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Nymph
Not yet published
Expected 9 Jun 26Call Me By Your Name meets Elena Ferrante in this debut coming-of-age novel about a young girl who spends summers working at her family’s timeworn Italian agriturismo, the tragedy that rends her life into “before” and “after,” and her romance with an American girl, which has unexpected consequences
To ten-year-old Leo, life is a collection. She spends her mornings tidying the rooms of her Nonna Tina’s timeworn Italian agriturismo, carefully accumulating the curious bits of left-behind detritus from guests—a pearl earring, a lock of hair. Her nights are suffused with gathering the stories that flow from her father’s lips—liquor-spun tales of Odysseus and the Trojans in secret battle. But when an accident rips the gentle membrane of Leo’s childhood, she is left vulnerable to the pains and pleasures of growing up.
Years later, in a sultry summer not unlike the many that came before, the agriturismo is the only thing that remains the same. Nonna Tina has grown older, Leo’s brother Max is intractable and mercurial, and the curiosity Leo so loved to feed as a child has turned into something more confusing. When she meets Dolores, an American girl made brilliant by Leo’s perception of her, she can’t help but gather all the experiences first love promises, while shedding parts of the past she no longer fits into.
Embroidering the atmospheric yearning of Call Me By Your Name with the precise, elevated prose of Elena Ferrante, Sofia Montrone’s jaw-dropping debut revels in the exuberant highs and awkward lows of girlhood and captures the universal experiences of trying to hold on to what is elusive, to deny what cannot be faced, and to say what cannot be said.
To ten-year-old Leo, life is a collection. She spends her mornings tidying the rooms of her Nonna Tina’s timeworn Italian agriturismo, carefully accumulating the curious bits of left-behind detritus from guests—a pearl earring, a lock of hair. Her nights are suffused with gathering the stories that flow from her father’s lips—liquor-spun tales of Odysseus and the Trojans in secret battle. But when an accident rips the gentle membrane of Leo’s childhood, she is left vulnerable to the pains and pleasures of growing up.
Years later, in a sultry summer not unlike the many that came before, the agriturismo is the only thing that remains the same. Nonna Tina has grown older, Leo’s brother Max is intractable and mercurial, and the curiosity Leo so loved to feed as a child has turned into something more confusing. When she meets Dolores, an American girl made brilliant by Leo’s perception of her, she can’t help but gather all the experiences first love promises, while shedding parts of the past she no longer fits into.
Embroidering the atmospheric yearning of Call Me By Your Name with the precise, elevated prose of Elena Ferrante, Sofia Montrone’s jaw-dropping debut revels in the exuberant highs and awkward lows of girlhood and captures the universal experiences of trying to hold on to what is elusive, to deny what cannot be faced, and to say what cannot be said.
256 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication June 9, 2026
4982 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
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December 29, 2025tbr for 2026 anyone ?
January 5, 2026
Poetically written, emotional & beautiful coming of age story. Leo pulled at my heart, she was just such an easy character to love. The pacing dragged at times but overall a memorable story that absolutely pulled at my heartstrings.
Big thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for allowing me to enjoy this.
Big thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for allowing me to enjoy this.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A coming of age story filled with emotion—tragedy, romance, and self-growth. Nymph is told in two parts: before and after tragedy strikes Leo’s family. At ten years old, Leo holds the universe within herself and sees it reflected in her father. By nineteen, she has lived through something that changes her irrevocably.
In both timelines, Leo is an extraordinary character—one I loved, empathized with, and deeply related to. What I cherished most was witnessing her growth and her gradual journey toward self-discovery. She endures watching a loved one spiral down a devastating path, experiences loss, confronts the aging of her beloved grandmother, and finds love in a space that is fragile and painfully temporary. Yet despite it all, Leo remains resilient, still carrying that universe within her.
I adored the writing. The summery feeling, the atmosphere, the nostalgia woven through every page. Montrone beautifully captures tender, sensitive emotions with prose that is both simple and poetic. The mother–daughter relationship that runs throughout the book is a poignant portrayal of womanhood, and of the love and vulnerability that come with it.
Another aspect I loved was how this book didn’t feel like a book; it felt like life. Things go wrong suddenly, just as they do in reality. Emotions unfold naturally, growth is uneven, and acceptance is never linear. Nymph was a truly moving and enjoyable read, and I sincerely hope to read more from this author.
In both timelines, Leo is an extraordinary character—one I loved, empathized with, and deeply related to. What I cherished most was witnessing her growth and her gradual journey toward self-discovery. She endures watching a loved one spiral down a devastating path, experiences loss, confronts the aging of her beloved grandmother, and finds love in a space that is fragile and painfully temporary. Yet despite it all, Leo remains resilient, still carrying that universe within her.
I adored the writing. The summery feeling, the atmosphere, the nostalgia woven through every page. Montrone beautifully captures tender, sensitive emotions with prose that is both simple and poetic. The mother–daughter relationship that runs throughout the book is a poignant portrayal of womanhood, and of the love and vulnerability that come with it.
Another aspect I loved was how this book didn’t feel like a book; it felt like life. Things go wrong suddenly, just as they do in reality. Emotions unfold naturally, growth is uneven, and acceptance is never linear. Nymph was a truly moving and enjoyable read, and I sincerely hope to read more from this author.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A delectable coming of age story with an amazing main character who has to deal with working for her family, a tragedy that deeply affects her, and a romance with an American. Leo is fascinating and I resonated with her so much as she experienced great tragedy and greater feelings of love as she finds who she really is. So many emotions in this book were so beautifully captured and put into words. The nostalgia of girlhood oozes from every page. I hope I get to read more from this author! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4
setting: Italy
rep: sapphic protagonist
this book is all about the writing and the atmosphere. plotwise, there's not much going on, it's mostly a snapshot of two summers in Leo's life - the first thirty percent of the book follows her at 10 years old; the remaining seventy percent follows her at 19. the writing is gorgeous and the atmosphere is excellent. I can totally understand the comp to call me by your name. 8 haven't read Elena ferrante so can't speak to that comp but if her books read like this then I'm sure to enjoy them
setting: Italy
rep: sapphic protagonist
this book is all about the writing and the atmosphere. plotwise, there's not much going on, it's mostly a snapshot of two summers in Leo's life - the first thirty percent of the book follows her at 10 years old; the remaining seventy percent follows her at 19. the writing is gorgeous and the atmosphere is excellent. I can totally understand the comp to call me by your name. 8 haven't read Elena ferrante so can't speak to that comp but if her books read like this then I'm sure to enjoy them
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