The Shared Life of Egan and Lucian: A Novel

by Rose Smith

An epic, sweeping, and engrossing debut novel about a family and its many loves and losses over the course of their lives

Love conquers all. But which kind of love? The love of a passionate partner. The love of one sibling toward another? The love of a parent for their child, or the love of an artist toward their art? And what about the love one feels toward home, a landscape they always wish to return to? Rose Smith’s debut novel feels like an instant classic in its examination of the many kinds of love of the McCauley family, who live on Shep’s Island, off the coast of Maine. Sheila and Ian have raised their twin boys here; Egan wants to be a professional athlete, Lucian an art student, following in his complicated and distant mother’s footsteps. On a trip abroad, Lucian meets Lea who follows him back to the idyll of Shep’s Island. The complicated family dynamic sends Lea back to the mainland but with a new Egan, as their connection 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 Egan, fate will continue to bring these three into each other’s orbit, all circling around the family unit.  The island, with its shifting shoreline and harsh beauty, mirrors the inner lives of her characters.The unexpected and tragic death of one of the twins will bring the remaining family members back to Maine as the family tries to move past the sins and revelations of the previous decades. Ultimately it is the heart of the family unit that perseveres – a magic and a bond that supersedes all that has come before.

Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Contemporary

320 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication November 3, 2026

Reviews

[Rick B]

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 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Danielle]

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.

[Barbara]

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.

[Amrit Khalsa]

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.