Whistler

by Ann Patchett

The acclaimed, prize-winning #1 New York Times bestselling writer returns with a moving, luminous novel that reminds us of the sweetness and impermanence of life and the power of connection to defy time.

When Daphne Fuller and her husband Jonathan visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, they notice an older, white-haired gentleman following them. The man turns out to be Eddie Triplett, her former stepfather, who had been married to her mother for a little more than year when Daphne was nine. Now fifty-three, Daphne hasn’t seen Eddie for many years, not since the fateful event that changed the direction of both their lives. Meeting again, time falls away; while their relationship was brief, it had a profound impact on them both, and now that they are reunited, they have no intention of ever being separated again.

Whistler is a story about two adults looking back over the choices they made, and the choices that were made for them. It’s a story about bravery, memory, the often small yet consequential moments that define our lives, and the endless stream of loss that in time comes for us all. Beautiful in its simplicity, it is ultimately about how love endures, and how the feeling of being known by one other person, even for a short period of time, can change everything.

Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Contemporary, Family, Adult, Adult Fiction, Literature

320 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication June 2, 2026

About the author

Patchett was born in Los Angeles, California. Her mother is the novelist Jeanne Ray.

She moved to Nashville, Tennessee when she was six, where she continues to live. Patchett said she loves her home in Nashville with her doctor husband and dog. If asked if she could go any place, that place would always be home. "Home is ...the stable window that opens out into the imagination."

Patchett attended high school at St. Bernard Academy, a private, non-parochial Catholic school for girls run by the Sisters of Mercy. Following graduation, she attended Sarah Lawrence College and took fiction writing classes with Allan Gurganus, Russell Banks, and Grace Paley. She later attended the Iowa Writers' Workshop at the University of Iowa and the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, Massachusetts, where she met longtime friend Elizabeth McCracken. It was also there that she wrote her first novel, The Patron Saint of Liars.

In 2010, when she found that her hometown of Nashville no longer had a good book store, she co-founded Parnassus Books with Karen Hayes; the store opened in November 2011. In 2012, Patchett was on the Time 100 list of most influential people in the world by TIME magazine.

Reviews

[Angela M · Rating 5 out of 5]

“There were things I remembered now, including that particular longing that life could stay as it had been. How strange that such a pointless wish could resurface after all these years.” Still, Daphne Fuller at fifty three, imagines at times what life would have been like these last forty four years, had her mother not divorced her step-father Eddie and separated her from this man who she loves deeply. Reconnecting with Eddie after all those years turns out to be a beautiful thing for both of them as they relive the past, their indelible bond of love and shared trauma, and now can bask in the joy of finding each other again. Patchett reminds us, though that life is complicated, relationships are complex and families are messy.

In this novel marriages are made based on love, but unrealistic expectations make promises of good intentions impossible to keep in spite of the fact that the love remains. Ann Patchett does an extraordinary job at getting to the very heart of broken families and the effect on lives as time passes. She reminds us that things are not always as they seem and the whole story needs to be revealed. And so the story of this family unfolds, reflecting on the past, accepting the present and moving forward each day with the light of the revelations that tell of so much love.

I’ve read all of Ann Patchett’s novels and two memoirs and loved them all. Whistler is reminiscent of her more recent novels The Dutch House, Commonwealth, and Tom Lake , all of which focus on families . If you loved any of those, I think you’ll find that she once again establishes herself as a literary treasure.

I received a copy of this book from HarperCollins through Edelweiss.

[Liz Hein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I woke my husband up from a deep sleep to make him read the last paragraph of this. So here’s, a quick little personal review of Whistler…I’ll write a full and real review closer to its June publication.

Sometimes a book comes to you at the perfect time. I was sitting at the airport with my mom and husband last night, waiting to fly to our family in Texas for Thanksgiving. We ALWAYS host at my parents house; it’s my mom’s very favorite holiday. But we lost dad this year, and can’t fathom our normal routine without him. I had no idea Whistler was a father/daughter story, but I knew I loved Ann Patchett and something told me to just log into netgalley to see if maybe it had popped up, despite having tried to find it literally that morning and it wasn’t there.

I devoured this. The father daughter story isn’t like mine in most ways, but was exactly like mine in the ways I didn’t know I needed it to be. This book is so special to me for so many reasons, and again, I’ll share more later. For now, what I think you should know is that this book is nice and lovely in the ways Tom Lake was nice and lovely. And this book healed me in small ways I won’t forget.

[Chloe]

WHAAAAAAAAATTTT!!!! NEW ANN PATCHETT FINALLY, I'M GOING TO CRY!!!!

That cover?? J'adore!!

2026 is going to be great :)

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an Ann Patchett completist. I have read everything she has written at least once; some of her books, three or more times. I flew to Nashville for the release of Tom Lake and to visit her bookstore, Parnassus Books. Suffice it to say, I am a fan.

This may be her best. I am gutted, the tear tracks on my face not yet dry. I'll leave a more detailed review when I've collected myself a bit, but for now, know this one is a real beauty.

[Bonny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ann Patchett has always had a gift for writing about the quiet, powerful moments that shape us, but Whistler feels like something even more tender and resonant, a novel that hums with memory, regret, and the kind of love that never fully lets go. From the very first pages, I was completely absorbed.

The story begins with a chance encounter at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where Daphne Fuller and her husband notice an older man trailing behind them. It turns out to be Eddie Triplett, Daphne’s former stepfather from decades earlier. What unfolds from that moment is a luminous, deeply human exploration of time, connection, and the strange ways our past selves remain alive inside us. Patchett writes their reunion with such grace that it feels both miraculous and inevitable.

This is a novel about the choices we make and the ones made for us, about how small events can redirect entire lives, and how love, unexpected, unconventional, or fleeting, can echo for years. Patchett captures the fragility of memory and the incredible feeling of simply being known by someone else. The book is understated but emotionally expansive, filled with those sharp little truths the author inserts so delicately you don’t realize how deeply they’ve settled until you feel the tug in your chest.

Whistler will absolutely be one of my top books of 2025. In fact, finishing it has left me with the distinct (and slightly comical) worry that there may not be much to look forward to (book-wise) in 2026 because I may have already read the best book that will be published during that year. It’s that moving, that beautifully crafted, and that unforgettable. A quiet masterpiece that I will re-read several times before publication on June 2, 2026.

Thank you to Edelweiss and Harper for providing me with a copy of this stellar book.

[Rachel Randolph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Ann Patchett novel casts a spell, but Whistler is a gem of pure magic I will never forget.

[lys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sooooo classic Ann Patchett. On love, life, loss, nostalgia, regret, and the stories we tell. Felt very similar to Tom Lake and The Dutch House. Took me a sec to get into it, and it didn’t strike a huge chord with me personally, but wonderful writing, wonderful story. A super heartwarming and sweet reflection on life and the little moments that make it.

P.S. Ann…..how much of this is autofiction? Be honest.

That being said, this is a fun treat for anyone else who’s also delved deeply into her nonfiction. I was constantly like “HMMM! Sounds FAMILIAR!”

[vicki honeyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I wanted to find fault in this book because the tale is so precious, the characters too perfect to be believed. But, instead, with a change of heart, I give it a gold star! Why not tell a story about kind, accomplished, positive and whole people, people who move through the world with a grace one could only wish to be bestowed with? "Whistler" is not sugary sweet, though it is sweet as it radiates the possibility of what a life of happiness and fullness can look like, especially when going down memory lane can unearth secrets that deserve to be shared. To be sure, Ann Patchett's latest novel will be a joy to her readers.

[Marissa Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another classic, perfect Ann Patchett. Warmed my soul.

This felt somewhat drawn from her life, as the three fathers in this book reminded me of her essay on her own three fathers in These Precious Days.

[Jennydlovesthebooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ann Patchett is really good at getting directly to the heart of things and making you see yourself in the characters, no matter how far their circumstance is from your own.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just wonderful.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book hangover commence.

[Laura Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Harper and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on June 2nd, 2026.>

The key to my love for all Ann Patchett novels is the depth and intricacies of her characters. There is no other writer that I know of who consistently imbues her characters with the level of introspection and thirst for personal knowledge that her characters have — or at least the ones that I relate to! Having read many of her essays, I think the secret is the profundity with which Patchett gets to know people in real life — and I mean any and all of the people she comes into contact with. Not many of us are blessed with the ability to know too many others at this level, and this wide ranging understanding of the varying types of human experience makes for characters who feel real and complex. The fact that Patchett is also an incredible storyteller, with ideal pacing and consistently enlightening disclosures, does not hurt!

So. Our deep and complex characters are launched in this story by a chance encounter between Daphne (our protagonist) and her (first and quite beloved) stepfather — the one who disappeared from her life abruptly after a traumatic car accident when she was nine (she is now 53). Through a set of discussions, connections, and events (celebrations, get togethers, random walks), we get to unravel the very components that go into telling anyone’s personal story — the different pathways that lead to the person one becomes over time. The story (for me) was one touching moment after another, and I promise that none were of the overly schmalzified Hallmark variety. These are the moments that mark our lives, that matter, and that cause the shifts in our understanding of the world and ourselves.

I loved Daphne’s sister, the best friend and therapist; I loved her (older) husband Jonathan, who is unraveling a family mess of his own (a now deceased mother whose each element of hoarding precipitates a cornucopia of overwhelming memories); I especially loved Eddie, the newly discovered, now-ex stepfather. We see him skillfully through the eyes of the once and current Daphne, whose life experiences only slightly shade perceptions gained as a child during some intensely pivotal moments. The narrative reminded me of how different we are in each dynamic relationship with another.

There are LOTS of (really good) literary references and asides — Eddie is in publishing, Daphne writes, and let’s face it — Patchett knows a thing or two about the business! Themes include the impact of childhood experiences, mistakes and missed opportunities, the contemplation of life and death, human connection, and what it means to show up — really show up — for the people you love. The biggies! I couldn’t put it down.

[Jodi P · Rating 5 out of 5]

** This review contains spoilers **

Oh my goodness. After finishing this book, I found that I wanted to just sit in my thoughts. I kept shaking my head in disbelief that a book could leave me feeling so drained, so sad to see something end yet so satisfied with the ending. I said I'd review it tomorrow but found, after a short time, that I wanted to get my review out while my feelings were so fresh.
I don't usually read Ann Patchett. I've read some and felt fine about them. A book by her would not be my first choice. However, after hearing how good it was, I decided to give it a go.
This book for me was a one-sitter. I did not want to acknowledge anything going on in life until I finished. I was so immersed in Daphne and Eddie's story. So desperate to find out what happened to them during that terrifying day from the past. So terrified as how the book was going to end. I did have to pause my reading a few times as the tears were flowing freely and I was either overwhelmed with grief or unable to see through the tears.
The characters in this book - all of the characters - are so beautiful and complex. Even when I wasn't sure if I should like a character, I found them to be so fully developed and flawed and sympathetic. The language of the story was absolutely gorgeous. The flashbacks to the past held tension and sadness. The stories of Mary Carter and Buddy involved so many emotions beyond grief.
This is a book that I will absolutely purchase for the library's collection and freely recommend to any reader passing through.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Amanda (THE CAFFEINATED READER) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“People have no understanding of how love works,” Eddie said. “They don’t take gratitude into account. They don’t think about relief.” - Ann Patchett, WHISTLER

This is a 2026 read that I know will be everywhere. I’m new to Patchett but I’m hooked after reading WHISTLER.

53 year-old Daphne runs into her stepfather Eddie, whom she hasn’t seen since she was 9. We learn that there is a past that separated them and neither knows the whole story.
This learning about the missing pieces also entails self discovery on both their parts.
The story is filled out with Daphne’s mother, father, and sister, some old friends who are intrinsic to Eddie leaving the family abruptly all those years ago, but really this is Eddie and Daphne’s story.

And Whistler’s.

I am so glad this didn’t make me cry!! It was sweet but not saccharine and I just love how it played out. There were some sad bits but nothing that made me weep.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
_______________________________________________
WHISTLER by Ann Patchett is out June 2. 2026. Thank you so much to @harperbooks & @netgalley for giving me early access to this beautiful book.

[LeeAnna Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher for sharing an advanced reader's copy with me. The book is scheduled to debut in Spring, 2026. Each Ann Patchett novel offers me an opportunity to examine my own human-ness. Sometimes I become a better person for reading her stories, because I can experience life through her characters in ways I may never experience in my own life. Every novel digs a little deeper into human motives and behavior. Whistler explores the childhood memories of Daphne Fuller. Abandoned by her biological father at a tender age, Daphne becomes deeply attached to her new stepfather, Eddie. Without explanation, Eddie departs and Daphne imagines the worst, that she has somehow caused him to leave. Over 40 years later, Daphne and Eddie bump into one another in a New York museum. They rebuild their relationship, and finally, Daphne learns the full story of Eddie and her Mother. Whistler is about chosen family, human flaws, forgiveness, and especially self-forgiveness. I can't wait for friends and family to read Whistler so we can talk about it. Much love and admiration for Ann Patchett.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Already one of my favorites of 2026. This will be a book I own. This exploration of memory, the ties that bind between chosen family, and the complex nature of connection left me breathless. No one can write inner dialogue quite like Patchett. No one can make you feel as connected to characters like her. The pacing, scene making, and the *feeling* of remembering pivotal, catastrophic moments in one's life feel impossible to translate to the page. Ann Patchett does it like an artist--building a lush, consuming tableau that leaves you breathless; wondering how long you've been staring at the painting. Reading this was a disorienting and marvelous endeavor-- much like visiting old memories that you stow away. One of the greatest novelists of our time does not disappoint and you can tell she took her time with this. You're left with feeling brand new and sad and in love with the messiness of being a human.

[Sandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a marvel! A balm for the soul in a world where we are beset with terrible news on an ongoing basis. Ann Patchett quietly and skillfully creates a story that reaches back decades and wraps family and found family together in a marvelous mix. Her expertise in developing characters who seem so real and believable is incredible. I appreciated that this story was about adults of many ages. The main character's childhood is pivotal to the story, but it does not focus on solely that but reaches through the years to show how memory and human connections are so formative and important to all of us. I loved it from start to finish.

[Jg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviews cannot do justice with Ann Patchett’s books. They’re so layered, filled with depth, that I find it hard to adequately describe how wonderful they are and only by reading them can you experience their fullness. On the surface this seems a simple plot, Daphne and husband Jonathan run into Eddie, her stepfather for only a short while, and they rekindle their deep relationship. But the book is so nuanced, stories within stories, memories within memories all of which form a full bouquet of life and love. It’s beautifully written, a book to read again to catch what you’ve missed the first time around for this is a novel to be savored. Brilliant as usual.

[Annie Bentley Waddoups · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ann Patchett is an "always-read" author for me so when I had a chance to read the ARC of her upcoming novel I dove in immediately. I loved it.

When Daphne and her husband notice an older man following them at the Met museum, they're surprised to learn it's her lost-lost stepfather, Eddie (her mother's second of three husbands) and we gradually come to understand, alongside Daphne, the details of the incident when she was nine that led to his departure. This beautiful novel celebrates the power of story and connection, and explores the endurance of love and how small moments often lead to huge trajectory changes, with potential of both tragic and beautiful outcomes.

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite authors so I knew I would enjoy this book and once again, the characters seemed so real like people I knew personally. I very much enjoyed Daphne and Eddie’s relationship and I loved learning about Eddie and Daphne’s mother’s life together and why things played out the way they did. This book truly shows how people can impact us forever regardless of how long they were in our life. There was so much beauty in this book despite the loss and sadness at times. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper for this ARC.

Daphne and her step-father, Eddie, haven't seen each other in nearly 45 years, not since she was 9 years old. A car accident ended his marriage to her mother and Daphne packed all of her emotions about Eddie and that event away. A chance meeting at the MET erases their time apart and they fall into a routine of father and daughter. Moving back and forth between present day and January of 1980, the time of the accident, we discover more about this amazing relationship and what made it survive both time and distance. Highly recommend.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, this is only 3.5 stars for me personally. I seem to need a little more edge from my reading these days. But it's a nice portrait of a nontraditional family discovering things about each other nicely, and I read it in two days - it's short, but it takes a lot to get my attention for longer than five minutes right now, so it gets an extra half a star for engaging readability and characters I wanted to hear more about.

[Kristine]

I really enjoy Ann Patchett’s books, so was excited to see Whistler coming out on June 2, 2026.

I am looking forward to this one 💕

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC from one of my very favorite authors! Her books are character driven, heartwarming and beautifully written. I was absorbed at the very first chapter. In New York’s Metropolitan museum of Art, a woman in her 50’s finds her beloved step-father, whom hasn’t seen since she was 9 years old. Ann Patchett is a master story teller, using unconventional families to weave her stories into your heart! Unforgettable
Coming out June 2, 2026

[Dave Suiter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A chance encounter between a former stepfather and stepdaughter opens a floodgate of memories and forgotten pain. Whistler by Ann Patchett is a beautiful story of connection and love, and how time can’t diminish emotions that are so cherished. The story is beautifully told through first-person narrative and revealing flashbacks. This is one to make you think about those who are important to you.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now in her later years, Daphne runs into the man who was briefly her stepfather during her childhood at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Now reconnected they become a part of each other's current lives while also looking back at the past, especially at one fateful night that changed the trajectory of everyone's lives. It's a story of love, of courage, and of found family.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished Whistler and I think the last book I finish in 2025 will be my favorite book of 2026. How does Ann Patchett do it? Normal people living normal lives and yet she builds an extraordinary narrative. I’m crying at the ending and the last book I cried at was in 2016. It’s perfect. Absolutely perfect. It might be my favorite one yet.

[Colleen Olinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a lovely story about a girl and her stepfather, & their bond that never broke while being away from each other. Such an endearing relationship -if you like character-driven novels, this one is for you.