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Lucien
Win a free print copy of this book!
27 days and 10:46:53
25 copies available
U.S. only
His greatest gift was the art of deceit...
When Christopher “Atlas” Novotny arrives at Harvard, he is completely unprepared for the privileged world that awaits him. There he meets his roommate, Lucien Orsini-Conti, who is bold, confident and sophisticated – everything Atlas wishes he could be.
In awe of Lucien, Atlas is soon swept into a glittering new world of lavish parties and elite social clubs. But when he struggles to afford his new lifestyle, Lucien, sensing a willing disciple, offers a daring solution.
As their underhand methods draw them into a dangerous game of deceit, Lucien’s behaviour grows more erratic. Is Lucien all that he seems, or does his charismatic façade conceal something much more sinister?
When Christopher “Atlas” Novotny arrives at Harvard, he is completely unprepared for the privileged world that awaits him. There he meets his roommate, Lucien Orsini-Conti, who is bold, confident and sophisticated – everything Atlas wishes he could be.
In awe of Lucien, Atlas is soon swept into a glittering new world of lavish parties and elite social clubs. But when he struggles to afford his new lifestyle, Lucien, sensing a willing disciple, offers a daring solution.
As their underhand methods draw them into a dangerous game of deceit, Lucien’s behaviour grows more erratic. Is Lucien all that he seems, or does his charismatic façade conceal something much more sinister?
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 17, 2026
71 people are currently reading
6967 people want to read
About the author
J.R. Thornton
2 books157 followersJ.R. Thornton graduated from Harvard College and later earned an MA from Tsinghua University in Beijing. He is the author of two novels:
Beautiful Country,
and
Lucien.
He lives in Italy working for AC Milan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
November 11, 2025
ARC for review. To be published March 17, 2026.
4 stars
Atlas/Christopher is a “child prodigy” artist, his parents are first generation Czech immigrants and he is an incoming freshman at Harvard. His family has little money and he attended a public school so he feels out of his depth, especially when he meets his roommate Lucien, who is rich, connected and knows just how much o fit in. However, Lucien is willing to help Atlas and shows him a world of private clubs, debutante balls and fancy parties…then shows him how he, too, can have access to those things. Atlas gives in, then resists, then things start to spiral.
Oh, Lord, the trials and tribulations of the haves and have nots at Harvard. We have so many novels about these young people and they just keep coming. The haves are mostly the asses that you would expect them to be and their siren song is sweet; it’s easy to see how our hero gets caught up in it all (just like always.). This was a well done book, though that I liked quite a lot; both the primary and secondary characters are done well here so that adds some new life to this well-trod ground.
4 stars
Atlas/Christopher is a “child prodigy” artist, his parents are first generation Czech immigrants and he is an incoming freshman at Harvard. His family has little money and he attended a public school so he feels out of his depth, especially when he meets his roommate Lucien, who is rich, connected and knows just how much o fit in. However, Lucien is willing to help Atlas and shows him a world of private clubs, debutante balls and fancy parties…then shows him how he, too, can have access to those things. Atlas gives in, then resists, then things start to spiral.
Oh, Lord, the trials and tribulations of the haves and have nots at Harvard. We have so many novels about these young people and they just keep coming. The haves are mostly the asses that you would expect them to be and their siren song is sweet; it’s easy to see how our hero gets caught up in it all (just like always.). This was a well done book, though that I liked quite a lot; both the primary and secondary characters are done well here so that adds some new life to this well-trod ground.
January 17, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. This book was so so good. If you enjoyed the movie saltburn you need to add this to your tbr. This would make such a perfect movie I could watch the entire thing in my head while I was reading. I definitely am partial to books that kind of have that toxic college dark academia setting but this book did it without feeling like a copy paste of so many other books in the genre. The main characters naivety was a bit annoying at times but it wasn’t because of the writing it was more so like when your watching a horror movie yelling at the characters on screen to just look behind them. Like watching a train wreck about to happen. I loved this so so much and I can’t wait for everyone to get to read it.
October 30, 2025
First thank you NetGalley for approving my request for this book! I am really glad you did! Lucien was an exceptional book from start to finish.
Christopher / Atlas is an extremely talented painter who makes his way from lower middle class to Harvard on a scholarship. He’s quiet and shy, not sure of himself and thinks he doesn’t belong because he doesn’t come from money.
His room mate is Lucien, the complete opposite of him. He is loud and determined to make something of himself and already belongs because he is wealthy.
Lucien and Christopher aka Atlas build up a friendship one that Christopher desperately wants to have because he wants to belong but the longer Christopher is friends with Lucien, the more trouble and well .. issues start happening.
This was a really good read and it’s going to be added to my “must have on my shelves list”
Christopher / Atlas is an extremely talented painter who makes his way from lower middle class to Harvard on a scholarship. He’s quiet and shy, not sure of himself and thinks he doesn’t belong because he doesn’t come from money.
His room mate is Lucien, the complete opposite of him. He is loud and determined to make something of himself and already belongs because he is wealthy.
Lucien and Christopher aka Atlas build up a friendship one that Christopher desperately wants to have because he wants to belong but the longer Christopher is friends with Lucien, the more trouble and well .. issues start happening.
This was a really good read and it’s going to be added to my “must have on my shelves list”
March 25, 2026
Well, I read the synopsis of this book and it screamed "dark academia", so I decided to read it.
And it is a dark academia novel, alright.
But, to me, this book doesn't have the aura, the vibe, the charm of a typical dark academia novel. The reason, in my opinion? This story is too 'modern'. Even though the storyline takes places 15 years ago, it reads too modern. And, also in my opinion, the reason why I loved the dark academia novels that I've read and loved were, partially, because they were set in a more distant past, sometime in the 20st century. To me, this distant past brings a different vibe, a charming atmopshere that a contemporary timeline doesn't.
Moreover, the only character I was interested in was Lucien - who is NOT the protagonist of this story. Giving the title of this book and its premise, I thought Lucien was the main character in this novel. Well, he isn't. Sure, a big part of the story revolves around him, but I personally wanted the whole book focused on him. For me, he was the best and the only truly interesting character among all the others. Chris, ou 'Atlas', was not an appealing character to me, honestly. I couldn't care less for his relationship with his girlfriend or his interactions with fellow university students. All I cared about was the dynamic between 'Atlas' and Lucien. And there wasn't enough of it.
The conclusion also fell flat to me. Not exactly a predictable plot twist...but nothing truly shocking or original.
Overall, I think this book is just OK. Some dark academia elements are present: the academic setting; there is a flawed and realistic main character being dragged into the charms and manipulations of someone seen as 'superior'; there are some artistic elements here, too; and, obviously, something illegal and/or criminal happening. However, lemme just tell you: there are no secret societies or a professor figure of leadership Oh, and for those readers who think that there might be a homoerotic relationship between Lucien and Atlas, think again.
Maybe I'm too picky when it comes to dark academia novels. But if you enjoy the genre and you're not so picky, you might enjoy this book more than I did.
I listened to the audio format of this novel and I thought it was decently done. The single male narrator does a decent job voicing different characters, even making some distinct accents. I particularly didn't like much when he would make female voices, but in general the audiobook is decent. It definitely helped me go through this book and not quit it in the moments I was not truly enjoying.
Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Perennial, for a free audio copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
And it is a dark academia novel, alright.
But, to me, this book doesn't have the aura, the vibe, the charm of a typical dark academia novel. The reason, in my opinion? This story is too 'modern'. Even though the storyline takes places 15 years ago, it reads too modern. And, also in my opinion, the reason why I loved the dark academia novels that I've read and loved were, partially, because they were set in a more distant past, sometime in the 20st century. To me, this distant past brings a different vibe, a charming atmopshere that a contemporary timeline doesn't.
Moreover, the only character I was interested in was Lucien - who is NOT the protagonist of this story. Giving the title of this book and its premise, I thought Lucien was the main character in this novel. Well, he isn't. Sure, a big part of the story revolves around him, but I personally wanted the whole book focused on him. For me, he was the best and the only truly interesting character among all the others. Chris, ou 'Atlas', was not an appealing character to me, honestly. I couldn't care less for his relationship with his girlfriend or his interactions with fellow university students. All I cared about was the dynamic between 'Atlas' and Lucien. And there wasn't enough of it.
The conclusion also fell flat to me. Not exactly a predictable plot twist...but nothing truly shocking or original.
Overall, I think this book is just OK. Some dark academia elements are present: the academic setting; there is a flawed and realistic main character being dragged into the charms and manipulations of someone seen as 'superior'; there are some artistic elements here, too; and, obviously, something illegal and/or criminal happening. However, lemme just tell you: there are no secret societies or a professor figure of leadership Oh, and for those readers who think that there might be a homoerotic relationship between Lucien and Atlas, think again.
Maybe I'm too picky when it comes to dark academia novels. But if you enjoy the genre and you're not so picky, you might enjoy this book more than I did.
I listened to the audio format of this novel and I thought it was decently done. The single male narrator does a decent job voicing different characters, even making some distinct accents. I particularly didn't like much when he would make female voices, but in general the audiobook is decent. It definitely helped me go through this book and not quit it in the moments I was not truly enjoying.
Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Perennial, for a free audio copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 14, 2026
This was brilliant, and fun. Also depressing, and deeply frustrating. I thought I knew what was going on, and I was about 60% right. But that 40% was a doozy. I didn’t see this coming. The amount of times I said “oh honey, he doesn’t love you!” Is astronomical.
These damn rich people.
These damn rich people.
March 21, 2026
Unfortunately, I think this book bit off more than it could chew. It was trying a bit too hard to be something it wasn’t. And I’m usually easy to please with a dark academia/coming of age kind of hybrid. But let’s start with the plot.
The premise is very straightforward. Chris, a very skilled artist, arrives at Harvard where he meets his new roommate, Lucien. They strike up a friendship, and Lucien convinces him to start selling fakes he paints as originals. And everything unravels from there.
The story was easy to follow, entertaining for lack of a better word. But it lacked that something that has you wanting to get to the end. I will give the book its flowers because it read very quickly, but at the same time, I found myself wishing it was longer, so that we had more buildup to the story. The beginning especially, I felt like it was very rushed. There was one character in particular I couldn’t get past, the titular character.
Lucien himself. He read as a caricature of that one guy in every dark academia book ever, and it just didn’t work. He gave Chris (aka Atlas) his nickname in chapter one, knowing nothing at all about him. He meets him once for five minutes and right off the bat he’s trying — and managing to — get him to drink. He had a confidence about him that just wasn’t believable to me. He was not quite a carbon copy of any character in particular, but you know the kind of guy I’m talking about. The cocky, charismatic rich guy that’s also secretly tortured, occasionally queer in a subtle way (he in particular wasn’t, but stay with me) and with villainous qualities to him. They’re all the same and quite frankly, I’m kind of tired of it.
Chris/Atlas on the other hand felt very unique to this book. Yeah, he’s also following the archetype of the new, inexperienced guy who’s really the only one with a conscience. However. He didn’t read like a reused character, I really liked him. He’s has a special connection with his mother, his parents are immigrants. His phone calls with her mother were very sweet, you could tell how well his mother knows him. He’s genuinely a good guy, he got persuaded into doing that business with the paintings. All he wanted was to lay low, but Lucien’s lifestyle caught up with him. He also really liked a girl, Harriet. They weren’t anything special to me, she didn’t care about him enough for me to be invested.
The writing wasn’t anything incredible, I didn’t really notice it when reading. But that’s usually a good sign, it doesn’t get in the way of the story. There was quite a bit of dialogue, so again it read quickly. I wasn’t much of a fan of the ending, it felt a bit recycled, but still interesting, I didn’t really predict it. Very The Talented Mr. Ripley indeed. But they got some closure at least. Another things is, I was expecting this to be way more queer than it actually was. But no harm done I guess, just a bit of a disappointment in that area as well.
Overall, I was expecting something more. It wasn’t bad, my main issues were with the characterization of Lucien and the character dynamics between him and Chris/Atlas, as their friendship felt forced. The plot was enjoyable to follow though, I’d still recommend it. It’s around a 3.5/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The premise is very straightforward. Chris, a very skilled artist, arrives at Harvard where he meets his new roommate, Lucien. They strike up a friendship, and Lucien convinces him to start selling fakes he paints as originals. And everything unravels from there.
The story was easy to follow, entertaining for lack of a better word. But it lacked that something that has you wanting to get to the end. I will give the book its flowers because it read very quickly, but at the same time, I found myself wishing it was longer, so that we had more buildup to the story. The beginning especially, I felt like it was very rushed. There was one character in particular I couldn’t get past, the titular character.
Lucien himself. He read as a caricature of that one guy in every dark academia book ever, and it just didn’t work. He gave Chris (aka Atlas) his nickname in chapter one, knowing nothing at all about him. He meets him once for five minutes and right off the bat he’s trying — and managing to — get him to drink. He had a confidence about him that just wasn’t believable to me. He was not quite a carbon copy of any character in particular, but you know the kind of guy I’m talking about. The cocky, charismatic rich guy that’s also secretly tortured, occasionally queer in a subtle way (he in particular wasn’t, but stay with me) and with villainous qualities to him. They’re all the same and quite frankly, I’m kind of tired of it.
Chris/Atlas on the other hand felt very unique to this book. Yeah, he’s also following the archetype of the new, inexperienced guy who’s really the only one with a conscience. However. He didn’t read like a reused character, I really liked him. He’s has a special connection with his mother, his parents are immigrants. His phone calls with her mother were very sweet, you could tell how well his mother knows him. He’s genuinely a good guy, he got persuaded into doing that business with the paintings. All he wanted was to lay low, but Lucien’s lifestyle caught up with him. He also really liked a girl, Harriet. They weren’t anything special to me, she didn’t care about him enough for me to be invested.
The writing wasn’t anything incredible, I didn’t really notice it when reading. But that’s usually a good sign, it doesn’t get in the way of the story. There was quite a bit of dialogue, so again it read quickly. I wasn’t much of a fan of the ending, it felt a bit recycled, but still interesting, I didn’t really predict it. Very The Talented Mr. Ripley indeed. But they got some closure at least. Another things is, I was expecting this to be way more queer than it actually was. But no harm done I guess, just a bit of a disappointment in that area as well.
Overall, I was expecting something more. It wasn’t bad, my main issues were with the characterization of Lucien and the character dynamics between him and Chris/Atlas, as their friendship felt forced. The plot was enjoyable to follow though, I’d still recommend it. It’s around a 3.5/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 15, 2026
Unnerving, consuming, and tragic.
𝐋𝐔𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐍 is an ominous, gritty, character-driven novel that draws readers into the life of Christopher “Atlas” Novotny, a gifted painter and Harvard scholarship student whose world is upended after he becomes captivated by his charismatic roommate and pulled into an intoxicating world of privilege and power.
The prose is tight and intense. The characters are vulnerable, arrogant, and cunning. And the plot is a slow-burning, immersive story layered with deception, desperation, friendship, manipulation, jealousy, obsession, forgery, ruthless ambition, and betrayal.
Overall, 𝐋𝐔𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐍 is a dark, sinister, perceptive tale by Thornton that powerfully explores the complex dynamics of friendship and just how parasitic and manipulative those relationships can easily become.
𝐋𝐔𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐍 is an ominous, gritty, character-driven novel that draws readers into the life of Christopher “Atlas” Novotny, a gifted painter and Harvard scholarship student whose world is upended after he becomes captivated by his charismatic roommate and pulled into an intoxicating world of privilege and power.
The prose is tight and intense. The characters are vulnerable, arrogant, and cunning. And the plot is a slow-burning, immersive story layered with deception, desperation, friendship, manipulation, jealousy, obsession, forgery, ruthless ambition, and betrayal.
Overall, 𝐋𝐔𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐍 is a dark, sinister, perceptive tale by Thornton that powerfully explores the complex dynamics of friendship and just how parasitic and manipulative those relationships can easily become.
March 19, 2026
Not what I was expecting going into, but in the end I found it brilliant and intentional. Also learned a lot about art techniques and forgery so that’s pretty cool
March 17, 2026
Thank God I would never have been able to get into Harvard.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
as a huge fan of The Talented Mr. Ripley, i knew i had to read this. and it did not disappoint.
the writing is accessible, the tension builds beautifully, and the exploration of class, ambition, and manipulation is gripping throughout. i loved the art-world angle, especially having worked in a fine art museum. i read it slowly, not because it dragged, but because i didn’t want it to end. while i personally didn’t think the final chapter was necessary, i prefer a bit more ambiguity, it still didn’t diminish how much i enjoyed the book as a whole.
in short: i had a great time with this clever and immersive story.
-------
this one just sounds so aesthetic! i'm hoping to get a glance behind tom ripley's academic era.
*thank you to Harper Perennial for the ARC*
the writing is accessible, the tension builds beautifully, and the exploration of class, ambition, and manipulation is gripping throughout. i loved the art-world angle, especially having worked in a fine art museum. i read it slowly, not because it dragged, but because i didn’t want it to end. while i personally didn’t think the final chapter was necessary, i prefer a bit more ambiguity, it still didn’t diminish how much i enjoyed the book as a whole.
in short: i had a great time with this clever and immersive story.
-------
this one just sounds so aesthetic! i'm hoping to get a glance behind tom ripley's academic era.
*thank you to Harper Perennial for the ARC*
March 19, 2026
My first ever arc read. Beyond exciting and what a smash out of the park this was.
An enthralling dark academia story that follows Chris (Atlas) an aspiring artist and his friendship with Lucien a mysterious partyboy. What follows is a thrilling tale of art forgery and elite club antics.
If you like: art heists, take it off by kesha, saltburn, cons, whisky on the rocks, oceans 11, or leonardo dicaprio reaction pictures check this book out!
It’s great for when you need a fast paced read that really sucks you in. The dialogue and banter between different characters is so dry and witty and extremely enjoyable. I feel everyone has known and tried to impress someone like Lucien Orsini-Conti at some point in our lives and that’s what makes this book feel so grounded in reality. Books like this make me want to join an elite boarding school and run amok.
Thank you to Netgalley and Oneworld Publications for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
An enthralling dark academia story that follows Chris (Atlas) an aspiring artist and his friendship with Lucien a mysterious partyboy. What follows is a thrilling tale of art forgery and elite club antics.
If you like: art heists, take it off by kesha, saltburn, cons, whisky on the rocks, oceans 11, or leonardo dicaprio reaction pictures check this book out!
It’s great for when you need a fast paced read that really sucks you in. The dialogue and banter between different characters is so dry and witty and extremely enjoyable. I feel everyone has known and tried to impress someone like Lucien Orsini-Conti at some point in our lives and that’s what makes this book feel so grounded in reality. Books like this make me want to join an elite boarding school and run amok.
Thank you to Netgalley and Oneworld Publications for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
March 23, 2026
A must read if you like traditional Dark Academia.
This is drawing a lot of comparisons to The Secret History. Understandable given the setting, but I think the tone and themes are actually closer to The Goldfinch (complimentary either way) with a dash of The Talented Mr Ripley thrown in.
I’m not that picky about campus novels, especially those set in Cambridge where I live, but this one is notably well crafted in terms of setting and atmosphere, and mostly uses real locations and university organizations, which I always consider a plus.
But it’s the writing and the characters that really stand out here. It’s not terribly difficult to see where things may be going with Lucien, but it’s compelling even if you’re ahead of Atlas in figuring out what his enigmatic friend is about.
Part con novel, part art forgery thriller, there’s a lot going on here, but it all ties together well through the central characters. Atlas and Lucien start out as a standard pair of have/have not roommates, but their relationship proves to be neither that simple nor even that authentic.
The book asks a lot of questions about class and privilege, the price of fitting in, and the ethics of need, talent, and friendship. The result is a novel that is pacey and exciting, as well as thought provoking in a way that tempts you to linger on certain chapters and ruminate before moving on, no matter how eager you are to see what happens next.
If there’s a thing I didn’t love about this book it was the ending. The ultimate outcome is probably the only one that makes sense for the novel, but I didn’t love how it got there.
That said, it didn’t change how I felt about this book, which is that it’s one of the best crafted and written pieces of traditional Dark Academia that I’ve recently encountered.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
This is drawing a lot of comparisons to The Secret History. Understandable given the setting, but I think the tone and themes are actually closer to The Goldfinch (complimentary either way) with a dash of The Talented Mr Ripley thrown in.
I’m not that picky about campus novels, especially those set in Cambridge where I live, but this one is notably well crafted in terms of setting and atmosphere, and mostly uses real locations and university organizations, which I always consider a plus.
But it’s the writing and the characters that really stand out here. It’s not terribly difficult to see where things may be going with Lucien, but it’s compelling even if you’re ahead of Atlas in figuring out what his enigmatic friend is about.
Part con novel, part art forgery thriller, there’s a lot going on here, but it all ties together well through the central characters. Atlas and Lucien start out as a standard pair of have/have not roommates, but their relationship proves to be neither that simple nor even that authentic.
The book asks a lot of questions about class and privilege, the price of fitting in, and the ethics of need, talent, and friendship. The result is a novel that is pacey and exciting, as well as thought provoking in a way that tempts you to linger on certain chapters and ruminate before moving on, no matter how eager you are to see what happens next.
If there’s a thing I didn’t love about this book it was the ending. The ultimate outcome is probably the only one that makes sense for the novel, but I didn’t love how it got there.
That said, it didn’t change how I felt about this book, which is that it’s one of the best crafted and written pieces of traditional Dark Academia that I’ve recently encountered.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to HarperAudio Adult, Harper Perennial, and NetGalley for providing the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Christopher Novotny, the shy son of Czech immigrants and a former child prodigy, makes it to Harvard as a painter with the help of his mentor, Marcus. Once he arrives at Harvard, his rich and charismatic roommate, Lucian Orsini-Conti, gives him the nickname "Atlas," and introduces him to a sparkling life filled with parties, wealth, and popularity. This lifestyle comes at a cost, however, and Lucian offers a simple solution: forge paintings for money and they can split the profit.
I always enjoy reading about working class people getting introduced into the high society lifestyle, especially when the working class person is a college student. The naivety mixed with wanting to fit in gives Lucien everything he needs to mold Atlas into just the kind of person Lucien wants. I also learned a lot about art and forgery, which was quite interesting.
Narration review: Wow, the narration really pushed this from a 3.5 star read to a 5 star listen for me! The accent and cocky way the narrator portrays Lucian truly brought him to life. And Atlas' voice had the perfect mix of shy/awkward college kid just trying to fit in. Absolutely excellent work! I'd recommend listening just for the narration alone!
Christopher Novotny, the shy son of Czech immigrants and a former child prodigy, makes it to Harvard as a painter with the help of his mentor, Marcus. Once he arrives at Harvard, his rich and charismatic roommate, Lucian Orsini-Conti, gives him the nickname "Atlas," and introduces him to a sparkling life filled with parties, wealth, and popularity. This lifestyle comes at a cost, however, and Lucian offers a simple solution: forge paintings for money and they can split the profit.
I always enjoy reading about working class people getting introduced into the high society lifestyle, especially when the working class person is a college student. The naivety mixed with wanting to fit in gives Lucien everything he needs to mold Atlas into just the kind of person Lucien wants. I also learned a lot about art and forgery, which was quite interesting.
Narration review: Wow, the narration really pushed this from a 3.5 star read to a 5 star listen for me! The accent and cocky way the narrator portrays Lucian truly brought him to life. And Atlas' voice had the perfect mix of shy/awkward college kid just trying to fit in. Absolutely excellent work! I'd recommend listening just for the narration alone!
March 17, 2026
Thank you NetGalley & Harper Perennial!
I really enjoyed Lucien! I love stories about the haves and have nots and dark academia. When I thought I knew what was happening, something else occurred and I was so wrong. The ending, for me at least, was so unexpected and seemed to happen so abruptly (but it was perfect). I'm still thinking about these characters days later.
I really enjoyed Lucien! I love stories about the haves and have nots and dark academia. When I thought I knew what was happening, something else occurred and I was so wrong. The ending, for me at least, was so unexpected and seemed to happen so abruptly (but it was perfect). I'm still thinking about these characters days later.
March 18, 2026
“I didn’t do anything I didn’t want to do, not really”
2.5 stars I guess.
This book felt like The Secret History and The Goldfinch had a child who lives in their shadow bcs they don’t know what they wanted to be. The writing was fine, but felt like it thought it was smarter than it was. Lucian attempts to be sold as a charismatic rich kid who can convince people to do anything, but he’s kind of bland and never actually does anything to prove that he’s interesting. The main character (Chris/Atlas) feels realistic but lacks common sense. It doesn’t make sense why he wants to be friends with Lucian and his group since they never seem appealing, even to Chris. Could’ve been much worse but could’ve been much better.
2.5 stars I guess.
This book felt like The Secret History and The Goldfinch had a child who lives in their shadow bcs they don’t know what they wanted to be. The writing was fine, but felt like it thought it was smarter than it was. Lucian attempts to be sold as a charismatic rich kid who can convince people to do anything, but he’s kind of bland and never actually does anything to prove that he’s interesting. The main character (Chris/Atlas) feels realistic but lacks common sense. It doesn’t make sense why he wants to be friends with Lucian and his group since they never seem appealing, even to Chris. Could’ve been much worse but could’ve been much better.
March 17, 2026
Lucien by JR Thornton is one of the most compelling novels I’ve read lately. The story draws the reader into a world of art, elegance, and emotional struggle, unfolding with captivating intensity. I couldn’t put it down!
March 17, 2026
so it turns out I love art crime
March 18, 2026
Yes! Yes!
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Audio for providing this listening experience!
This book hit all the right notes for an Ivy league-dark art world blend. A compelling story that's easy to get sucked into and full of 'niche' millennial pop culture references. I love a tale about a con artist and this did not disappoint.
Although I enjoyed this book... I wish we would stop trying to ride on the coattails of Dona Tartt's The Secret History when we describe a new academia novel.
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Audio for providing this listening experience!
This book hit all the right notes for an Ivy league-dark art world blend. A compelling story that's easy to get sucked into and full of 'niche' millennial pop culture references. I love a tale about a con artist and this did not disappoint.
Although I enjoyed this book... I wish we would stop trying to ride on the coattails of Dona Tartt's The Secret History when we describe a new academia novel.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Some people arrive at college ready to learn. Others arrive ready to network. Lucien Orsini-Conti arrives at Harvard like he’s the main character in a European art house film about beautiful sociopaths.
And unfortunately for Christopher “Atlas” Novotny, he gets assigned to live with him. Atlas shows up to Harvard carrying the emotional weight of being the working-class son of Czech immigrants, a scholarship kid with serious talent and absolutely zero familiarity with the Hermes-wearing trust fund ecosystem he has just been dropped into. The man just wants to paint, go to class, and maybe not embarrass himself in front of people who treat private schools like they’re Hogwarts houses.
Then Lucien enters the chat. Within five minutes this man has decided Christopher is a boring name and simply renames him Atlas like he’s doing a dramatic character rebrand on a reality show. And Atlas just… accepts this. Which is when I realized we were about to watch a very smart, very talented young man make a truly alarming number of questionable life decisions.
Lucien is the kind of person who talks like he’s giving a TED Talk about the philosophy of being rich. He’s confident, charming, vaguely European in that way that makes everyone assume he must be sophisticated, and he moves through Harvard’s elite social circles like he personally built them. Secret clubs, lavish parties, expensive dinners, people casually discussing international travel like they’re ordering coffee.
Atlas, who grew up counting dollars and worrying about tuition, gets pulled into this world like someone just opened a portal to the rich kid dimension. And look… I get it.
If a beautiful, confident chaos man in a designer coat told me I had hidden potential and should come to a mysterious party with wealthy intellectuals, I too would probably make some terrible choices. Atlas doesn’t just follow Lucien though. He attaches himself to him like Lucien is both a life raft and a grenade.
Which brings us to the art forgery. Because eventually Lucien looks at his extremely talented painter roommate and says, essentially, “Have you considered committing crimes with your gifts?”
The slippery slope into forgery is actually one of the most fascinating parts of the book. Atlas has the technical skill to replicate paintings with terrifying precision, and Lucien frames the whole thing like it’s not really fraud, it’s more of a clever little workaround for a broken system. The kind of logic that sounds almost convincing if a charismatic rich guy says it confidently enough.
Watching Atlas wrestle with that moral tension is honestly the emotional core of the story. He knows it’s wrong. He knows Lucien is pushing things too far. But the desire to belong, to finally feel like he fits into this glittering world he was never meant to enter, keeps pulling him deeper into Lucien’s orbit.
And Lucien himself… listen. This man is a walking red flag factory. Charming, brilliant, persuasive, and increasingly unstable in that way where you keep thinking “this is fine” until suddenly it is very much not fine.
The audiobook makes all of this even better. Andrew J. Andersen absolutely nails the tone of the story. Atlas sounds thoughtful, introspective, and quietly overwhelmed by everything happening around him. You can hear the loneliness in him, which honestly makes his bad decisions hurt a little more. And Lucien? Smooth, controlled, confident in a way that makes you understand exactly why people fall under his spell.
There’s something about hearing Lucien speak that makes the manipulation feel more real. You start thinking, “Okay yeah, I see how this guy talks people into things.”
The story itself leans more psychological slow burn than explosive thriller, which works for the vibe. It’s less about shocking twists and more about watching the slow unraveling of a friendship that was never really equal to begin with.
And underneath all the dark academia aesthetics, expensive parties, and art world intrigue, the book is really about something pretty sad. A lonely, talented kid who just wanted to belong, and the dangerously magnetic person who showed him a shortcut into a world he was never meant to trust.
Which, honestly, makes the whole thing hit a little harder than you expect. By the end I was fascinated, mildly stressed, deeply suspicious of Lucien, and emotionally protective of Atlas in the way you feel when someone on a reality show keeps ignoring every red flag while the audience collectively screams at the screen.
Four stars from me. Messy friendship dynamics, art crime, and one extremely charismatic bad influence. I had a great time.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Distrust Every Charming Rich Roommate in Literary Fiction
And a big thank you to HarperAudio Adult and NetGalley for the ALC that dropped me straight into Harvard chaos, art forgery schemes, and one dangerously charismatic roommate. Truly the kind of audiobook experience where you find yourself gripping your headphones and whispering, “Atlas… my guy… please stop trusting this man.”
And unfortunately for Christopher “Atlas” Novotny, he gets assigned to live with him. Atlas shows up to Harvard carrying the emotional weight of being the working-class son of Czech immigrants, a scholarship kid with serious talent and absolutely zero familiarity with the Hermes-wearing trust fund ecosystem he has just been dropped into. The man just wants to paint, go to class, and maybe not embarrass himself in front of people who treat private schools like they’re Hogwarts houses.
Then Lucien enters the chat. Within five minutes this man has decided Christopher is a boring name and simply renames him Atlas like he’s doing a dramatic character rebrand on a reality show. And Atlas just… accepts this. Which is when I realized we were about to watch a very smart, very talented young man make a truly alarming number of questionable life decisions.
Lucien is the kind of person who talks like he’s giving a TED Talk about the philosophy of being rich. He’s confident, charming, vaguely European in that way that makes everyone assume he must be sophisticated, and he moves through Harvard’s elite social circles like he personally built them. Secret clubs, lavish parties, expensive dinners, people casually discussing international travel like they’re ordering coffee.
Atlas, who grew up counting dollars and worrying about tuition, gets pulled into this world like someone just opened a portal to the rich kid dimension. And look… I get it.
If a beautiful, confident chaos man in a designer coat told me I had hidden potential and should come to a mysterious party with wealthy intellectuals, I too would probably make some terrible choices. Atlas doesn’t just follow Lucien though. He attaches himself to him like Lucien is both a life raft and a grenade.
Which brings us to the art forgery. Because eventually Lucien looks at his extremely talented painter roommate and says, essentially, “Have you considered committing crimes with your gifts?”
The slippery slope into forgery is actually one of the most fascinating parts of the book. Atlas has the technical skill to replicate paintings with terrifying precision, and Lucien frames the whole thing like it’s not really fraud, it’s more of a clever little workaround for a broken system. The kind of logic that sounds almost convincing if a charismatic rich guy says it confidently enough.
Watching Atlas wrestle with that moral tension is honestly the emotional core of the story. He knows it’s wrong. He knows Lucien is pushing things too far. But the desire to belong, to finally feel like he fits into this glittering world he was never meant to enter, keeps pulling him deeper into Lucien’s orbit.
And Lucien himself… listen. This man is a walking red flag factory. Charming, brilliant, persuasive, and increasingly unstable in that way where you keep thinking “this is fine” until suddenly it is very much not fine.
The audiobook makes all of this even better. Andrew J. Andersen absolutely nails the tone of the story. Atlas sounds thoughtful, introspective, and quietly overwhelmed by everything happening around him. You can hear the loneliness in him, which honestly makes his bad decisions hurt a little more. And Lucien? Smooth, controlled, confident in a way that makes you understand exactly why people fall under his spell.
There’s something about hearing Lucien speak that makes the manipulation feel more real. You start thinking, “Okay yeah, I see how this guy talks people into things.”
The story itself leans more psychological slow burn than explosive thriller, which works for the vibe. It’s less about shocking twists and more about watching the slow unraveling of a friendship that was never really equal to begin with.
And underneath all the dark academia aesthetics, expensive parties, and art world intrigue, the book is really about something pretty sad. A lonely, talented kid who just wanted to belong, and the dangerously magnetic person who showed him a shortcut into a world he was never meant to trust.
Which, honestly, makes the whole thing hit a little harder than you expect. By the end I was fascinated, mildly stressed, deeply suspicious of Lucien, and emotionally protective of Atlas in the way you feel when someone on a reality show keeps ignoring every red flag while the audience collectively screams at the screen.
Four stars from me. Messy friendship dynamics, art crime, and one extremely charismatic bad influence. I had a great time.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Distrust Every Charming Rich Roommate in Literary Fiction
And a big thank you to HarperAudio Adult and NetGalley for the ALC that dropped me straight into Harvard chaos, art forgery schemes, and one dangerously charismatic roommate. Truly the kind of audiobook experience where you find yourself gripping your headphones and whispering, “Atlas… my guy… please stop trusting this man.”
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Talented Mr. Orsini-Conti.
4.5 stars rounded up.
Dark academia enrolls at Harvard in Lucien, where J. R. Thornton introduces a new and unsettling kind of villain: Lucien Orsini-Conti, who is confident, sophisticated, and utterly magnetic.
The novel follows Christopher "Atlas" Novotny, the son of working-class Czech immigrants and a gifted painter attending Harvard on a full scholarship. Raised amid financial hardship, Atlas suddenly finds himself in a world of privilege he barely understands. That world is embodied in his freshman roommate, Lucien, the son of wealthy European diplomats who moves through elite circles with effortless confidence. Where Lucien is bold and dazzling, Atlas is cautious and introverted. Lonely and eager to belong, he finds himself increasingly drawn into Lucien's orbit - first into lavish parties and exclusive social clubs, and eventually into something far more dangerous. When Atlas struggles to keep up with the lifestyle Lucien has introduced him to, his roommate proposes a solution: art forgery.
What follows is a slow-burning descent into manipulation, ambition, and moral compromise. The tension doesn't come from action so much as from the psychological push and pull between the two young men. This is a very dialogue-driven novel, one that leans heavily into philosophical debates about class, identity, ambition, and the price of reinvention. Watching Lucien subtly reshape the people around him - especially Atlas - creates a steady sense of unease that grows stronger with every chapter.
Atlas is a sympathetic protagonist, and it's difficult not to feel the rising tension as he's seduced by the promise of a life that was never meant to be his. The dynamic between the two characters becomes increasingly unsettling as Lucien's charm begins to reveal darker edges.
The novel also draws inspiration from real-life fraud cases - particularly those involving famous figures like Christian Gerhartsreiter (the so-called “Clark Rockefeller”) - which adds an intriguing true-crime undercurrent, especially in its exploration of deception within elite institutions and the art world. Add to that the unmistakable vibes of The Talented Mr. Ripley , and this becomes a book that's difficult to put down.
I was fortunate to receive copies of both the digital edition and the audiobook for a fully immersive review experience, and I can highly recommend both formats. The audiobook narration by Andrew J. Andersen is excellent and perfectly captures the intellectual intensity of the dialogue and the shifting power dynamic between Atlas and Lucien with impressive nuance, lending the story an almost theatrical atmosphere that suits the novel's dark academic tone perfectly.
Tense, atmospheric, and quietly unsettling, Lucien is a compelling psychological study of ambition, manipulation, and the seductive power of reinvention.
Many thanks to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks | Harper Perennial for providing me with copies of the book and audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
"Lucien" is slated to be released on March 17, 2026.
4.5 stars rounded up.
Dark academia enrolls at Harvard in Lucien, where J. R. Thornton introduces a new and unsettling kind of villain: Lucien Orsini-Conti, who is confident, sophisticated, and utterly magnetic.
The novel follows Christopher "Atlas" Novotny, the son of working-class Czech immigrants and a gifted painter attending Harvard on a full scholarship. Raised amid financial hardship, Atlas suddenly finds himself in a world of privilege he barely understands. That world is embodied in his freshman roommate, Lucien, the son of wealthy European diplomats who moves through elite circles with effortless confidence. Where Lucien is bold and dazzling, Atlas is cautious and introverted. Lonely and eager to belong, he finds himself increasingly drawn into Lucien's orbit - first into lavish parties and exclusive social clubs, and eventually into something far more dangerous. When Atlas struggles to keep up with the lifestyle Lucien has introduced him to, his roommate proposes a solution: art forgery.
What follows is a slow-burning descent into manipulation, ambition, and moral compromise. The tension doesn't come from action so much as from the psychological push and pull between the two young men. This is a very dialogue-driven novel, one that leans heavily into philosophical debates about class, identity, ambition, and the price of reinvention. Watching Lucien subtly reshape the people around him - especially Atlas - creates a steady sense of unease that grows stronger with every chapter.
Atlas is a sympathetic protagonist, and it's difficult not to feel the rising tension as he's seduced by the promise of a life that was never meant to be his. The dynamic between the two characters becomes increasingly unsettling as Lucien's charm begins to reveal darker edges.
The novel also draws inspiration from real-life fraud cases - particularly those involving famous figures like Christian Gerhartsreiter (the so-called “Clark Rockefeller”) - which adds an intriguing true-crime undercurrent, especially in its exploration of deception within elite institutions and the art world. Add to that the unmistakable vibes of The Talented Mr. Ripley , and this becomes a book that's difficult to put down.
I was fortunate to receive copies of both the digital edition and the audiobook for a fully immersive review experience, and I can highly recommend both formats. The audiobook narration by Andrew J. Andersen is excellent and perfectly captures the intellectual intensity of the dialogue and the shifting power dynamic between Atlas and Lucien with impressive nuance, lending the story an almost theatrical atmosphere that suits the novel's dark academic tone perfectly.
Tense, atmospheric, and quietly unsettling, Lucien is a compelling psychological study of ambition, manipulation, and the seductive power of reinvention.
Many thanks to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks | Harper Perennial for providing me with copies of the book and audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
"Lucien" is slated to be released on March 17, 2026.
March 5, 2026
📚Lucien
✍🏻J.R. Thornton
Blurb:
A gifted yet financially disadvantaged artist falls victim to the manipulative control of his wealthy, enigmatic Harvard roommate in this incendiary novel from the author of Beautiful Country—a piercing exploration of class, ambition, identity, and the perilous cost of reinvention in the tradition of Patricia Highsmith and Donna Tartt.
The son of working-class Czech immigrants, Christopher “Atlas” Novotny is a talented painter who arrives at Harvard on a full scholarship. Raised amid hardship, he is unprepared for the privileged world introduced to him by his freshman roommate, Lucien Orsini-Conti.
Born to wealthy European diplomats, Lucien plays the part of the confident, sophisticated bon vivant. Where Lucien is bold and brash, Atlas is timid and introverted. Growing up a lonely outsider, Atlas is insecure, impressionable, and in awe of his brilliant roommate. But is Lucien all that he seems?
Sensing a willing disciple, Lucien introduces Atlas to a glittering new world of lavish parties and elite social clubs. When Atlas struggles to afford his new lifestyle, Lucien offers a solution, convincing the naïve artist to become a forger, passing off fakes to galleries and dealers.
But Lucien’s charismatic facade conceals something darker and more sinister. As Lucien’s behavior grows increasingly unstable, Atlas is forced into escalating risks with devastating consequences.
Drawing inspiration from the true crime stories of Christian Gerhartsreiter (a.k.a. “Clark Rockefeller”) and Adam Wheeler, Lucien is as darkly seductive and addictively readable as The Secret History, The Incendiaries, Creation Lake, and The Talented Mr. Ripley.
My Thoughts:
Lucien is a chilling, beautifully controlled novel that explores the intoxicating pull of wealth, power, and reinvention and the devastating cost of surrendering one’s moral compass. J.R. Thornton delivers an incisive portrait of class, ambition, and manipulation that feels both timeless and unnervingly contemporary.
Atlas/Christopher is a “child prodigy” artist, his parents are first generation Czech immigrants and he is an incoming freshman at Harvard. His family has little money and he attended a public school so he feels out of his depth, especially when he meets his roommate Lucien, who is rich, connected and knows just how much o fit in. Lucien is willing to help Atlas and shows him a world of private clubs, debutante balls and fancy parties…then shows him how he, too, can have access to those things. Atlas gives in, then resists, then things start to spiral. . Lucien and Atlas take on the school’s social life. They go to exclusive college parties and engage with the initiation process into certain clubs. Lucien comes from a wealthy family and is used to this type of lifestyle.
Thanks NetGalley, Harper Perennial and Author J.R. Thornton for the complimentary copy of "Lucien" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#HarperPerennialPublisher
#J.R.Thornton
#Lucien
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✍🏻J.R. Thornton
Blurb:
A gifted yet financially disadvantaged artist falls victim to the manipulative control of his wealthy, enigmatic Harvard roommate in this incendiary novel from the author of Beautiful Country—a piercing exploration of class, ambition, identity, and the perilous cost of reinvention in the tradition of Patricia Highsmith and Donna Tartt.
The son of working-class Czech immigrants, Christopher “Atlas” Novotny is a talented painter who arrives at Harvard on a full scholarship. Raised amid hardship, he is unprepared for the privileged world introduced to him by his freshman roommate, Lucien Orsini-Conti.
Born to wealthy European diplomats, Lucien plays the part of the confident, sophisticated bon vivant. Where Lucien is bold and brash, Atlas is timid and introverted. Growing up a lonely outsider, Atlas is insecure, impressionable, and in awe of his brilliant roommate. But is Lucien all that he seems?
Sensing a willing disciple, Lucien introduces Atlas to a glittering new world of lavish parties and elite social clubs. When Atlas struggles to afford his new lifestyle, Lucien offers a solution, convincing the naïve artist to become a forger, passing off fakes to galleries and dealers.
But Lucien’s charismatic facade conceals something darker and more sinister. As Lucien’s behavior grows increasingly unstable, Atlas is forced into escalating risks with devastating consequences.
Drawing inspiration from the true crime stories of Christian Gerhartsreiter (a.k.a. “Clark Rockefeller”) and Adam Wheeler, Lucien is as darkly seductive and addictively readable as The Secret History, The Incendiaries, Creation Lake, and The Talented Mr. Ripley.
My Thoughts:
Lucien is a chilling, beautifully controlled novel that explores the intoxicating pull of wealth, power, and reinvention and the devastating cost of surrendering one’s moral compass. J.R. Thornton delivers an incisive portrait of class, ambition, and manipulation that feels both timeless and unnervingly contemporary.
Atlas/Christopher is a “child prodigy” artist, his parents are first generation Czech immigrants and he is an incoming freshman at Harvard. His family has little money and he attended a public school so he feels out of his depth, especially when he meets his roommate Lucien, who is rich, connected and knows just how much o fit in. Lucien is willing to help Atlas and shows him a world of private clubs, debutante balls and fancy parties…then shows him how he, too, can have access to those things. Atlas gives in, then resists, then things start to spiral. . Lucien and Atlas take on the school’s social life. They go to exclusive college parties and engage with the initiation process into certain clubs. Lucien comes from a wealthy family and is used to this type of lifestyle.
Thanks NetGalley, Harper Perennial and Author J.R. Thornton for the complimentary copy of "Lucien" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#HarperPerennialPublisher
#J.R.Thornton
#Lucien
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Lucien by J.R. Thornton will be published on March 17, 2026 in the United States.
Lucien feels like a psychological thriller with a hint of dark academia and a deep dive into the world of art forgery.
Christopher Novotny comes from humble beginnings. His parents are Czech immigrants to America, but after his dad passes away, he spends most of his life with his mother as a single parent. Early on, Chris shows artistic promise, and painter and soon-to-be mentor named Marcus helps Chris develop into a painting prodigy. While some of Chris’ paintings sell as a teen, the dealings of a shady art dealer leave Chris and his mom without much to show for them. Marcus, a fellow painter and his mentor, helps Chris get into Harvard, and a fresh start and golden opportunities seem possible.
Art Prodigy Goes to Harvard
At first, Chris is intimidated by the other students at Harvard, yet he is determined to stay focused on his art and goals. Yet his new roommate Lucien, a charming, manipulative, and suave student of potentially, vaguely European origins, draws Chris into the fast life of parties, drugs, and exclusive clubs at Harvard. Lucien is unnerving but charismatic; he convinces Chris to go by a new name, “Atlas,” to seem more interesting the first day they meet. As time passes, the stories and lies surrounding Lucien begin to swirl and Lucien becomes more and more erratic and unstable. Their lives intertwine and unravel, but readers can’t look away. The pacing was fast and the characters were fascinating.
What’s a little art forgery between friends?
Chris is drawn into a new way of life, almost losing the trust of his mom, Marcus, and his love interest, Harriet, as he follows Lucien into the depths of shady art forgery dealings. One or two harmless art forgeries to make pocket money seem like no big deal, until the stakes get higher and Lucien becomes unstable and even dangerous.
My Thoughts
Throughout the book, I could see why Chris was tempted to join the rich kids who seem like they are living the dream; it was almost sad how much he wanted to fit in. I was also very interested in the process of art forgery. The novel shared some stories of real art forgers and the methods used to do things like age canvases, forge documents, choose appropriate paint colors, and trick appraisers and auction houses. If you like art history and true crime blended with a psychological thriller, you should add Lucien to your TBR.
If you liked…
Comparisons to The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith and The Secret History by Donna Tartt are not unfounded; I found the vibes similar, if not the plots…While reading Lucien I Had the same uneasy feeling but fascination to know more that I felt while reading those other novels.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Perennial for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Lucien feels like a psychological thriller with a hint of dark academia and a deep dive into the world of art forgery.
Christopher Novotny comes from humble beginnings. His parents are Czech immigrants to America, but after his dad passes away, he spends most of his life with his mother as a single parent. Early on, Chris shows artistic promise, and painter and soon-to-be mentor named Marcus helps Chris develop into a painting prodigy. While some of Chris’ paintings sell as a teen, the dealings of a shady art dealer leave Chris and his mom without much to show for them. Marcus, a fellow painter and his mentor, helps Chris get into Harvard, and a fresh start and golden opportunities seem possible.
Art Prodigy Goes to Harvard
At first, Chris is intimidated by the other students at Harvard, yet he is determined to stay focused on his art and goals. Yet his new roommate Lucien, a charming, manipulative, and suave student of potentially, vaguely European origins, draws Chris into the fast life of parties, drugs, and exclusive clubs at Harvard. Lucien is unnerving but charismatic; he convinces Chris to go by a new name, “Atlas,” to seem more interesting the first day they meet. As time passes, the stories and lies surrounding Lucien begin to swirl and Lucien becomes more and more erratic and unstable. Their lives intertwine and unravel, but readers can’t look away. The pacing was fast and the characters were fascinating.
What’s a little art forgery between friends?
Chris is drawn into a new way of life, almost losing the trust of his mom, Marcus, and his love interest, Harriet, as he follows Lucien into the depths of shady art forgery dealings. One or two harmless art forgeries to make pocket money seem like no big deal, until the stakes get higher and Lucien becomes unstable and even dangerous.
My Thoughts
Throughout the book, I could see why Chris was tempted to join the rich kids who seem like they are living the dream; it was almost sad how much he wanted to fit in. I was also very interested in the process of art forgery. The novel shared some stories of real art forgers and the methods used to do things like age canvases, forge documents, choose appropriate paint colors, and trick appraisers and auction houses. If you like art history and true crime blended with a psychological thriller, you should add Lucien to your TBR.
If you liked…
Comparisons to The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith and The Secret History by Donna Tartt are not unfounded; I found the vibes similar, if not the plots…While reading Lucien I Had the same uneasy feeling but fascination to know more that I felt while reading those other novels.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Perennial for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am so picky about dark academia, but this was amazing! I love The Talented Mr. Ripley, and this was definitely inspired by it. If you love dark academia that leans more into psychology than plot twists, Lucien absolutely delivers. This is a slow-burning, unsettling character study about ambition, class, and the dangerous desire to belong.
Christopher “Atlas” Novotny arrives at Harvard as a scholarship student and VERY gifted painter, the son of working-class Czech immigrants. He has spent his entire life feeling like an outsider. When he meets his freshman roommate Lucien Orsini-Conti—wealthy, confident, and effortlessly magnetic—Atlas is quickly drawn into a world that feels impossibly glamorous compared to the life he left behind. Lavish parties, elite social clubs, and whispered access to powerful circles make it easy to ignore the small warning signs about Lucien… at least at first.
What follows is a subtle but steadily tightening spiral. Lucien’s influence over Atlas grows slowly, almost imperceptibly, and watching that dynamic evolve is easily the most compelling part of the novel. Their relationship is built on admiration, manipulation, and a constant shifting of power. The story relies heavily on dialogue and philosophical debates about class, identity, and reinvention, which gives the book a distinctly intellectual, almost theatrical feel.
Atlas is an easy protagonist to root for—quiet, insecure, and painfully aware of how out of place he feels among Harvard’s elite. That vulnerability makes it all the more unsettling to watch him get pulled deeper into Lucien’s orbit, especially once art forgery enters the picture. Lucien, meanwhile, is the kind of character you can’t quite look away from: charismatic, brilliant, and increasingly unsettling as the façade begins to crack.
The pacing is deliberate and introspective rather than action-driven, but the psychological tension keeps the story engaging. Thornton clearly draws inspiration from real-life fraud cases, and that undercurrent of deception adds another layer to the novel’s exploration of ambition and identity.
Overall, Lucien is a thought-provoking dark academia novel that thrives on character dynamics and moral ambiguity. If you enjoy stories about manipulation, privilege, and the seductive pull of a life that was never meant to be yours, this one is well worth the read and addition to your TBR!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for this eARC!
Christopher “Atlas” Novotny arrives at Harvard as a scholarship student and VERY gifted painter, the son of working-class Czech immigrants. He has spent his entire life feeling like an outsider. When he meets his freshman roommate Lucien Orsini-Conti—wealthy, confident, and effortlessly magnetic—Atlas is quickly drawn into a world that feels impossibly glamorous compared to the life he left behind. Lavish parties, elite social clubs, and whispered access to powerful circles make it easy to ignore the small warning signs about Lucien… at least at first.
What follows is a subtle but steadily tightening spiral. Lucien’s influence over Atlas grows slowly, almost imperceptibly, and watching that dynamic evolve is easily the most compelling part of the novel. Their relationship is built on admiration, manipulation, and a constant shifting of power. The story relies heavily on dialogue and philosophical debates about class, identity, and reinvention, which gives the book a distinctly intellectual, almost theatrical feel.
Atlas is an easy protagonist to root for—quiet, insecure, and painfully aware of how out of place he feels among Harvard’s elite. That vulnerability makes it all the more unsettling to watch him get pulled deeper into Lucien’s orbit, especially once art forgery enters the picture. Lucien, meanwhile, is the kind of character you can’t quite look away from: charismatic, brilliant, and increasingly unsettling as the façade begins to crack.
The pacing is deliberate and introspective rather than action-driven, but the psychological tension keeps the story engaging. Thornton clearly draws inspiration from real-life fraud cases, and that undercurrent of deception adds another layer to the novel’s exploration of ambition and identity.
Overall, Lucien is a thought-provoking dark academia novel that thrives on character dynamics and moral ambiguity. If you enjoy stories about manipulation, privilege, and the seductive pull of a life that was never meant to be yours, this one is well worth the read and addition to your TBR!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for this eARC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Lucien was not a book on my radar at all when it came up as a suggested read. The synopsis won me over immediately and I started listening same-day. I've never heard anything narrated by Andrew J. Anderson before but I want to take a second right at the top of this-here review to call out his talent. This is easily one of the best listening experiences I've ever had and I would gladly pick up more books narrated by him just because he narrates them.
Lucien is about a boy named...Christopher. (Lucien comes in later!) Christopher is an art prodigy and absolutely committed to honing his craft at Harvard, where he haws been accepted and will soon be starting his freshman year. When he meets his roommate, he is quickly charmed by him and acquests to the change of name he presents - from "Christopher" to the much-more-interesting "Atlas". Lucien, the roommate in question, brings Atlas along to parties and events all over campus, drawing the two together into a relationship that is glamorous and tantalizing in the dark of the club, but grows more insidious in the light of day.
This book was a really excellent experience for me that raises a lot of questions around identity, friendship, and the crush of the college experience. I think everyone goes through some soul-searching in their 20s, and going to college is an crucible of a place to do that. For someone like Christopher, who has grown up in a small town without a large social circle, it's easy to be drawn into the glitz and glam of social clubs and nights spent partying.
I think this book does an amazing job of making Harvard feel like a real place. Yes, I understand that Harvard isn't exactly Camazotz, but it is a place most people in the world have never been to. The atmosphere of the campus and the culture that the author creates feels incredibly authentic and I really could have fooled myself into believing that I did attend Harvard and am as familiar with the hallowed halls as Lucian and Atlas are.
This will definitely be on heavy rotation for me when I recommend books this year. Lucien hits all the points of a wonderful drama with academic intrigue and a surprisingly detailed look into the world of fine art and art forgery. I cannot wait to see what this author is going to give us next.
Thank you to Libro.fm, Netgalley, and the publisher for a DRC of this title.
Lucien is about a boy named...Christopher. (Lucien comes in later!) Christopher is an art prodigy and absolutely committed to honing his craft at Harvard, where he haws been accepted and will soon be starting his freshman year. When he meets his roommate, he is quickly charmed by him and acquests to the change of name he presents - from "Christopher" to the much-more-interesting "Atlas". Lucien, the roommate in question, brings Atlas along to parties and events all over campus, drawing the two together into a relationship that is glamorous and tantalizing in the dark of the club, but grows more insidious in the light of day.
This book was a really excellent experience for me that raises a lot of questions around identity, friendship, and the crush of the college experience. I think everyone goes through some soul-searching in their 20s, and going to college is an crucible of a place to do that. For someone like Christopher, who has grown up in a small town without a large social circle, it's easy to be drawn into the glitz and glam of social clubs and nights spent partying.
I think this book does an amazing job of making Harvard feel like a real place. Yes, I understand that Harvard isn't exactly Camazotz, but it is a place most people in the world have never been to. The atmosphere of the campus and the culture that the author creates feels incredibly authentic and I really could have fooled myself into believing that I did attend Harvard and am as familiar with the hallowed halls as Lucian and Atlas are.
This will definitely be on heavy rotation for me when I recommend books this year. Lucien hits all the points of a wonderful drama with academic intrigue and a surprisingly detailed look into the world of fine art and art forgery. I cannot wait to see what this author is going to give us next.
Thank you to Libro.fm, Netgalley, and the publisher for a DRC of this title.
March 23, 2026
This was a fast, fun read. Not what I was expecting, but I was going in with some bangers behind me (Micah Nemerever's "These Violent Delights", Tara Isabella Burton's "The World Cannot Give," and Kate Van der Borgh's "And He Shall Appear"), so the dark academic/same-sex friendship bar was very high.
I'll start with what I didn't like.
The stakes were not super high. I wish there would have been way more on Mrs. Novotny's debts. The stakes got higher, but overall didn't feel particularly compelling.
The prose was absolutely fine. It was there. It carried the story forward logically and clean. But it wasn't anything beautiful (which is fine, I just prefer more poetic writing personally).
Waaaay too much focus on glittering parties, wild teens, and banal conversations that went nowhere. I greatly enjoyed Atlas and Harriet's first convo, but after that the clever backs and forths felt overdone.
Lucien as a character was one dimensional. I wouldn’t have lasted one day as his roommate. The pressure he put on Atlas was believable, but his personality was ... very aggressive rich boy with no depth. I didn't like him. He did get redeemed a bit later, which I appreciated.
And here is a big disappointment, albeit one that is personal and I certainly don't think it will be an issue for the average reader: These boys were SO STRAIGHT. Lol. I was expecting a queer story, either homoerotic or at least unrequited romantic obsession, but that was not the case. Not even a little bit. Oh well.
WHAT I LIKED:
As a Czech person myself, I loved and appreciated the Czech family elements and the little bits of Czech language. I wish there would have been more of that.
I loved Christopher as a character. He was gullible to the extreme, but it felt believable. He was sweet and naive and quietly charming, and just easy to like.
Although there were too many parties and not enough academics, I'm a sucker for campus stories, and the Harvard setting was fun.
The wrap up at the end was good. I can see people either loving or hating it. I really liked it. I wish we got more of the mother's reaction though.
As for the elements of art forgery? TOP NOTCH. I was enthralled. I'll be in a forgery-research wormhole for a while after this. The art elements and art-related scenes were fabulous.
Overall, I would recommend this as a fun, fast escape into a college campus scene, well worth reading but not spectacular.
I'll start with what I didn't like.
The stakes were not super high. I wish there would have been way more on Mrs. Novotny's debts. The stakes got higher, but overall didn't feel particularly compelling.
The prose was absolutely fine. It was there. It carried the story forward logically and clean. But it wasn't anything beautiful (which is fine, I just prefer more poetic writing personally).
Waaaay too much focus on glittering parties, wild teens, and banal conversations that went nowhere. I greatly enjoyed Atlas and Harriet's first convo, but after that the clever backs and forths felt overdone.
Lucien as a character was one dimensional. I wouldn’t have lasted one day as his roommate. The pressure he put on Atlas was believable, but his personality was ... very aggressive rich boy with no depth. I didn't like him. He did get redeemed a bit later, which I appreciated.
And here is a big disappointment, albeit one that is personal and I certainly don't think it will be an issue for the average reader: These boys were SO STRAIGHT. Lol. I was expecting a queer story, either homoerotic or at least unrequited romantic obsession, but that was not the case. Not even a little bit. Oh well.
WHAT I LIKED:
As a Czech person myself, I loved and appreciated the Czech family elements and the little bits of Czech language. I wish there would have been more of that.
I loved Christopher as a character. He was gullible to the extreme, but it felt believable. He was sweet and naive and quietly charming, and just easy to like.
Although there were too many parties and not enough academics, I'm a sucker for campus stories, and the Harvard setting was fun.
The wrap up at the end was good. I can see people either loving or hating it. I really liked it. I wish we got more of the mother's reaction though.
As for the elements of art forgery? TOP NOTCH. I was enthralled. I'll be in a forgery-research wormhole for a while after this. The art elements and art-related scenes were fabulous.
Overall, I would recommend this as a fun, fast escape into a college campus scene, well worth reading but not spectacular.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Secret History meets A History of Fear in this intriguing thriller about an unusual friendship and art forgery gone awry!
Despite being an art prodigy, when Christopher (aka Atlas) arrives at Harvard for his freshman year, he can't help but feel out of place. Luckily his roommate, the charming, enigmatic Lucien Orsini is there to get him outside his comfort zone and pull him into fray of Harvard elites, glamorous parties, and exclusive clubs. When Lucien sees Atlas's potential as an art forger, the two get tangled up in a scheme that may put Atlas's future and Lucien's secrets at risk.
This is a fun time! I've read a lot of books along these lines because close/codependent friendships + dark academia + plans that go a little too far is like a perfect recipe for a compelling story. I wouldn't say this book is wildly different from the others that I've read, but it's got a great balance of plot momentum, character-interiority, and tension to make it a stand out. Something like this can easily get convoluted and pretentious, and you can easily end up hating the protagonist for making stupid decisions, but Thornton does a good job keeping the writing straightforward and giving us enough time in Atlas's head to understand the choices he makes but not so much that his anxiety becomes repetitive or grating. The ending isn't some earth-shattering twist, but it's unexpected enough to be satisfying. If I had to complain about one thing, I just think that Atlas and Lucien's friendship could have been a little more intense, a little more codependent and toxic and...frankly, gayer. I kind of thought that this was going to be a queer book and I'm surprised how much I liked it considering it isn't, but a little homoeroticism would do this book wonders!
The weird dynamics of exclusive institutions like Harvard and the cannibalistic ecosystem that is the art world will always be interesting realms for fiction, and I think Lucien will give you everything you want in a perfect little package.
Thank you to J. R. Thornton and Harper Perennial for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
Despite being an art prodigy, when Christopher (aka Atlas) arrives at Harvard for his freshman year, he can't help but feel out of place. Luckily his roommate, the charming, enigmatic Lucien Orsini is there to get him outside his comfort zone and pull him into fray of Harvard elites, glamorous parties, and exclusive clubs. When Lucien sees Atlas's potential as an art forger, the two get tangled up in a scheme that may put Atlas's future and Lucien's secrets at risk.
This is a fun time! I've read a lot of books along these lines because close/codependent friendships + dark academia + plans that go a little too far is like a perfect recipe for a compelling story. I wouldn't say this book is wildly different from the others that I've read, but it's got a great balance of plot momentum, character-interiority, and tension to make it a stand out. Something like this can easily get convoluted and pretentious, and you can easily end up hating the protagonist for making stupid decisions, but Thornton does a good job keeping the writing straightforward and giving us enough time in Atlas's head to understand the choices he makes but not so much that his anxiety becomes repetitive or grating. The ending isn't some earth-shattering twist, but it's unexpected enough to be satisfying. If I had to complain about one thing, I just think that Atlas and Lucien's friendship could have been a little more intense, a little more codependent and toxic and...frankly, gayer. I kind of thought that this was going to be a queer book and I'm surprised how much I liked it considering it isn't, but a little homoeroticism would do this book wonders!
The weird dynamics of exclusive institutions like Harvard and the cannibalistic ecosystem that is the art world will always be interesting realms for fiction, and I think Lucien will give you everything you want in a perfect little package.
Thank you to J. R. Thornton and Harper Perennial for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Lucien is set at Harvard in the 2000s and it has all the aesthetics of a dark academia novel but really what it is at its heart is a crime/heist novel. I would liken this less to The Secret History or Saltburn and more to American Animals or even The Social Network. It is not at all a yearny homoerotic and darkly mysterious academia litfic so do NOT go into it thinking it is like I did!! It is straightforwardly a crime novel whose cast is made up of Harvard undergrads.
It is mostly my mistake for only picking up on the things I liked in the description and ignoring everything else (it literally does say it’s based on true crime fraud stories) but with that cover and title, name-dropping Patricia Highsmith, and calling it “darkly seductive,” can you really blame me for expecting something else?
My expectations aside, Lucien was also just not great for me. It was dialogue heavy and I didn’t find the dialogue to be convincing, mostly annoying. There are so many silly and irrelevant conversations that the friends have (e.g., there’s an entire page where a group discusses building a hypothetical puppy-rental app; they say things like “ten points gryffindor” and “is it mooses or meeses?” and “talk about nerd alert!” etc. just complete banality) and I ended up skipping ahead when I saw pages and pages of dialogue (and didn’t lose anything for it plotwise). And although it’s set in first person, I still didn’t feel close enough to Christopher to really care about what was happening to him—it’s told kind of like a play-by-play of “here’s this weird scheme I got mixed up in in undergrad, still not really sure how that happened” which is kind of interesting, but I wish it had been more of a yarn ykwim?
You will probably like this if you love those Netflix documentaries about con artists, or the ins and outs of the ivy league and university secret societies, and actually it kind of even reminded me of Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the arc.
It is mostly my mistake for only picking up on the things I liked in the description and ignoring everything else (it literally does say it’s based on true crime fraud stories) but with that cover and title, name-dropping Patricia Highsmith, and calling it “darkly seductive,” can you really blame me for expecting something else?
My expectations aside, Lucien was also just not great for me. It was dialogue heavy and I didn’t find the dialogue to be convincing, mostly annoying. There are so many silly and irrelevant conversations that the friends have (e.g., there’s an entire page where a group discusses building a hypothetical puppy-rental app; they say things like “ten points gryffindor” and “is it mooses or meeses?” and “talk about nerd alert!” etc. just complete banality) and I ended up skipping ahead when I saw pages and pages of dialogue (and didn’t lose anything for it plotwise). And although it’s set in first person, I still didn’t feel close enough to Christopher to really care about what was happening to him—it’s told kind of like a play-by-play of “here’s this weird scheme I got mixed up in in undergrad, still not really sure how that happened” which is kind of interesting, but I wish it had been more of a yarn ykwim?
You will probably like this if you love those Netflix documentaries about con artists, or the ins and outs of the ivy league and university secret societies, and actually it kind of even reminded me of Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the arc.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A bit of a ride from start to finish.
Christopher arrives at Harvard as a gifted poor kid. He's surrounded by elites who received a better education than him and by elites who simply have more money in their back pocket. He meets Lucien, your very typical overly confident white boy. Lucien is so confident, he has the gall to give Christopher a new name, 'Atlas.' Atlas becomes sucked into Lucien's world, which really only involves spending lots of money and doing not so legal things. Atlas is a painter, who has some morals, but ultimately succumbs to Lucien's idea of painting a forgery for money.
Atlas, as a character, is comforting, in the sense that he's naive. He's so naive it's painful, but also, I feel for the kid. I don't find him to be a bad character, just a boring one. Lucien also wasn't terribly interesting to me. He didn't have anything that stood out; he very much was your boisterous guy who thought if he talked the talk and walked the walk, he would get his way.
I did like how Atlas's background developed, though. I think Thornton did a wonderful job with giving Atlas character and making him someone who you could understand.
I do wish there was A) more at stake and B) a better relationship between Atlas and Lucien, and by better, I mean I simply don't get why Atlas was so enamoured with Lucien. I can understand the stance of being naive, but it doesn't feel like enough at the same time. But teenage boys... idiots.
Oh, and Atlas's whole romance thing was so unnecessary.
The narrator for the audiobook did a great job at giving Atlas a voice. I quite liked it. He really felt like a lonely boy. Lucien's voice was annoying, but also good on the narrator for that because I think it fit perfectly.
thank you to netgalley and Harper Perennial for the eARC!
Christopher arrives at Harvard as a gifted poor kid. He's surrounded by elites who received a better education than him and by elites who simply have more money in their back pocket. He meets Lucien, your very typical overly confident white boy. Lucien is so confident, he has the gall to give Christopher a new name, 'Atlas.' Atlas becomes sucked into Lucien's world, which really only involves spending lots of money and doing not so legal things. Atlas is a painter, who has some morals, but ultimately succumbs to Lucien's idea of painting a forgery for money.
Atlas, as a character, is comforting, in the sense that he's naive. He's so naive it's painful, but also, I feel for the kid. I don't find him to be a bad character, just a boring one. Lucien also wasn't terribly interesting to me. He didn't have anything that stood out; he very much was your boisterous guy who thought if he talked the talk and walked the walk, he would get his way.
I did like how Atlas's background developed, though. I think Thornton did a wonderful job with giving Atlas character and making him someone who you could understand.
I do wish there was A) more at stake and B) a better relationship between Atlas and Lucien, and by better, I mean I simply don't get why Atlas was so enamoured with Lucien. I can understand the stance of being naive, but it doesn't feel like enough at the same time. But teenage boys... idiots.
Oh, and Atlas's whole romance thing was so unnecessary.
The narrator for the audiobook did a great job at giving Atlas a voice. I quite liked it. He really felt like a lonely boy. Lucien's voice was annoying, but also good on the narrator for that because I think it fit perfectly.
thank you to netgalley and Harper Perennial for the eARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
•𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝘄•
[Lucien]
🔥 Release Date: Mar 17 2026 🔥
Thank you to HarperAudio, J.R. Thornton, and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
★★★★☆
I went into Lucien aware it was outside my usual comfort zone, but I found myself completely absorbed. For some reason, it gives me Saltburn energy, with its mix of charm, tension, and slightly unsettling characters.
✦ About the book:
Lucien follows Atlas as he becomes increasingly drawn to Lucien. Most of the book consists of long, thoughtful conversations. Lucien has a way of saying things that makes you lean in, even when something about him feels off. As Atlas listens, the line between curiosity and influence starts to blur, raising questions about how much Lucien is shaping the people around him.
✦ What stood out to me most was: Lucien himself. He’s incredibly charismatic and persuasive, the kind of character who can pull people in with the way he speaks and the confidence behind his ideas. At the same time, something about him never quite feels right. I also felt a constant urge to protect Atlas. He’s already dealing with so much, yet he keeps ignoring all the warnings and red flags about Lucien. The audiobook narrator, Andrew J. Andersen, is amazing, perfectly suited to Lucien’s calm, controlled personality, and his portrayal of naive Atlas was spot on.
✦ At its core, this book is really about:
Influence and the power of conversation. It’s a very dialogue-driven story that leans into philosophical discussions rather than action, and the tension comes from watching how Lucien’s words affect the people around him. There’s a constant sense that something deeper may be happening beneath the surface.
[Lucien]
🔥 Release Date: Mar 17 2026 🔥
Thank you to HarperAudio, J.R. Thornton, and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
★★★★☆
I went into Lucien aware it was outside my usual comfort zone, but I found myself completely absorbed. For some reason, it gives me Saltburn energy, with its mix of charm, tension, and slightly unsettling characters.
✦ About the book:
Lucien follows Atlas as he becomes increasingly drawn to Lucien. Most of the book consists of long, thoughtful conversations. Lucien has a way of saying things that makes you lean in, even when something about him feels off. As Atlas listens, the line between curiosity and influence starts to blur, raising questions about how much Lucien is shaping the people around him.
✦ What stood out to me most was: Lucien himself. He’s incredibly charismatic and persuasive, the kind of character who can pull people in with the way he speaks and the confidence behind his ideas. At the same time, something about him never quite feels right. I also felt a constant urge to protect Atlas. He’s already dealing with so much, yet he keeps ignoring all the warnings and red flags about Lucien. The audiobook narrator, Andrew J. Andersen, is amazing, perfectly suited to Lucien’s calm, controlled personality, and his portrayal of naive Atlas was spot on.
✦ At its core, this book is really about:
Influence and the power of conversation. It’s a very dialogue-driven story that leans into philosophical discussions rather than action, and the tension comes from watching how Lucien’s words affect the people around him. There’s a constant sense that something deeper may be happening beneath the surface.
March 9, 2026
A chilling dark academia novel set in Harvard university. The book opens with Christopher wanting to tell his story, his full story, to unburden himself from all the secrets he’s been keeping. Christopher ‘Atlas’ Novotny is the son of Czech immigrants, the family is poor, but Atlas has a talent, he is an exceptional artist and, with the help of his mentor Marcus, he obtains a place at Harvard University. But this quiet introverted young man is unprepared for his new life.
Briefly, summer 2010 and freshman Christopher arrives at Harvard and meet his roommate Lucien Orsini-Conti, the son of wealthy Diplomat’s, and an outgoing confidant man. He is soon under the spell of Lucien and taking part in his lavish lifestyle, however he doesn’t have the money to keep up with the others. To make some money Lucian persuade him to start faking artwork. The two are soon at the centre of all the parties and events but Lucien is gradually becoming more and more unbalanced.
I attended a number of art lectures at the end of 2025 which included a lot of information about art forgers so this part of this story fed my fascination. Inspired by true stories about imposter and convicted killer Christian Gerhartsreiter (a.k.a. Clark Rockefeller) and fraudster Adam Wheeler, and from conversations with convicted art fraudster John Myatt, all of which adds much to the authenticity of the narrative. I was fully invested in both main characters, morally complex, with flaws and all. Their relationship was one of coercion and need. Atlas’s desire to be like Lucien and fit into his world made him open to Lucien’s increasingly immoral tendencies. A dark coming of age story, I found this a very entertaining read.
Briefly, summer 2010 and freshman Christopher arrives at Harvard and meet his roommate Lucien Orsini-Conti, the son of wealthy Diplomat’s, and an outgoing confidant man. He is soon under the spell of Lucien and taking part in his lavish lifestyle, however he doesn’t have the money to keep up with the others. To make some money Lucian persuade him to start faking artwork. The two are soon at the centre of all the parties and events but Lucien is gradually becoming more and more unbalanced.
I attended a number of art lectures at the end of 2025 which included a lot of information about art forgers so this part of this story fed my fascination. Inspired by true stories about imposter and convicted killer Christian Gerhartsreiter (a.k.a. Clark Rockefeller) and fraudster Adam Wheeler, and from conversations with convicted art fraudster John Myatt, all of which adds much to the authenticity of the narrative. I was fully invested in both main characters, morally complex, with flaws and all. Their relationship was one of coercion and need. Atlas’s desire to be like Lucien and fit into his world made him open to Lucien’s increasingly immoral tendencies. A dark coming of age story, I found this a very entertaining read.
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