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The Shared Life of Egan and Lucian
An epic and engrossing debut novel about identical twin brothers, the woman they both love, and the secrets at the heart of the beautiful, rugged Maine island they call home
The McCauleys have raised their twin sons on Shep’s Island, just off the coast of Egan wants to be a professional athlete, Lucian a painter, following in the footsteps of their complicated and distant mother. Growing up in the wake of a childhood accident that marked both boys—one physically, one emotionally—they are inseparable until Lucian quietly begins to wonder who he might be with no mirror image walking beside him.
On a trip abroad, Lucian meets Lea, who follows him home to idyllic Shep’s Island. When a shocking family secret comes to light, Lea flees back to the mainland—not with Lucian but with his twin, Egan, whose connection with Lea is immediate and undeniable.
The years will pass with Lea caught between the two brothers. Even when she decides to begin a life on Shep’s Island with one of them, fate will continue to bring these three into one another’s orbit. The island, with its shifting shoreline and harsh beauty, echoes the changing colors of their familial and romantic love. Rose Smith’s debut novel feels like an instant classic as it traces the McCauleys across the seasons and the decades, mapping the slow erosion and quiet resilience of people who have loved each other imperfectly and at great cost.
The McCauleys have raised their twin sons on Shep’s Island, just off the coast of Egan wants to be a professional athlete, Lucian a painter, following in the footsteps of their complicated and distant mother. Growing up in the wake of a childhood accident that marked both boys—one physically, one emotionally—they are inseparable until Lucian quietly begins to wonder who he might be with no mirror image walking beside him.
On a trip abroad, Lucian meets Lea, who follows him home to idyllic Shep’s Island. When a shocking family secret comes to light, Lea flees back to the mainland—not with Lucian but with his twin, Egan, whose connection with Lea is immediate and undeniable.
The years will pass with Lea caught between the two brothers. Even when she decides to begin a life on Shep’s Island with one of them, fate will continue to bring these three into one another’s orbit. The island, with its shifting shoreline and harsh beauty, echoes the changing colors of their familial and romantic love. Rose Smith’s debut novel feels like an instant classic as it traces the McCauleys across the seasons and the decades, mapping the slow erosion and quiet resilience of people who have loved each other imperfectly and at great cost.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 3, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
📚 The Shared Life of Egan and Lucian by Rose Smith
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Story | ⭐⭐ Narration
Thank you to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for the advance audiobook copy of The Shared Life of Egan and Lucian by Rose Smith, narrated by George Newbern. The expected publication date is November 3, 2026.
Born and raised on a tiny island off the coast of Maine, identical twins Lucian and Egan share the same face but possess strikingly different personalities and ambitions. In this sweeping, multigenerational family saga, Rose Smith explores the complicated bond between two brothers struggling to establish their individual identities while remaining inextricably connected to one another.
Lucian is a gifted artist, much like his emotionally distant and self-absorbed mother, who harbors secrets of her own. He has inherited not only her artistic talent but also her mercurial temperament. Brooding, volatile, and emotionally guarded, Lucian stands in sharp contrast to his more affable and grounded brother, Egan.
A childhood accident that leaves Lucian deaf in one ear becomes a defining moment in their relationship. Lucian holds Egan responsible for his hearing loss, nurturing a resentment that further complicates their already fragile bond. Eventually, their ambitions take them in different directions. Lucian leaves Maine to study painting in Buenos Aires, where he meets Lea, a ceramicist, while Egan remains closer to home, pursuing his dream of becoming a professional baseball player.
Despite their rivalry and emotional distance, the brothers share a profound, if imperfect, love for one another. Their relationship becomes even more complicated when Lea follows Lucian to Shep's Island, only to discover that the man she loves is harboring secrets she finds increasingly difficult to accept. As she develops a connection with Egan, the delicate balance between the brothers begins to unravel.
Spanning decades, Smith's quietly mesmerizing novel examines identity, sibling rivalry, betrayal, forgiveness, and the enduring complexities of familial love. What I particularly appreciated was her exploration of how two people who share so much, from their appearance to their upbringing, can experience the same events so differently. The brothers' emotional entanglement is both their greatest source of comfort and their most persistent burden.
The writing deserves four stars. Unfortunately, the narration did not measure up to the quality of the prose.
George Newbern is an accomplished narrator, but I found his performance disappointing. Most distracting was his inconsistent Maine accent, which repeatedly pulled me out of the story. More importantly, I never felt that his interpretation added the emotional depth or nuance that Smith's understated prose deserved.
It pains me to say this, particularly because I appreciate the artistry involved in audiobook narration, but I believe a different narrator might have better captured the quiet intensity of this novel. Sometimes the finest narration is the kind that allows beautifully restrained writing to speak for itself.
My verdict: Four stars for Rose Smith's compelling novel, but only two stars for the audiobook narration. This is a beautifully observed story that I would recommend reading in print rather than listening to in audio.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Story | ⭐⭐ Narration
Thank you to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for the advance audiobook copy of The Shared Life of Egan and Lucian by Rose Smith, narrated by George Newbern. The expected publication date is November 3, 2026.
Born and raised on a tiny island off the coast of Maine, identical twins Lucian and Egan share the same face but possess strikingly different personalities and ambitions. In this sweeping, multigenerational family saga, Rose Smith explores the complicated bond between two brothers struggling to establish their individual identities while remaining inextricably connected to one another.
Lucian is a gifted artist, much like his emotionally distant and self-absorbed mother, who harbors secrets of her own. He has inherited not only her artistic talent but also her mercurial temperament. Brooding, volatile, and emotionally guarded, Lucian stands in sharp contrast to his more affable and grounded brother, Egan.
A childhood accident that leaves Lucian deaf in one ear becomes a defining moment in their relationship. Lucian holds Egan responsible for his hearing loss, nurturing a resentment that further complicates their already fragile bond. Eventually, their ambitions take them in different directions. Lucian leaves Maine to study painting in Buenos Aires, where he meets Lea, a ceramicist, while Egan remains closer to home, pursuing his dream of becoming a professional baseball player.
Despite their rivalry and emotional distance, the brothers share a profound, if imperfect, love for one another. Their relationship becomes even more complicated when Lea follows Lucian to Shep's Island, only to discover that the man she loves is harboring secrets she finds increasingly difficult to accept. As she develops a connection with Egan, the delicate balance between the brothers begins to unravel.
Spanning decades, Smith's quietly mesmerizing novel examines identity, sibling rivalry, betrayal, forgiveness, and the enduring complexities of familial love. What I particularly appreciated was her exploration of how two people who share so much, from their appearance to their upbringing, can experience the same events so differently. The brothers' emotional entanglement is both their greatest source of comfort and their most persistent burden.
The writing deserves four stars. Unfortunately, the narration did not measure up to the quality of the prose.
George Newbern is an accomplished narrator, but I found his performance disappointing. Most distracting was his inconsistent Maine accent, which repeatedly pulled me out of the story. More importantly, I never felt that his interpretation added the emotional depth or nuance that Smith's understated prose deserved.
It pains me to say this, particularly because I appreciate the artistry involved in audiobook narration, but I believe a different narrator might have better captured the quiet intensity of this novel. Sometimes the finest narration is the kind that allows beautifully restrained writing to speak for itself.
My verdict: Four stars for Rose Smith's compelling novel, but only two stars for the audiobook narration. This is a beautifully observed story that I would recommend reading in print rather than listening to in audio.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wow! Talk about an emotional tsunami...
Egan and Lucian are twin brothers. They have been together since the beginning of time, but don't get me wrong... They also want to kill each other often... as brothers do.
A horrible accident changes their young lives one day. One comes out scarred, the other carries his scars inside of him. But they never forget what happened that day.
We follow their lives from the time they are little through their adult years... Through puppy loves and grown up stuff too. There are parts of it that I want to reach through and SMACK Lucian in the head and say 'what are you thinking???'... but, it is what it is.
Egan wants to be a professional baseball player. Lucian wants to be a painter, like his mother... who has both good and bad things going on throughout the book.
When Lucian goes away to college he meets a girl, Lea, who he instantly adores. But, he seems to do this often with no regard really for the woman.
But she agrees to come back to small town Maine with him and meet the family. When she does, she is presented with quite the surprise... and runs quickly for the hills. Funny thing though, Egan follows her... and instantly falls for her as well!
This story is filled with love, and grief and happiness and sadness... and it all seems to be rolled into one big ball.
It honestly took a lot out of me, but wow! What a terrific story!
And even more WOW!!! THIS IS A DEBUT NOVEL for this author!!!
#TheSharedLifeOfEganAndLucian by @RoseSmith and narrated nicely by @GeorgeNewbern.
4.5 beautiful, brilliant, sad, sweet, heartbreaking stars for me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
This one has NOT been released yet, but look 👀 for it on shelves tomorrow... 11/3/26!
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and @HighBridgeAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!
And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️📖🩷
Egan and Lucian are twin brothers. They have been together since the beginning of time, but don't get me wrong... They also want to kill each other often... as brothers do.
A horrible accident changes their young lives one day. One comes out scarred, the other carries his scars inside of him. But they never forget what happened that day.
We follow their lives from the time they are little through their adult years... Through puppy loves and grown up stuff too. There are parts of it that I want to reach through and SMACK Lucian in the head and say 'what are you thinking???'... but, it is what it is.
Egan wants to be a professional baseball player. Lucian wants to be a painter, like his mother... who has both good and bad things going on throughout the book.
When Lucian goes away to college he meets a girl, Lea, who he instantly adores. But, he seems to do this often with no regard really for the woman.
But she agrees to come back to small town Maine with him and meet the family. When she does, she is presented with quite the surprise... and runs quickly for the hills. Funny thing though, Egan follows her... and instantly falls for her as well!
This story is filled with love, and grief and happiness and sadness... and it all seems to be rolled into one big ball.
It honestly took a lot out of me, but wow! What a terrific story!
And even more WOW!!! THIS IS A DEBUT NOVEL for this author!!!
#TheSharedLifeOfEganAndLucian by @RoseSmith and narrated nicely by @GeorgeNewbern.
4.5 beautiful, brilliant, sad, sweet, heartbreaking stars for me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
This one has NOT been released yet, but look 👀 for it on shelves tomorrow... 11/3/26!
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and @HighBridgeAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!
And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️📖🩷
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for review.
This is a slow burn of a character study. Egan and Lucian are twin brothers growing up on an isolated New England island. They both eventually fall for the same woman, causing strife. This book follows their lives from childhood through adulthood, and includes drama with their parents. I really enjoyed the writing on this one, even though it's ultimately pretty sad and very emotional.
This is a slow burn of a character study. Egan and Lucian are twin brothers growing up on an isolated New England island. They both eventually fall for the same woman, causing strife. This book follows their lives from childhood through adulthood, and includes drama with their parents. I really enjoyed the writing on this one, even though it's ultimately pretty sad and very emotional.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book has tidal forces. Relationships and waves, both come and go. The ocean is everywhere in this novel. It’s extraordinary. It pulls, it pushes, and it pulls you in. If you’re looking for deep connection to characters, this book will be for you. I read it in three days. I didn’t want to stop swimming in it. Though, like Egan, I prefer to be on the water rather than in it. I won’t say anything else about the characters. I think it’s best experienced, just you and it. I will say that this novel will sit with me, I think, for a long time.
September 4, 2026
What an incredibly moving, and beautiful story. Of course it doesn’t come without tears. This story between identical twins, Egan the athlete, and Lucian, the artist, was so loving, you can actually feel their closeness just by reading their words. One of the most touching lines in this novel , without giving any spoilers, is when speaking on the phone to Egan, Lucian says “I’m sorry Egan, she didn’t want me to tell you” while Lucian makes a fist and holds it close to his chest which is the “sign language” they shared as boys and his way of saying “I’m sorry”. That broke me. Their relationship from boys, to teens, to fathers themselves was so endearing the reader can’t help but love both of them. Thank you to Hawthorne Books for the ARC. This book publishes Nov 2026 and I can not recommend it enough. What a stunning piece of work for a debut author, Rose Smith. I absolutely loved it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 30, 2026
“Seasons were brutal, seasons were mild. The edges of the island shrank back from the weather, and then expanded like a breath.”
That’s some metaphor! The description of this debut’s plot caught my attention as a sister of identical twins, and once I started, I could not put it down until the final page.
Shep’s Island, a fictional setting connected by ferry to Portland, Maine, is home to a young family: parents Ian and Sheila and identical twin sons Egan and Lucian. The boys are remarkably similar in looks but different in almost every other way. As they develop and nurture their passions, art and baseball respectively, they find themselves leaving and returning to the rugged coastline of Maine. On an adventure to Buenos Aires, Argentina, Lucian meets Lea, an artist from New Mexico, and when she eventually visits his Maine home, secrets are revealed and the past catches up with almost every character.
This becomes a not-your-average love triangle as other forms of love interject themselves into the complex family web. The ebb and flow of the tides themselves echo the journey of an extended family and how they will or won’t navigate human nature: its strengths and weaknesses.
The honesty and deep earnestness of Lucian and Egan’s relationship is something I have witnessed firsthand, and how Ms. Smith depicts it is both subtle and breathtaking. This story of hellos, goodbyes, heartbreak, and forgiveness is worthy of its stellar Goodreads ratings and Indie Next distinction… bravo!
That’s some metaphor! The description of this debut’s plot caught my attention as a sister of identical twins, and once I started, I could not put it down until the final page.
Shep’s Island, a fictional setting connected by ferry to Portland, Maine, is home to a young family: parents Ian and Sheila and identical twin sons Egan and Lucian. The boys are remarkably similar in looks but different in almost every other way. As they develop and nurture their passions, art and baseball respectively, they find themselves leaving and returning to the rugged coastline of Maine. On an adventure to Buenos Aires, Argentina, Lucian meets Lea, an artist from New Mexico, and when she eventually visits his Maine home, secrets are revealed and the past catches up with almost every character.
This becomes a not-your-average love triangle as other forms of love interject themselves into the complex family web. The ebb and flow of the tides themselves echo the journey of an extended family and how they will or won’t navigate human nature: its strengths and weaknesses.
The honesty and deep earnestness of Lucian and Egan’s relationship is something I have witnessed firsthand, and how Ms. Smith depicts it is both subtle and breathtaking. This story of hellos, goodbyes, heartbreak, and forgiveness is worthy of its stellar Goodreads ratings and Indie Next distinction… bravo!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this one! A bittersweet story about twin brothers growing up on a small island off the coast of Maine, whose already complicated relationship gets even messier when they fall for the same woman. I loved the setting and how the story explored family secrets, sibling rivalry, love, and the choices that shape our lives. The characters were flawed and sometimes frustrating, but that made them feel real. The family drama, messy relationships, and emotional twists made it worth the read.
November 6, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this review copy!
Twins Egan and Lucian share an appearance but couldn't be more different. Despite that they love and depend on one another fiercely. Their hearts are tied to their small Maine island home even when their feet take them elsewhere. These bonds are cemented by a childhood accident. That same event creates a different sort of chasm between them. Lucien's hearing is desegregated. But, Egan is the one who bares the heavier emotional burden forever after.
This slow paced novel is a profile of the boys' life from childhood through adulthood home and abroad. Of their complicated relationships with their parents, each other, their isolated community, and a spirited young woman who will change everything. It examines how love can empower, restrict or constrain. How sometimes these things feel a lot like the opposite. How actions do not always portray intent or true feelings.
Some of the language captured the rich nature and atmosphere that I know as a Mainer. Ironically, frequently by the characters who weren't the artists and more natural subjects to observe these details. A few of the characters were utterly endearing. Egan and his father are just a warm hug in character form. It captures how imperfect people are. How messy. How there are those who seem to have fortune favor them despite of them not seeming 'the more worthy'.
If you crave introspection on family and self this book might tickle all your buttons. I really enjoyed the environmental descriptions and the way things like color, light, and form are utilized. Unfortunately, while I recognize well done qualities and find promise in it being a debut, this title just didn't work for me. I've enjoyed many casual storylines without grandiose action. But I do need some source of tension, progression, suspense, or well placed turns.
Reading the summary of this book is a great example of why I almost always skim them now. It's too revealing. The broad strokes become predictable. The 'shocking secret' can barely be called such, as the reader and every character save Lea are aware. The book goes from being about the brothers and family to the love triangle...except not. I found it very difficult to grasp what exactly the point, direction, or focus of this was really supposed to be. Yes, it touches on all the aspects in the above summary but as scattered pieces.
The pacing likely contributed a lot to this unbalancing. A huge chunk of the book centers around their childhood with the later ten years or so rushing buy in about a fourth of the book. If that. It's never a great sign when you find yourself frequently checking a timestamp.
The ending is what sealed my dissatisfaction. If I squint I can see where others might find character development. At best I'd call it character furtherance. There were some with revelations but no resolve and only a last moment hint there might be any behavioral or mind shift at all. Yes, we're all works in progress until our last day. But that's the difference between a novel and life. You expect to at least see a path where the characters might go. See the seeds of change. Here it was one covered with roots and not yet taken.
I was so incredibly frustrated with how irritated certain characters made me. That they might have to face consequences but never really be the ones to pay the greater price or move towards any sort of transformation. If anything, they benefited from others' loss! I also am not incredibly pleased by how all artists were seen as being selfishly focused and self-centered. Cold. I know a great many who are anything but. And certainly not worse than any other career professionals.
I wanted to like this story. I love it, and did even in this, when book captures my area of the world in a way that speaks to me. That I can feel and smell my ocean and trees, the gravelly beaches on my feet. I even had a few laughs at the rural attitude being well placed. Having Maine and art being core components should have been my catnip. The rocky relationships of the brothers and parents were great psychological explorations. But I was just bored. I liked its elements. It just didn't engage me more often than not.
Twins Egan and Lucian share an appearance but couldn't be more different. Despite that they love and depend on one another fiercely. Their hearts are tied to their small Maine island home even when their feet take them elsewhere. These bonds are cemented by a childhood accident. That same event creates a different sort of chasm between them. Lucien's hearing is desegregated. But, Egan is the one who bares the heavier emotional burden forever after.
This slow paced novel is a profile of the boys' life from childhood through adulthood home and abroad. Of their complicated relationships with their parents, each other, their isolated community, and a spirited young woman who will change everything. It examines how love can empower, restrict or constrain. How sometimes these things feel a lot like the opposite. How actions do not always portray intent or true feelings.
Some of the language captured the rich nature and atmosphere that I know as a Mainer. Ironically, frequently by the characters who weren't the artists and more natural subjects to observe these details. A few of the characters were utterly endearing. Egan and his father are just a warm hug in character form. It captures how imperfect people are. How messy. How there are those who seem to have fortune favor them despite of them not seeming 'the more worthy'.
If you crave introspection on family and self this book might tickle all your buttons. I really enjoyed the environmental descriptions and the way things like color, light, and form are utilized. Unfortunately, while I recognize well done qualities and find promise in it being a debut, this title just didn't work for me. I've enjoyed many casual storylines without grandiose action. But I do need some source of tension, progression, suspense, or well placed turns.
Reading the summary of this book is a great example of why I almost always skim them now. It's too revealing. The broad strokes become predictable. The 'shocking secret' can barely be called such, as the reader and every character save Lea are aware. The book goes from being about the brothers and family to the love triangle...except not. I found it very difficult to grasp what exactly the point, direction, or focus of this was really supposed to be. Yes, it touches on all the aspects in the above summary but as scattered pieces.
The pacing likely contributed a lot to this unbalancing. A huge chunk of the book centers around their childhood with the later ten years or so rushing buy in about a fourth of the book. If that. It's never a great sign when you find yourself frequently checking a timestamp.
The ending is what sealed my dissatisfaction. If I squint I can see where others might find character development. At best I'd call it character furtherance. There were some with revelations but no resolve and only a last moment hint there might be any behavioral or mind shift at all. Yes, we're all works in progress until our last day. But that's the difference between a novel and life. You expect to at least see a path where the characters might go. See the seeds of change. Here it was one covered with roots and not yet taken.
I was so incredibly frustrated with how irritated certain characters made me. That they might have to face consequences but never really be the ones to pay the greater price or move towards any sort of transformation. If anything, they benefited from others' loss! I also am not incredibly pleased by how all artists were seen as being selfishly focused and self-centered. Cold. I know a great many who are anything but. And certainly not worse than any other career professionals.
I wanted to like this story. I love it, and did even in this, when book captures my area of the world in a way that speaks to me. That I can feel and smell my ocean and trees, the gravelly beaches on my feet. I even had a few laughs at the rural attitude being well placed. Having Maine and art being core components should have been my catnip. The rocky relationships of the brothers and parents were great psychological explorations. But I was just bored. I liked its elements. It just didn't engage me more often than not.
November 3, 2026
The Shared Life of Egan and Lucian is a beautifully layered family saga that explores the complexities of love, loyalty, identity, and the complicated relationships that shape our lives.
Set against the rugged backdrop of a small island off the coast of Maine, the story follows identical twin brothers Egan and Lucian, whose lives are deeply intertwined despite their very different personalities and ambitions. As the years unfold, family secrets, complicated relationships, and the consequences of difficult choices create a story that spans generations of love, loss, and everything in between.
What I appreciated most about this novel was the complexity of its characters and the intricate family dynamics. Rose Smith doesn’t give us perfectly likable people who always make the right decisions. Instead, she creates deeply flawed, emotionally complicated individuals whose relationships are often messy, frustrating, and painfully human. I love when an author isn’t afraid to explore the less flattering sides of human nature, and this story certainly delivers on that front.
I also appreciated the way the novel explores how family relationships evolve over time, how the past continues to influence the present, and how love and resentment can exist simultaneously. There is a lot of emotional depth here, and the story offers plenty to reflect on.
My one disappointment was the audiobook experience. While I can’t quite put my finger on exactly why, the narration didn’t fully work for me. I found myself wishing for more emotion and expression in the delivery, particularly given how emotionally complex the characters and their relationships are. At times, the narration felt a little too restrained, making it difficult for me to stay completely engaged with the story. I suspect I might have connected with this novel more deeply had I read the physical book instead.
Overall, this was a thoughtful, character-driven debut with wonderfully complicated family dynamics and an ambitious story spanning years of intertwined lives. Despite my reservations about the audio, I can absolutely appreciate the depth of the storytelling and Rose Smith’s ability to capture the beautiful, messy complexities of being human.
Thank you to Rose Smith, HighBridge Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this advanced audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Set against the rugged backdrop of a small island off the coast of Maine, the story follows identical twin brothers Egan and Lucian, whose lives are deeply intertwined despite their very different personalities and ambitions. As the years unfold, family secrets, complicated relationships, and the consequences of difficult choices create a story that spans generations of love, loss, and everything in between.
What I appreciated most about this novel was the complexity of its characters and the intricate family dynamics. Rose Smith doesn’t give us perfectly likable people who always make the right decisions. Instead, she creates deeply flawed, emotionally complicated individuals whose relationships are often messy, frustrating, and painfully human. I love when an author isn’t afraid to explore the less flattering sides of human nature, and this story certainly delivers on that front.
I also appreciated the way the novel explores how family relationships evolve over time, how the past continues to influence the present, and how love and resentment can exist simultaneously. There is a lot of emotional depth here, and the story offers plenty to reflect on.
My one disappointment was the audiobook experience. While I can’t quite put my finger on exactly why, the narration didn’t fully work for me. I found myself wishing for more emotion and expression in the delivery, particularly given how emotionally complex the characters and their relationships are. At times, the narration felt a little too restrained, making it difficult for me to stay completely engaged with the story. I suspect I might have connected with this novel more deeply had I read the physical book instead.
Overall, this was a thoughtful, character-driven debut with wonderfully complicated family dynamics and an ambitious story spanning years of intertwined lives. Despite my reservations about the audio, I can absolutely appreciate the depth of the storytelling and Rose Smith’s ability to capture the beautiful, messy complexities of being human.
Thank you to Rose Smith, HighBridge Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this advanced audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The decades long story of twin brothers Egan and Lucien and the woman who winds up caught between them. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this book set on an island off the coast of Maine. Overall I enjoyed the characters and plot though despite how long we spend with them, I felt like I didn't get a good sense of many of their interior motivations, especially with Lucien. It felt like more plot than character development.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to the publisher for this advanced copy. A debut novel that captures your heart. Identical twin brothers, Egan and Lucian, are so very much alike and so different. This book explores their closeness, their distance, their love of the same woman, and each of their relationships with their parents and friends. I became immersed in this story told over many decades from childhood into adulthood.
Review of advance copy
This book should be judged by its beautiful cover. All the turns of trying to make a life for one’s self are charted for every character and I loved each and every one of them. It was a tremendous read and I’m looking forward to a second read.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Ignored my chores and read this in a day. Was immediately sucked into the story of these twins and their family. A beautiful book that reminds me of the classics .
November 5, 2026
This was a tearjerker! Great writing but the entire time I just felt sad about the brother’s relationship and just did not like the FMC.
Thank you to NetGalley and RBMedia for the ALC
Thank you to NetGalley and RBMedia for the ALC
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews