them. Either the characters require further development, or some should be omitted to make others stronger. Perhaps even both edits should occur, considering the story is character-driven.
Additionally, the plot was tenuous come the conclusion and the writing was not as strong as her previous novels. While the story was interesting enough in the first-half to keep the reader engaged, the ending felt rushed and there were many disjointed points throughout the passages. For instance, while history may repeat itself, there were one too many present-day allusions, yet none of the story occurs in the 21st century.
In sum, the novel borders on the cusp of a literary, character-driven novel, but lacks the fully-fleshed characters and crisp syntax. I struggled to rate Lake Effect because the pacing and plot are solid, though could benefit from focusing on either the decade, certain individual characters, or some oomph element, which makes it difficult for the reader to care or feel emotion for anything that occurs in the end. This also might be a story for someone who is older, wiser, and can commiserate with some of the characters' experiences or the time period. Overall, 3.0 stars.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to #EccoBooks and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review #LakeEffect by a favorite author -- #CynthiaDAprixSweeney. This book will hit shelves on 3/3/2026 and will be a small, good thing for readers to anticipate in the coming year (and we surely need it)! I loved this novel and it may by my favorite of the three she's written.
I love this writer and the ways in which she creates multidimensional, relatable characters - often within family systems - and weaves them together within relationships, moving forward and backward through time. The plot encompasses consequences, the effects of past and current indiscretions and how family trauma is passed on through generations. It is also a novel of forgiveness and new beginnings. The way the book is arranged, into three distinct parts spread over decades, these relationships are displayed past, present, and future.
The movement of characters over decades demonstrates, beautifully, how times and current culture dictate decisions (and roles) which, in turn, have ongoing and often irreversible outcomes. Sometimes things that seem hopeless and heartbreaking can, in time, become blessings. The lives of families, of friends and neighbors -- the Larkins and the Finnegans -- are inextricably tied together for better and for worse.
I'll leave the synopsis of the plot to other reviewers (and to the book's publicity description) and just say it is SO MUCH MORE than what is described. Each of the Larkins and the Finnegans (along with supporting characters -- like neighbor Bess Pfeffier) carry their own individual backstories and histories and impact the plot in important ways.
Lake Effect is HIGHLY RECOMMEND as is every book by this author. I absolutely LOVED this one!!! Hoping to get the audiobook through NetGalley as well. Again, thank you and CONGRATS to Cynthia!!! She is the real deal!! #brava
I love this writer and the ways in which she creates multidimensional, relatable characters - often within family systems - and weaves them together within relationships, moving forward and backward through time. The plot encompasses consequences, the effects of past and current indiscretions and how family trauma is passed on through generations. It is also a novel of forgiveness and new beginnings. The way the book is arranged, into three distinct parts spread over decades, these relationships are displayed past, present, and future.
The movement of characters over decades demonstrates, beautifully, how times and current culture dictate decisions (and roles) which, in turn, have ongoing and often irreversible outcomes. Sometimes things that seem hopeless and heartbreaking can, in time, become blessings. The lives of families, of friends and neighbors -- the Larkins and the Finnegans -- are inextricably tied together for better and for worse.
I'll leave the synopsis of the plot to other reviewers (and to the book's publicity description) and just say it is SO MUCH MORE than what is described. Each of the Larkins and the Finnegans (along with supporting characters -- like neighbor Bess Pfeffier) carry their own individual backstories and histories and impact the plot in important ways.
Lake Effect is HIGHLY RECOMMEND as is every book by this author. I absolutely LOVED this one!!! Hoping to get the audiobook through NetGalley as well. Again, thank you and CONGRATS to Cynthia!!! She is the real deal!! #brava
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am a fan of this author and this was a big win for me! Audiobook fans, a must as Marin Ireland (a personal favorite) brings this book to life in ways that really took this book to the next level.
Thank you to HarperAudio and Ecco Books for the early review copies of Lake Effect.
Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney is one of my go-to authors for character-driven literary fiction that examines the complexities of adult relationships—the way boundaries and connections within friendships, families, and committed partnerships naturally shift as people and circumstances change. Her work consistently pays attention to the quiet, interior movements of relationships over time.
In Lake Effect, what stood out most to me was the way Sweeney blends depictions of healthy, natural sexuality and desire in women at midlife with the experience of a teenager navigating her first real feelings of attraction. Alongside this, the novel thoughtfully explores family relationships and the ways those bonds evolve across decades.
The characters’ quirks and inner dialogues, how they make sense of their choices, feelings, and the turning points in their lives, give the novel its emotional resonance. I found myself drawn into each character’s personal journey, even as some of those paths move through moments of moral grayness or cause real hurt. Those moments, in turn, open the door to important awakenings and forward motion, while also introducing themes about women’s lives in the 1960s and 70s and how those experiences echo into later years.
Sweeney has a particular gift for capturing seemingly small moments and thoughts that quietly become pivotal, the kinds of moments most people recognize from their own lives. That sense of realness, in both her characters and their inner worlds, is what makes her writing linger for me.
A win for fans of literary fiction, readers who appreciate quiet but powerful, character-driven stories, longtime readers of Sweeney’s work, and fans of writers like Catherine Newman or Alison Larkin.
Thank you to HarperAudio and Ecco Books for the early review copies of Lake Effect.
Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney is one of my go-to authors for character-driven literary fiction that examines the complexities of adult relationships—the way boundaries and connections within friendships, families, and committed partnerships naturally shift as people and circumstances change. Her work consistently pays attention to the quiet, interior movements of relationships over time.
In Lake Effect, what stood out most to me was the way Sweeney blends depictions of healthy, natural sexuality and desire in women at midlife with the experience of a teenager navigating her first real feelings of attraction. Alongside this, the novel thoughtfully explores family relationships and the ways those bonds evolve across decades.
The characters’ quirks and inner dialogues, how they make sense of their choices, feelings, and the turning points in their lives, give the novel its emotional resonance. I found myself drawn into each character’s personal journey, even as some of those paths move through moments of moral grayness or cause real hurt. Those moments, in turn, open the door to important awakenings and forward motion, while also introducing themes about women’s lives in the 1960s and 70s and how those experiences echo into later years.
Sweeney has a particular gift for capturing seemingly small moments and thoughts that quietly become pivotal, the kinds of moments most people recognize from their own lives. That sense of realness, in both her characters and their inner worlds, is what makes her writing linger for me.
A win for fans of literary fiction, readers who appreciate quiet but powerful, character-driven stories, longtime readers of Sweeney’s work, and fans of writers like Catherine Newman or Alison Larkin.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it was such a special, poignant and awesome one. I should add that I listened to it (thank you NetGalley and Harper Audio). And given what an excellent narrator Marin Ireland is, I’d recommend this format.
The mid-to-late 1970s was a period of sexual awakening for many American women (The Joy of Sex) and divorce was less of a stigma. Using these themes, the author crafts a story about two families, the Larkins (Sam and Nina) and the Finnegans (Finn and Honey) over a twenty year period. Besides these themes, the story abounds in other cultural aspects of this period: advent of the personal computer, food shows emerging, the beginning of AIDS, and how people could disappear in an era of no cell phones. All of these contribute to the broadening of a story of “family history.”
Neither the Larkins nor the Finnegans are in happy marriages mostly because sex isn’t so great. As the secrets behind this emerge, Nina and Finn boldly go out and get divorced and remarried changing the dynamics of these two families and impacting their four children, Clara, Birdie, Dune and Fern - there is much more to the story than this. The author spends the first part of the novel setting up the families, the next part telling about the immediate effects of the divorce/remarriage and the last what the families look like 20 years later. By the end you have such a beautiful picture of how families can survive what might even seem like the worst that could happen.
It’s difficult to write a synopsis of this book without giving a lot away. But if you read it, you have the deepest satisfaction of having experienced a story well told. There is just something in this book that grabs you and won’t let you go - and then you don’t want leave either. Highly recommend.
#LakeEffect
#CynthiaD’AbrixSweeney
#HarperAudioAdult
The mid-to-late 1970s was a period of sexual awakening for many American women (The Joy of Sex) and divorce was less of a stigma. Using these themes, the author crafts a story about two families, the Larkins (Sam and Nina) and the Finnegans (Finn and Honey) over a twenty year period. Besides these themes, the story abounds in other cultural aspects of this period: advent of the personal computer, food shows emerging, the beginning of AIDS, and how people could disappear in an era of no cell phones. All of these contribute to the broadening of a story of “family history.”
Neither the Larkins nor the Finnegans are in happy marriages mostly because sex isn’t so great. As the secrets behind this emerge, Nina and Finn boldly go out and get divorced and remarried changing the dynamics of these two families and impacting their four children, Clara, Birdie, Dune and Fern - there is much more to the story than this. The author spends the first part of the novel setting up the families, the next part telling about the immediate effects of the divorce/remarriage and the last what the families look like 20 years later. By the end you have such a beautiful picture of how families can survive what might even seem like the worst that could happen.
It’s difficult to write a synopsis of this book without giving a lot away. But if you read it, you have the deepest satisfaction of having experienced a story well told. There is just something in this book that grabs you and won’t let you go - and then you don’t want leave either. Highly recommend.
#LakeEffect
#CynthiaD’AbrixSweeney
#HarperAudioAdult
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Lake Effect offered a genuinely raw observation of the ramifications of a 1970's era love affair and subsequent divorce. The two families at the hub of this scandal are neighbors and long-time family friends - and nobody saw it coming. Nina and Finn set their children's lives askew when they decide to leave their spouses and run away to the Caribbean to divorce and instantly remarry. Leaving their partner and children to start over with their new life, the reader follows them through their lives as they learn to navigate life with a split home.
My first impression was that these kids were whiny and self-indulgent. But putting into perspective that they live in a small and close-knit Catholic town, news like this is sure to upend anyone's life. Though put off by their entitlement, I was still able to sympathize with Clara. She completely idolized her mother, and the realization that her mother was not happy in their life, but also not perfect, was jarring for her. But having Dune not only deny her, but also treat her so unfairly and meanly, was enough to break her.
Written in multiple perspectives, Sweeney wrote a captivating, if not at times nauseating, story of families breaking up, rebuilding, and coming to terms with a new life. Very well written, but the story itself was a bit hard to enjoy. At one point, I said to myself, I simply do not care about these people anymore. Clara's character saved the story for me, however.
I've read all of Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney's books and recognize what a fantastic writer she is. This one just fell short a bit for me due to the storyline. Still a fan!
Thank you to Netgalley, Ecco Publishing, and Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney for the advanced readers' copy in exchange for my honest review of the book.
My first impression was that these kids were whiny and self-indulgent. But putting into perspective that they live in a small and close-knit Catholic town, news like this is sure to upend anyone's life. Though put off by their entitlement, I was still able to sympathize with Clara. She completely idolized her mother, and the realization that her mother was not happy in their life, but also not perfect, was jarring for her. But having Dune not only deny her, but also treat her so unfairly and meanly, was enough to break her.
Written in multiple perspectives, Sweeney wrote a captivating, if not at times nauseating, story of families breaking up, rebuilding, and coming to terms with a new life. Very well written, but the story itself was a bit hard to enjoy. At one point, I said to myself, I simply do not care about these people anymore. Clara's character saved the story for me, however.
I've read all of Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney's books and recognize what a fantastic writer she is. This one just fell short a bit for me due to the storyline. Still a fan!
Thank you to Netgalley, Ecco Publishing, and Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney for the advanced readers' copy in exchange for my honest review of the book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance listening copy!
This story kept me engaged from the beginning to end because I wanted to know what happened. There’s a constant switching of narrator in mostly every chapter and I thought I wouldn’t care for that but it worked wonders for the story. Even what would start out as seemingly an insignificant POV would soon evolve to something more. It was really well done.
I loved the narrator choice and her voices were mostly perfect. Though at times the voice for Bridie when she was 15 came off as a tad too young, it didn’t ruin my experience or anything. I only have a few problems with the story. I would’ve liked a little more depth regarding why the two characters that started an affair started falling for one another. More instances of them falling in love would’ve been awesome but it was more a tell and don’t show type of thing.
Another problem that I have is the end feels pretty rushed. Not so much so that I don’t like it, but I wouldn’t say I loved it either. It Jereme’s like the author started speedrunning milestones/moments and it didn’t leave much room to unpack what was happening. And the last thing is the drama just kicked it into high gear in the last half of the story just for the sake of it. It was entertaining sure, but it also felt a little forced. Characters would do things to one another that I would have loved to see the fallout of but it jumped to the next moment so quickly, only giving a little bit of an explanation as to what happened afterward. It just felt a little disorienting.
Overall, this is an intriguing story, but I would’ve enjoyed a few more in-depth passages and chapters that explained the actions and reactions of some characters.
This story kept me engaged from the beginning to end because I wanted to know what happened. There’s a constant switching of narrator in mostly every chapter and I thought I wouldn’t care for that but it worked wonders for the story. Even what would start out as seemingly an insignificant POV would soon evolve to something more. It was really well done.
I loved the narrator choice and her voices were mostly perfect. Though at times the voice for Bridie when she was 15 came off as a tad too young, it didn’t ruin my experience or anything. I only have a few problems with the story. I would’ve liked a little more depth regarding why the two characters that started an affair started falling for one another. More instances of them falling in love would’ve been awesome but it was more a tell and don’t show type of thing.
Another problem that I have is the end feels pretty rushed. Not so much so that I don’t like it, but I wouldn’t say I loved it either. It Jereme’s like the author started speedrunning milestones/moments and it didn’t leave much room to unpack what was happening. And the last thing is the drama just kicked it into high gear in the last half of the story just for the sake of it. It was entertaining sure, but it also felt a little forced. Characters would do things to one another that I would have loved to see the fallout of but it jumped to the next moment so quickly, only giving a little bit of an explanation as to what happened afterward. It just felt a little disorienting.
Overall, this is an intriguing story, but I would’ve enjoyed a few more in-depth passages and chapters that explained the actions and reactions of some characters.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Lake Effect is literary fiction that you don’t come across often, but when you do it isn’t easily forgotten. At its start, we are introduced to Bess, a juggernaut divorcee that experiences some radical changes due to her new found reality. The preceding events of her life spur her to gift her married female friends copies of “The Joy of Sex.” Because of this new found sexual awakening, married Nina has an affair with her married neighbor Finn, leading to the decimation of their respective families and the community they each thrived in. At first, I found Bess to be a blowhard. A caricature of a woman scorned. But, as the story progressed I wanted more of the brashness and levity her character provided.
I appreciated how thoughtfully the couples were portrayed. The author took care to depict them in a compassionate, nonjudgmental light. However, I found myself rooting for one side more than the other. I could also never warm up to Clara, whose boorish behavior made her difficult to feel empathy towards.
The first two thirds of the book offered a story that unfolded delicately, richly, and heady with slice of life minutia that is oh so relatable. And as a fan of brevity, (I love short chapters) I couldn’t help but feel like the ending was rushed. The fate of the characters (who were essential in the beginning) were reduced to a single sentence (if at all). And the tragedy that concludes the story happened in the final ten percent. Not enough time to marinate to make the loss feel impactful. Regardless, a four star novel.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC. I am grateful for the opportunity to read this memorable novel.
I appreciated how thoughtfully the couples were portrayed. The author took care to depict them in a compassionate, nonjudgmental light. However, I found myself rooting for one side more than the other. I could also never warm up to Clara, whose boorish behavior made her difficult to feel empathy towards.
The first two thirds of the book offered a story that unfolded delicately, richly, and heady with slice of life minutia that is oh so relatable. And as a fan of brevity, (I love short chapters) I couldn’t help but feel like the ending was rushed. The fate of the characters (who were essential in the beginning) were reduced to a single sentence (if at all). And the tragedy that concludes the story happened in the final ten percent. Not enough time to marinate to make the loss feel impactful. Regardless, a four star novel.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC. I am grateful for the opportunity to read this memorable novel.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The narrator did a wonderful job telling this story. My only complaint with the audiobook is there isn't a clear change in POV. There are 8 characters between the two families and each has their own storyline, some bigger than others, but it took time to figure out which character was speaking. I had the opportunity to also read the digital copy and this translated better for me reading vs. listening. I would still recommend the audiobook.
This story is told in three parts with the majority of the story taking place in the 1970s. The first part of the story deals with the consequences of Nina and Finn's actions when they suddenly decide to run away for a quick divorce and marry without telling anyone. Both families are shaken up and the children are now trying to navigate their new life, especially Clara. While this story focuses on both families, Clara has a bigger part overall. The second part of the books shows readers the choices Clara made after her mother life, and how her life is still affected by this decision.
I like the author's writing style and the way she told this story. She did a wonderful job giving readers intriguing characters and a story that keeps us engaged.
Lake Effect deals with issues for the time periods mentioned in the story. In the 1970's more people were exploring sexuality and the 90's see a rise in AIDS and the affected community. This story includes infidelity, rape, unhealthy dieting, and alcoholism. Some of these topics are minor, they do play a part in the story. Please proceed with caution if any of these topics may be a trigger.
Thank you HarperAudio Adult and NetGalley for the ALC.
This story is told in three parts with the majority of the story taking place in the 1970s. The first part of the story deals with the consequences of Nina and Finn's actions when they suddenly decide to run away for a quick divorce and marry without telling anyone. Both families are shaken up and the children are now trying to navigate their new life, especially Clara. While this story focuses on both families, Clara has a bigger part overall. The second part of the books shows readers the choices Clara made after her mother life, and how her life is still affected by this decision.
I like the author's writing style and the way she told this story. She did a wonderful job giving readers intriguing characters and a story that keeps us engaged.
Lake Effect deals with issues for the time periods mentioned in the story. In the 1970's more people were exploring sexuality and the 90's see a rise in AIDS and the affected community. This story includes infidelity, rape, unhealthy dieting, and alcoholism. Some of these topics are minor, they do play a part in the story. Please proceed with caution if any of these topics may be a trigger.
Thank you HarperAudio Adult and NetGalley for the ALC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My absolute favorite type of book genre is the slice-of-life, character-driven, dialogue-heavy type, and this book absolutely delivers on all three. The novel is told through multiple voices within a family/extended family, and starts in the 70s and ends in the 90s. The author is so good at setting a scene, indeed an atmosphere, that even the story's location (Rochester, New York), becomes a character unto itself, and serves to shape every aspect of the narration. I really enjoyed how real and flawed and unsympathetic the characters were. So much so, that I found myself identifying not only with the time period and all its cultural references, but also with the various perspectives and experiences of many of the characters. I think it would be fair to say that most women, particularly those aged 55 and up, would be able to relate to much of what is written in Lake Effect. There are some universals that hold true regardless of background or upbringing, and the author very adeptly touches on these shared feelings throughout the book. In the last chapter, I was left sobbing at the reverberating echoes of loss and regret. What should have been, what might have been, what never could be. Choices made. Lines drawn. Life is inherently messy, and this novel shows that even when the happy endings often fail to materialize, it doesn't make the journey any less beautiful. ** I received this ARC from NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.
December 4, 2025
Reading "Lake Effect" was such a breath of fresh air. When "The Nest" came out, I was immediately intrigued by the premise but never got around to it, so I jumped at the chance to read this new novel. I am so glad I did.
Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney has an incredible ability to inhabit multiple characters and give each one a fully formed, easy-to-distinguish personality. I often struggle with third-person omniscient narration because it can feel muddy or confusing, but that was never an issue here. Every character’s voice felt clear, grounded, and emotionally distinct.
I especially loved Nina, Finn, and Bridie, though there is not a single character I hated outright. They all felt wonderfully real, and I loved watching them grow as people, make mistakes, reflect, and keep trying. Their relationships are messy, tender, and complicated, and I found myself slipping so comfortably into their world that it felt like I was part of their families.
This is a beautifully written, emotionally rich novel that captures the chaos and comfort of being entwined in other people’s lives. I highly recommend it to readers who love character-driven fiction that feels lived-in and real.
Thank you to Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, Ecco, and Edelweiss for sending me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney has an incredible ability to inhabit multiple characters and give each one a fully formed, easy-to-distinguish personality. I often struggle with third-person omniscient narration because it can feel muddy or confusing, but that was never an issue here. Every character’s voice felt clear, grounded, and emotionally distinct.
I especially loved Nina, Finn, and Bridie, though there is not a single character I hated outright. They all felt wonderfully real, and I loved watching them grow as people, make mistakes, reflect, and keep trying. Their relationships are messy, tender, and complicated, and I found myself slipping so comfortably into their world that it felt like I was part of their families.
This is a beautifully written, emotionally rich novel that captures the chaos and comfort of being entwined in other people’s lives. I highly recommend it to readers who love character-driven fiction that feels lived-in and real.
Thank you to Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, Ecco, and Edelweiss for sending me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 22, 2025
Nina Larkin lives in Rochester, New York, with her husband and their two beautiful girls, Clara and Bridie. It’s 1977 and although the Larkins marriage appears steady and stable — and Nina keeps very busy as a food columnist at the local paper — she is lonely. Her husband is a good provider and excellent father but their romance has been non existent for years. As midlife awakens all of her senses, and her book club reads The Joy of Sex, Nina’s neighbor Finn begins to look like a treat she can no longer resist. These suppressed desires cannot be ignored any longer, life is just too short! When the two run off together the entire town goes berserk. Brought up as strict Catholics, adultery and divorce are strictly forbidden. Nina’s daughters and Finn’s offspring handle this monumental life change in very different ways, forming alliances and destroying relationships. These teenagers who have lived across the street from each other for years know everything and nothing when it comes to matters of the heart. Family, friendships and pain that lasts for decades; Lake Effect dives into small town life and the unexpected emotions of living honestly and openly. Loved this book and every single character, in addition to the wonderful food metaphors for the cook in you! A must read for your 2026 TBR!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Ecco for the advanced reader copy
In the midst of 1977, a suburb of Rochester--specifically Cambridge Street--is about to be rocked by scandal. Finn Finnegan and Nora Larkin, who live across the street from one another, run off to get married; the scandal is that they are both married with two children each and they didn't tell their spouses about their decision. When the two return, the lives of everyone in their orbit are changed. Over a decade later, when some fractures brought on by the new marriage have healed, a new betrayal, now involving Nora's and Finn's children, threatens to tear everything apart again.
I have to admit, I didn't love GOOD COMPANY, D'Aprix Sweeney's sophomore book, but I was still curious to read this since I loved THE NEST so much. LAKE EFFECT is everything I want a literary family story novel that reveals everyone's secrets to be. The characters were all flawed in ways that made me angry, frustrated, thrilled and compelled to keep turning pages. Even after the elopement, the author builds such sympathy for all the spouses, including Nora and Finn. Writing too much more would give away some interesting reveals, so I'll just say, if you enjoyed THE NEST, or like authors like Emma Straub, Claire Lombardo, or Ann Napolitano, give LAKE EFFECT a try.
Lake Effect is out March 3, 2026
In the midst of 1977, a suburb of Rochester--specifically Cambridge Street--is about to be rocked by scandal. Finn Finnegan and Nora Larkin, who live across the street from one another, run off to get married; the scandal is that they are both married with two children each and they didn't tell their spouses about their decision. When the two return, the lives of everyone in their orbit are changed. Over a decade later, when some fractures brought on by the new marriage have healed, a new betrayal, now involving Nora's and Finn's children, threatens to tear everything apart again.
I have to admit, I didn't love GOOD COMPANY, D'Aprix Sweeney's sophomore book, but I was still curious to read this since I loved THE NEST so much. LAKE EFFECT is everything I want a literary family story novel that reveals everyone's secrets to be. The characters were all flawed in ways that made me angry, frustrated, thrilled and compelled to keep turning pages. Even after the elopement, the author builds such sympathy for all the spouses, including Nora and Finn. Writing too much more would give away some interesting reveals, so I'll just say, if you enjoyed THE NEST, or like authors like Emma Straub, Claire Lombardo, or Ann Napolitano, give LAKE EFFECT a try.
Lake Effect is out March 3, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to @eccobooks for the #gifted copy of LAKE EFFECT by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney
Publishes March 3
This is the kind of family saga I fall straight into and do not come up for air.
Two married people have an affair, blow up their lives, and remarry with shocking speed. That alone would be enough drama, but this novel stretches the fallout across twenty years, letting us sit with everyone affected. The cheaters. The betrayed spouses. The four kids left to make sense of it all. No one is a cartoon villain. No one gets off easy.
Set between the late 1970s and the late 1990s in a tight, Catholic neighborhood in Rochester NY, the story understands that divorce is never just personal. It is social. It is whispered about. It rearranges dinner tables and church pews. It ripples. The book captures that era so well, from sexual awakening and shifting gender roles to the early days of AIDS and home computers. You can feel how culture shapes choices and how those choices echo for decades.
What impressed me most is the compassion. The author refuses easy judgment. The Larkins and the Finnegans are messy, flawed people making selfish, impulsive choices, but they’re understandable.
The structure works beautifully. We move through three distinct time periods, watching past decisions collide with present realities and future reckonings. By the end, you have a full, layered portrait of two families whose lives are forever intertwined.
Lake Effect is compulsive family drama with a capital D, but it is also tender and clear-eyed about forgiveness, grief, and second chances. Highly recommend!
Publishes March 3
This is the kind of family saga I fall straight into and do not come up for air.
Two married people have an affair, blow up their lives, and remarry with shocking speed. That alone would be enough drama, but this novel stretches the fallout across twenty years, letting us sit with everyone affected. The cheaters. The betrayed spouses. The four kids left to make sense of it all. No one is a cartoon villain. No one gets off easy.
Set between the late 1970s and the late 1990s in a tight, Catholic neighborhood in Rochester NY, the story understands that divorce is never just personal. It is social. It is whispered about. It rearranges dinner tables and church pews. It ripples. The book captures that era so well, from sexual awakening and shifting gender roles to the early days of AIDS and home computers. You can feel how culture shapes choices and how those choices echo for decades.
What impressed me most is the compassion. The author refuses easy judgment. The Larkins and the Finnegans are messy, flawed people making selfish, impulsive choices, but they’re understandable.
The structure works beautifully. We move through three distinct time periods, watching past decisions collide with present realities and future reckonings. By the end, you have a full, layered portrait of two families whose lives are forever intertwined.
Lake Effect is compulsive family drama with a capital D, but it is also tender and clear-eyed about forgiveness, grief, and second chances. Highly recommend!
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