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Solstice
A brilliant but restless dancer discovers the true meaning of love and intimacy through the ebbs and flows of her marriage in this exquisitely written novel—from the bestselling author and psychologist whose feminist classic, In a Different Voice, revolutionized our understanding of women’s lives
Boston, 1969. Eve, a dancer whose feelings are expressed through the body and movement, senses an inexplicable distance growing between herself and her husband, Gabe, a journalist and father of her two children. Feeling lost and alone, she begins an affair; Gabe detects it immediately and begins one himself. Yet somehow they find their way back to each other, and when Eve gives birth to a daughter, their marriage becomes vital again.
Years later, when Gabe returns from a reporting trip to the Middle East and Berlin, Eve again perceives something is wrong in her marriage. Gabe no longer seems like the man she once knew. He has always had a darkness she could not fathom—deep psychological scars from his childhood, when Gabe escaped Nazi Germany on the Kindertransport.
Amsterdam, 1991. Newly separated from Gabe, Eve has accepted a fellowship to choreograph a dance inspired by the story of Adam and Eve. When a colleague introduces her to a new translation of the ancient text, Eve begins to redefine the way she thinks about women, men, and relationships—and, perhaps, to see another path back to her marriage.
In this emotionally riveting novel, Carol Gilligan draws on her unsurpassed psychological understanding of women's lives to explore a new vision of love and intimacy. Sweeping across decades and continents, attuned to the rhythms of life and time, Solstice is a provocative and profound portrait of what it takes to truly love another.
Boston, 1969. Eve, a dancer whose feelings are expressed through the body and movement, senses an inexplicable distance growing between herself and her husband, Gabe, a journalist and father of her two children. Feeling lost and alone, she begins an affair; Gabe detects it immediately and begins one himself. Yet somehow they find their way back to each other, and when Eve gives birth to a daughter, their marriage becomes vital again.
Years later, when Gabe returns from a reporting trip to the Middle East and Berlin, Eve again perceives something is wrong in her marriage. Gabe no longer seems like the man she once knew. He has always had a darkness she could not fathom—deep psychological scars from his childhood, when Gabe escaped Nazi Germany on the Kindertransport.
Amsterdam, 1991. Newly separated from Gabe, Eve has accepted a fellowship to choreograph a dance inspired by the story of Adam and Eve. When a colleague introduces her to a new translation of the ancient text, Eve begins to redefine the way she thinks about women, men, and relationships—and, perhaps, to see another path back to her marriage.
In this emotionally riveting novel, Carol Gilligan draws on her unsurpassed psychological understanding of women's lives to explore a new vision of love and intimacy. Sweeping across decades and continents, attuned to the rhythms of life and time, Solstice is a provocative and profound portrait of what it takes to truly love another.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published August 4, 2026
About the author
Carol Gilligan
55 books246 followersCarol Gilligan is an American feminist, ethicist, and psychologist best known for her work on ethical community and ethical relationships.
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September 4, 2026i saw this cover and immediately backtracked to read the synopsis so i could justify wanting to read it
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
August 6, 2026
3.5 rounded up
This was an interesting look at one couple's marriage and the ups and downs of their relationship as it gets tested by infidelity and career ambitions across decades. Spanning from the late 1960s to the early 2000s, this novel follows a dancer as she pivots to become a choreographer/director and is inspired by the Adam and Eve story. Interspersed throughout the novel is a lot of Jewish history and information related to the Israel/Palestine wars. Emotional and informational, this might not be a book for everyone but I enjoyed it and thought it was nicely read by the author herself. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review.
This was an interesting look at one couple's marriage and the ups and downs of their relationship as it gets tested by infidelity and career ambitions across decades. Spanning from the late 1960s to the early 2000s, this novel follows a dancer as she pivots to become a choreographer/director and is inspired by the Adam and Eve story. Interspersed throughout the novel is a lot of Jewish history and information related to the Israel/Palestine wars. Emotional and informational, this might not be a book for everyone but I enjoyed it and thought it was nicely read by the author herself. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review.
August 3, 2026
Although the idea of following this couple over decades of the ups and down with their marriage was appealing, I struggled to connect with the storyline and the characters. The writing was almost too wordy, too descriptive and at times felt like I was reading a textbook or preparing for a college class discussion. The Israel/Palestine political storyline felt tedious and the dance scenes were confusing as someone who doesn’t have a dance background.
Many thanks to Random House and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
Many thanks to Random House and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
April 10, 2026
Solstice is a gripping overview of a marriage, set against the background of the US, Europe, and the Middle East in the 1980s and 1990s, and also through the eyes of a main character, who survived WWII, through the actions of kindertransport. Its plot moves through the imagery of the different solstices that occur throughout the seasonal year, giving structure to a complex tale. The political issues of the times are brought forth and examined through the lenses of her characters. Gilligan gives us a sensitive and urgent novel, outlining themes and ideas through situational decisions.
Gilligan presents her main character, Eve, a dancer, in a highly original way. Where other authors often present dancers through their looks or precision of movement or taste, Gilligan does something quite different, and allows us inside Eve, showing her motivation to move in a way that rings totally true.
I thoroughly enjoyed the complexity of this work and Gilligan's subtlety in slowly showing us the world of her characters, including its many themes, such as the concept of home, exploring all its ramifications.
Many thanks to Random House and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Gilligan presents her main character, Eve, a dancer, in a highly original way. Where other authors often present dancers through their looks or precision of movement or taste, Gilligan does something quite different, and allows us inside Eve, showing her motivation to move in a way that rings totally true.
I thoroughly enjoyed the complexity of this work and Gilligan's subtlety in slowly showing us the world of her characters, including its many themes, such as the concept of home, exploring all its ramifications.
Many thanks to Random House and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 7, 2026
Real Rating: 3.5* of five
The Publisher Says: A brilliant but restless dancer discovers the true meaning of love and intimacy through the ebbs and flows of her marriage in this exquisitely written novel—from the bestselling author and psychologist whose feminist classic, In a Different Voice, revolutionized our understanding of women’s lives
Boston, 1969. Eve, a dancer whose feelings are expressed through the body and movement, senses an inexplicable distance growing between herself and her husband, Gabe, a journalist and father of her two children. Feeling lost and alone, she begins an affair; Gabe detects it immediately and begins one himself. Yet somehow they find their way back to each other, and when Eve gives birth to a daughter, their marriage becomes vital again.
Years later, when Gabe returns from a reporting trip to the Middle East and Berlin, Eve again perceives something is wrong in her marriage. Gabe no longer seems like the man she once knew. He has always had a darkness she could not fathom—deep psychological scars from his childhood, when Gabe escaped Nazi Germany on the Kindertransport.
Amsterdam, 1991. Newly separated from Gabe, Eve has accepted a fellowship to choreograph a dance inspired by the story of Adam and Eve. When a colleague introduces her to a new translation of the ancient text, Eve begins to redefine the way she thinks about women, men, and relationships—and, perhaps, to see another path back to her marriage.
In this emotionally riveting novel, Carol Gilligan draws on her unsurpassed psychological understanding of women's lives to explore a new vision of love and intimacy. Sweeping across decades and continents, attuned to the rhythms of life and time, Solstice is a provocative and profound portrait of what it takes to truly love another.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Plenty of buzz around this tale of a Holocaust survivor haunted by his myriad ghosts, the burgeoning dancer/life force he marries, the challenging marriage they undertake, and lots of Jewish history relevant to the present day.
My interest in straight peoples' intimacy is not large enough to support this latter aspect of the story as my focus. I was a great deal more interested in Eve's story of how dance could explain the myth of Adam and Eve. It was *wonderful* to read Author Gilligan's evocations of dance as an art form. Eve's learning of the deeper meanings, the cultural resonances, the eternal quality of myths with a rabbi's learnèd guidance after she splits from Gabe in 1991 was as involving as anything I've read this year.
It's mired in a relationship novel I don't care about, one that's intended to add another resonant frequency to the myth of Adam and Eve, but that ends up not doing that. If I was supposed to care about Eve and Gabe as a couple, why is Gabe so...amorphous? Their three kids are names, when every couple I have ever known (that has kids) honestly thinks and talks more about their kids than anything else.
Author Gilligan's a psychologist so these are clearly informed choices made with intent, not lacunae of understanding. As they did not make sense to me, I can't say her information came through to me in the novel she wrote. I'll forget these characters in a week, but will carry the passages describing dance with me.
The Publisher Says: A brilliant but restless dancer discovers the true meaning of love and intimacy through the ebbs and flows of her marriage in this exquisitely written novel—from the bestselling author and psychologist whose feminist classic, In a Different Voice, revolutionized our understanding of women’s lives
Boston, 1969. Eve, a dancer whose feelings are expressed through the body and movement, senses an inexplicable distance growing between herself and her husband, Gabe, a journalist and father of her two children. Feeling lost and alone, she begins an affair; Gabe detects it immediately and begins one himself. Yet somehow they find their way back to each other, and when Eve gives birth to a daughter, their marriage becomes vital again.
Years later, when Gabe returns from a reporting trip to the Middle East and Berlin, Eve again perceives something is wrong in her marriage. Gabe no longer seems like the man she once knew. He has always had a darkness she could not fathom—deep psychological scars from his childhood, when Gabe escaped Nazi Germany on the Kindertransport.
Amsterdam, 1991. Newly separated from Gabe, Eve has accepted a fellowship to choreograph a dance inspired by the story of Adam and Eve. When a colleague introduces her to a new translation of the ancient text, Eve begins to redefine the way she thinks about women, men, and relationships—and, perhaps, to see another path back to her marriage.
In this emotionally riveting novel, Carol Gilligan draws on her unsurpassed psychological understanding of women's lives to explore a new vision of love and intimacy. Sweeping across decades and continents, attuned to the rhythms of life and time, Solstice is a provocative and profound portrait of what it takes to truly love another.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Plenty of buzz around this tale of a Holocaust survivor haunted by his myriad ghosts, the burgeoning dancer/life force he marries, the challenging marriage they undertake, and lots of Jewish history relevant to the present day.
My interest in straight peoples' intimacy is not large enough to support this latter aspect of the story as my focus. I was a great deal more interested in Eve's story of how dance could explain the myth of Adam and Eve. It was *wonderful* to read Author Gilligan's evocations of dance as an art form. Eve's learning of the deeper meanings, the cultural resonances, the eternal quality of myths with a rabbi's learnèd guidance after she splits from Gabe in 1991 was as involving as anything I've read this year.
It's mired in a relationship novel I don't care about, one that's intended to add another resonant frequency to the myth of Adam and Eve, but that ends up not doing that. If I was supposed to care about Eve and Gabe as a couple, why is Gabe so...amorphous? Their three kids are names, when every couple I have ever known (that has kids) honestly thinks and talks more about their kids than anything else.
Author Gilligan's a psychologist so these are clearly informed choices made with intent, not lacunae of understanding. As they did not make sense to me, I can't say her information came through to me in the novel she wrote. I'll forget these characters in a week, but will carry the passages describing dance with me.
August 6, 2026
The ebb and flow of a marriage over decades
Eve, a dancer/choreographer, and Gabe, a journalist, are married and living in Boston in 1969. They share two children together but of late a distance has grown between the two of them. Eve, seeking emotional connection, begins an affair; Gabe senses her infidelity and begins an affair of his own. As time goes on they are able to reconnect with one another and their relationship strengthens, especially after the birth of a daughter. But Gabe has unresolved issues which stretch back to his childhood, when he was one of the lucky ones to escape Hitler's Germany via the Kindertransport, and Eve has never been able to reach that part of his psyche. When yet again an emotional gap opens up between them the couple separates. The opportunity to choreograph a new dance based on that most famous of biblical couples, Adam and Eve, may open up for Eve a new perspective on her marriage...will she and Gabe be able to repair their relationship and find a new way forward?
Solstice is a work of literary fiction by author Carol Gilligan, perhaps better known for the non-fiction book In a Different Voice which dealt with psychology and how gender relates to it. Those themes are part of this new book....Eve is someone who uses her body and movement to work through her feelings, while Gabe is more inclined to bury his deep inside. The push and pull of their relationship over time, the tensions that develop in a marriage, and broader comparisons (to Adam and Eve, as well as to conflicts in the war-torn Middle East) from which Gabe reports) are explored with empathy, insight and at times humor. It is a reflective, contemplative novel which deals more in the realm of characters' interior lives than plot-focused narrative. I found it an intriguing premise, although at times the exploration of such weighty intellectual themes made it challenging for me to remain connected to the characters. Readers of Ms Gilligan's other books as well as those who enjoy authors like Alice Munro, Michael Cunningham and Elena Ferrante, might find this intellectual novel to their liking. My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for allowing me access to the novel in exchange for my honest review.
Eve, a dancer/choreographer, and Gabe, a journalist, are married and living in Boston in 1969. They share two children together but of late a distance has grown between the two of them. Eve, seeking emotional connection, begins an affair; Gabe senses her infidelity and begins an affair of his own. As time goes on they are able to reconnect with one another and their relationship strengthens, especially after the birth of a daughter. But Gabe has unresolved issues which stretch back to his childhood, when he was one of the lucky ones to escape Hitler's Germany via the Kindertransport, and Eve has never been able to reach that part of his psyche. When yet again an emotional gap opens up between them the couple separates. The opportunity to choreograph a new dance based on that most famous of biblical couples, Adam and Eve, may open up for Eve a new perspective on her marriage...will she and Gabe be able to repair their relationship and find a new way forward?
Solstice is a work of literary fiction by author Carol Gilligan, perhaps better known for the non-fiction book In a Different Voice which dealt with psychology and how gender relates to it. Those themes are part of this new book....Eve is someone who uses her body and movement to work through her feelings, while Gabe is more inclined to bury his deep inside. The push and pull of their relationship over time, the tensions that develop in a marriage, and broader comparisons (to Adam and Eve, as well as to conflicts in the war-torn Middle East) from which Gabe reports) are explored with empathy, insight and at times humor. It is a reflective, contemplative novel which deals more in the realm of characters' interior lives than plot-focused narrative. I found it an intriguing premise, although at times the exploration of such weighty intellectual themes made it challenging for me to remain connected to the characters. Readers of Ms Gilligan's other books as well as those who enjoy authors like Alice Munro, Michael Cunningham and Elena Ferrante, might find this intellectual novel to their liking. My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for allowing me access to the novel in exchange for my honest review.
August 8, 2026
The first time I heard of solstice was during my religion class back in my high school days. This is not going to be a religion lesson or review, but the title captured my attention because I’ve always had a fondness for the longest day of daylight and the longest night. As Catholics, we were always reminded about these solstices, so it has been imbued in me to remember when these phenomena are going to happen.
As a married woman, Eve and Gabe’s marriage is no different from the reality that many marriages experience. It’s a battle between who is right and who is wrong, who did it first, and why revenge is something that’s called for. What is the truth, and who is telling the truth? It’s about blaming but never really looking at oneself. It’s the drifting apart, the denial, and then finding each other’s way back again—but now with a different perspective.
This was a compelling book for me. It wasn’t overly emotional, but it was enough to get me thinking about what was happening in their marriage, as most married individuals can probably relate to in some way. The story didn’t bore me; instead, it made me hunger for the drama, the chaos, and the hard conversations.
When a woman’s needs are not being met, or when she is not being seen, does that ever justify infidelity? And if a man does the same thing out of revenge, is it acceptable when all he needed to do in the first place was to recognize his own faults?
I believe that before a woman commits to doing the unthinkable, there have already been a lot of miscommunication, arguments, and pleas that have gone unheard. Before one seeks comfort in another person’s company, there may have already been so many moments of feeling unseen, unheard, and unfulfilled.
As a married woman, Eve and Gabe’s marriage is no different from the reality that many marriages experience. It’s a battle between who is right and who is wrong, who did it first, and why revenge is something that’s called for. What is the truth, and who is telling the truth? It’s about blaming but never really looking at oneself. It’s the drifting apart, the denial, and then finding each other’s way back again—but now with a different perspective.
This was a compelling book for me. It wasn’t overly emotional, but it was enough to get me thinking about what was happening in their marriage, as most married individuals can probably relate to in some way. The story didn’t bore me; instead, it made me hunger for the drama, the chaos, and the hard conversations.
When a woman’s needs are not being met, or when she is not being seen, does that ever justify infidelity? And if a man does the same thing out of revenge, is it acceptable when all he needed to do in the first place was to recognize his own faults?
I believe that before a woman commits to doing the unthinkable, there have already been a lot of miscommunication, arguments, and pleas that have gone unheard. Before one seeks comfort in another person’s company, there may have already been so many moments of feeling unseen, unheard, and unfulfilled.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Review - Solstice by Carol Gilligan review by Shirley W. 4-11-26
Interesting story over about a 30-year period of a female ballet dancer named Eve and her journalist husband Gabe. Eve has an affair after several years of marriage with Gabe, a journalist with whom she has two boys. He immediately notices a difference and starts an affair also. They are estranged for a time, but when Eve has their daughter, they emotionally come back to each other.
When Gabe returns from an assignment in Berlin and the Middle East, Eve detects some kind of darkness Gabe carries. With discussion Eve learns Gabe had been sent from Nazi Germany on a Kindertransport as a young child, away from his father who he never saw again. It had been a traumatizing experience for young Gabe. He also confesses his affair.
After separating from Gabe, Eve finds herself in Amsterdam, choreographing a new dance from the story of Adam and Eve. She gains a different perspective about marriage and love which brings her a better understanding of the things that are important to her and Gabe.
Every marriage is a meshing of different upbringings and personal challenges and goals. It is an ongoing enlightenment and communication to understanding what makes two people truly love each other.
Author, Carol Gilligan has a unique understanding as a female psychologist of human attachments. I enjoyed the insightful story she created in her novel Solstice.
Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary, advance copy of this book. The review is my voluntary and honest opinion.
Interesting story over about a 30-year period of a female ballet dancer named Eve and her journalist husband Gabe. Eve has an affair after several years of marriage with Gabe, a journalist with whom she has two boys. He immediately notices a difference and starts an affair also. They are estranged for a time, but when Eve has their daughter, they emotionally come back to each other.
When Gabe returns from an assignment in Berlin and the Middle East, Eve detects some kind of darkness Gabe carries. With discussion Eve learns Gabe had been sent from Nazi Germany on a Kindertransport as a young child, away from his father who he never saw again. It had been a traumatizing experience for young Gabe. He also confesses his affair.
After separating from Gabe, Eve finds herself in Amsterdam, choreographing a new dance from the story of Adam and Eve. She gains a different perspective about marriage and love which brings her a better understanding of the things that are important to her and Gabe.
Every marriage is a meshing of different upbringings and personal challenges and goals. It is an ongoing enlightenment and communication to understanding what makes two people truly love each other.
Author, Carol Gilligan has a unique understanding as a female psychologist of human attachments. I enjoyed the insightful story she created in her novel Solstice.
Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary, advance copy of this book. The review is my voluntary and honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I typically appreciate books that explore affairs, infidelity, and the complicated questions surrounding why people betray one another and how those choices ripple through a family. On paper, this should have been a great fit for me.
Carol Gilligan tackles marriage, betrayal, forgiveness, identity, and the stories we tell ourselves about love. There is a great deal of thoughtfulness here, and I can see why many readers will find the novel rich and rewarding. However, I struggled to fully connect with it. The writing style took some time for me to adjust to, and much of the reading experience felt more like studying a text for a class discussion than becoming immersed in a story. The novel is layered with symbolism, metaphor, and larger social and historical parallels, which I appreciated intellectually, but they often kept me at an emotional distance from the characters.
I admired what the book was trying to do more than I enjoyed reading it. Readers who enjoy literary fiction that invites analysis and reflection will likely find much to discuss here. Unfortunately, I never became deeply invested in Eve and Gabe’s relationship, which made it difficult for the story’s emotional moments to land as strongly as I had hoped.
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
Carol Gilligan tackles marriage, betrayal, forgiveness, identity, and the stories we tell ourselves about love. There is a great deal of thoughtfulness here, and I can see why many readers will find the novel rich and rewarding. However, I struggled to fully connect with it. The writing style took some time for me to adjust to, and much of the reading experience felt more like studying a text for a class discussion than becoming immersed in a story. The novel is layered with symbolism, metaphor, and larger social and historical parallels, which I appreciated intellectually, but they often kept me at an emotional distance from the characters.
I admired what the book was trying to do more than I enjoyed reading it. Readers who enjoy literary fiction that invites analysis and reflection will likely find much to discuss here. Unfortunately, I never became deeply invested in Eve and Gabe’s relationship, which made it difficult for the story’s emotional moments to land as strongly as I had hoped.
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
August 4, 2026
This is definitely the type of novel that sits with you and makes you analyze the complexities of marriage and human nature. Through the writing we explore layers of symbolism in parallel to the characters present through their past. We see the damage of unresolved trauma and grief and how this creates a ripple in the life lived.
Eve and Gabe explore different paths through their marriage and the acts of infidelity are in themselves a search for identity and connection. While Eve finds herself fully exploring her freedom and catharsis through the creation of dance, Gabe seems in a quieter exploration that is deeply rooted in his healing from childhood pain.
I loved the symbolism of dance as liberation, the way Eve finds catharsis through the story of Eve and how she interweaves this into her own awakening of sorts. This book questions many aspects of marriage but more so of the people we become in it and how we can either choose to heal and embrace the struggles or deny ourselves of pain.
Eve and Gabe explore different paths through their marriage and the acts of infidelity are in themselves a search for identity and connection. While Eve finds herself fully exploring her freedom and catharsis through the creation of dance, Gabe seems in a quieter exploration that is deeply rooted in his healing from childhood pain.
I loved the symbolism of dance as liberation, the way Eve finds catharsis through the story of Eve and how she interweaves this into her own awakening of sorts. This book questions many aspects of marriage but more so of the people we become in it and how we can either choose to heal and embrace the struggles or deny ourselves of pain.
August 16, 2026
Solstice by Carol Gilligan was a book focused on characters and how their interactions and their choices made a difference in life. The book shows the ups and downs of their marriage and relationships. The book is broken into sections with different years and progresses with their relationship.
Eve is a dancer and then later a choreographer. Her views through her marriage are often interjected with the new piece she is working on. Gabe’s past is a key part of his journey as a child who escaped the Nazi. Gabe is a writer and publisher. They moved due to his job and had three children. There were clashes, injustices, and betrayal, but all along there is a life built together.
The book is not meant to be read quickly. There are moments that require thought and reflection on women and their roles as the years change. Solstice is a deep look into people and a marriage. Solstice by Carol Gilligan was a good read.
I gave this book three stars mostly because it wasn't my type of book. I think for others people the rating might be higher.
Eve is a dancer and then later a choreographer. Her views through her marriage are often interjected with the new piece she is working on. Gabe’s past is a key part of his journey as a child who escaped the Nazi. Gabe is a writer and publisher. They moved due to his job and had three children. There were clashes, injustices, and betrayal, but all along there is a life built together.
The book is not meant to be read quickly. There are moments that require thought and reflection on women and their roles as the years change. Solstice is a deep look into people and a marriage. Solstice by Carol Gilligan was a good read.
I gave this book three stars mostly because it wasn't my type of book. I think for others people the rating might be higher.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
I enjoyed this tale of Eve and Gabe's up-and-down marriage/relationship, but I clearly wasn't the intended audience. I read the words, felt some the feelings, but never really was able to get inside my heart and brain to make the story resonate with me.
I did appreciate using the creation story of Adam and Eve in character Eve's dance performance as a metaphor for the couple's relationship, but that didn't occur until 2/3 of the way through the story. The Palestinian/Israeli conflict also weighs heavily here. Fair warning.
The couple's children were extras to the story -- I thought they could have played a larger role.
Covering over three decades of a relationship, this story was told with care about complex and sensitive issues.
Would I read more from the author? Yes.
I received a complimentary e-copy of the book from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.
I enjoyed this tale of Eve and Gabe's up-and-down marriage/relationship, but I clearly wasn't the intended audience. I read the words, felt some the feelings, but never really was able to get inside my heart and brain to make the story resonate with me.
I did appreciate using the creation story of Adam and Eve in character Eve's dance performance as a metaphor for the couple's relationship, but that didn't occur until 2/3 of the way through the story. The Palestinian/Israeli conflict also weighs heavily here. Fair warning.
The couple's children were extras to the story -- I thought they could have played a larger role.
Covering over three decades of a relationship, this story was told with care about complex and sensitive issues.
Would I read more from the author? Yes.
I received a complimentary e-copy of the book from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.
August 14, 2026
Two people come together, and fall apart, and come together again. It's a push-pull relationship: Eve and Gabe have a happy marriage, three children, a partnership. They've been together long enough that sometimes their attention strays. But sometimes the rules change, or maybe the consequences, and so Eve finds herself alone in Amsterdam, choreographing a ballet and wondering what comes next.
Gilligan is best known for her feminist theory, and although I haven't read In a Different Voice, I've run across it enough times to be intrigued when I saw that Gilligan has turned to fiction. (Also, not to be shallow about it, but that cover!)
The book is functionally historical fiction, though it covers some world events that are, ah, extremely timely. What interests me most is the way the scenes are set up—there's often a significant time jump between scenes, so even if Eve is having (for example) a fairly intense or upsetting conversation in one scene, by the next scene things have moved on.
In places it gets a bit...I was going to say "theoretical", but I think "abstract" is more accurate. For my tastes, anyway—there's always a sweet spot of enough bridges to keep connections clear but not so many that readers feel talked down to; I think in places a bridge or two would have been helpful to me. (Though, too: Not everything has to be related!)
3.5 stars and some food for thought.
Thanks to the author and publisher for inviting me to read a review copy through NetGalley.
Gilligan is best known for her feminist theory, and although I haven't read In a Different Voice, I've run across it enough times to be intrigued when I saw that Gilligan has turned to fiction. (Also, not to be shallow about it, but that cover!)
The book is functionally historical fiction, though it covers some world events that are, ah, extremely timely. What interests me most is the way the scenes are set up—there's often a significant time jump between scenes, so even if Eve is having (for example) a fairly intense or upsetting conversation in one scene, by the next scene things have moved on.
In places it gets a bit...I was going to say "theoretical", but I think "abstract" is more accurate. For my tastes, anyway—there's always a sweet spot of enough bridges to keep connections clear but not so many that readers feel talked down to; I think in places a bridge or two would have been helpful to me. (Though, too: Not everything has to be related!)
3.5 stars and some food for thought.
Thanks to the author and publisher for inviting me to read a review copy through NetGalley.
August 19, 2026
Solstice is a story about a woman and and her relationships. Her marriage, full of infidelity, but he still might be The One. Her relationship to dance, to herself.
Eve and Gabe, a dancer/choreographer and journalist respectively, are interesting characters to get to know over the 30 or so years covered here. Their story isn’t one I find easy to relate to, but the insightful, lyrical writing compelled me to follow along on the journey towards self discovery.
After finishing, I read the publisher’s description of the book and Carol Gilligan’s author profile, and learned she is a psychologist and ethicist. I love that, and understand more about what she is doing here now. She brings her insight to these characters in a slow-paced, thoughtful, sensitive way.
This book is formatted with time jumps, which work for me because I like the experience of going back and forth with more enlightenment into the characters each time.
Many thanks to Random House for the digital copy.
Eve and Gabe, a dancer/choreographer and journalist respectively, are interesting characters to get to know over the 30 or so years covered here. Their story isn’t one I find easy to relate to, but the insightful, lyrical writing compelled me to follow along on the journey towards self discovery.
After finishing, I read the publisher’s description of the book and Carol Gilligan’s author profile, and learned she is a psychologist and ethicist. I love that, and understand more about what she is doing here now. She brings her insight to these characters in a slow-paced, thoughtful, sensitive way.
This book is formatted with time jumps, which work for me because I like the experience of going back and forth with more enlightenment into the characters each time.
Many thanks to Random House for the digital copy.
May 11, 2026
4.0. I received the ARC of this book from NetGalley and am reviewing it with gratitude.
As a long-time fan of Carol Gilligan I was eager to review her work as a novelist. She did not disappoint. Her knowledge of gender typology and issues is evident throughout the novel. The book describes one woman’s journey through a 30 year marriage. Gilligan used this setting to deeply explore the mental and emotional journeys of her protagonist Eve and her husband Gabe. Themes of love, betrayal, self and partner awareness, family, home, body expression, differences in perception and understanding, and the importance of opposition in a loving relationship are all thoughtfully and skillfully
explored. The book is provocative as is typical in all of Gilligan ‘s work. Worthy of a second read. Recommend it for thoughtful readers.
As a long-time fan of Carol Gilligan I was eager to review her work as a novelist. She did not disappoint. Her knowledge of gender typology and issues is evident throughout the novel. The book describes one woman’s journey through a 30 year marriage. Gilligan used this setting to deeply explore the mental and emotional journeys of her protagonist Eve and her husband Gabe. Themes of love, betrayal, self and partner awareness, family, home, body expression, differences in perception and understanding, and the importance of opposition in a loving relationship are all thoughtfully and skillfully
explored. The book is provocative as is typical in all of Gilligan ‘s work. Worthy of a second read. Recommend it for thoughtful readers.
August 12, 2026
Ah, this one took a bit to get into. It’s a story about a marriage born of love and desire that goes through multiple changes throughout the story. Eve, a dancer, is on a quest to untangle the mess their lives and love has become by looking at the love stories of others, namely literary and artistic ones. It’s an interesting approach but also heavy on symbolism which at times was lovely. However, at others it's a bit confusing and heavy handed. The timelines jump around with flashbacks and it gets tangled up in places which left me wondering where exactly were we in the story. It definitely takes focus to keep up with it all.
Overall I’d recommend it, but not as a light, beach read. It’s more of a journey into understanding women and the relationships they form.
*I was invited to read by the publisher, Penguin Random House, through NetGalley for an honest review
Overall I’d recommend it, but not as a light, beach read. It’s more of a journey into understanding women and the relationships they form.
*I was invited to read by the publisher, Penguin Random House, through NetGalley for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5. I had mixed feelings about Solstice. The premise of following a marriage across decades was interesting. However, the cheating trope really didn't work for me. It annoyed me more than it added to the story, and I found it a little hard to root for the couple after that. I also wasn't convinced that weaving in the conflict was a good choice. It felt like an uneven subplot that distracted from Eve and Gabe's relationship rather than deepening iti don't really like this in my book. The parallels were ambitious but didn't land for me. This is a thoughtful literary novel with some strong moments, but the elements that bothered me kept me from fully enjoying it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was swept away but this story and the way it spans several decades. Eve is a relatable and wonderful main character. Her struggles with an affair, her marriage, and motherhood were so raw and real. Her on and off with Gabe was so real and the changes in Gabe over time were such an important path to go down in the book. As a woman - I so enjoyed the way Eve begins thinking of women and men, it was very empowering. I love that this relationship they have is raw and real and not just fictional rainbows and butterflies. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Solstice by Carol Gilligan looks at a marriage over the period of decades and describes how time can take partners in different directions (living together, living apart) for long periods of time yet still maintain an undeniable bond.
I expected to enjoy this read more than I did. I just couldn't connect with the main characters, and didn't enjoy the political aspect of the story at all. At times, it felt like a lecture/debate, not what I was looking for or expecting. It gets a two star rating from me.
My thanks to Random House for permitting me to access a DRC via NetGalley. Publication is 8/4/26. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and are given freely.
I expected to enjoy this read more than I did. I just couldn't connect with the main characters, and didn't enjoy the political aspect of the story at all. At times, it felt like a lecture/debate, not what I was looking for or expecting. It gets a two star rating from me.
My thanks to Random House for permitting me to access a DRC via NetGalley. Publication is 8/4/26. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and are given freely.
August 28, 2026
Thank you NetGalley, Carol Gilligan, and Random House Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honestly review.
I found that the initial and concept of this novel as a whole rather interesting. So, I stand by my decision to rate it at a solid three stars. I enjoyed the novel and the story it was trying to tell but it also felt like it was attempting to be some form of political think piece with the mention of the palestinian-israeli conflict which felt shoved into the story of Greg and Eve. Overall, the story of their marriage through the trials and tribulations was interesting to read.
I found that the initial and concept of this novel as a whole rather interesting. So, I stand by my decision to rate it at a solid three stars. I enjoyed the novel and the story it was trying to tell but it also felt like it was attempting to be some form of political think piece with the mention of the palestinian-israeli conflict which felt shoved into the story of Greg and Eve. Overall, the story of their marriage through the trials and tribulations was interesting to read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book had promise, it's about marriage and how it evolves, but also about family and history...but honestly, there was too much going on- esp the commentary on Israel/Palestine and how they weaved into their story as Eve created her dance. It was well written and I do like literary fiction but I think the genre benefits from a deft touch...and good editing.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #RandomHouse for the ARC.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #RandomHouse for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What I liked the most about this story is the use of art to portray the ups and downs of a marriage. Eve and Gabe loving and hurting each other, and trying to make sense of what it means for them and their family felt very realistic and vulnerable.
This a must-read if you like stories about complex relationships and how people work through their conflicts in non-conventional ways.
Thank you to Random House and the author for providing a free copy of this book through NetGalley.
This a must-read if you like stories about complex relationships and how people work through their conflicts in non-conventional ways.
Thank you to Random House and the author for providing a free copy of this book through NetGalley.
August 22, 2026
The acknowledgements note that this began as a short story. The first part reads very coherently and makes a solid short story. Afterwards, it feels jumbled in it's messaging and if the point is just about the story of the main couple, there's not much depth in the story to make me care what they're doing.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC.
I received this ARC because I enjoyed Strangers by Belle Burden so much. This one was also a woman in crisis, dealing with affairs, motherhood, and aging. I am definitely enjoying reading these women’s stories.
I received this ARC because I enjoyed Strangers by Belle Burden so much. This one was also a woman in crisis, dealing with affairs, motherhood, and aging. I am definitely enjoying reading these women’s stories.
September 4, 2026
I really enjoyed Solstice. It’s thoughtful, emotional, and quietly powerful, with plenty to reflect on after finishing it. I especially liked the way the story explores relationships, change, and personal growth. Some parts felt a little heavy, but overall it was a meaningful and rewarding read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book felt so intimate and raw in a way that stayed with me. It’s not dramatic, every emotional shift felt so touching and real. The writing was really good and powerful.
August 17, 2026
Wonderful writing, she did a great job. I really enjoyed the read. Hopefully she writes more fiction, i would definitely read more from her.
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