Record Lows

by CJ Green

An “intimate and epic” (Claire Lombardo, Same As It Ever Was) family drama wrapped in a missing-persons case, set during the historic Buffalo blizzard of ’77

It’s 1977 and in the town of Oneira, New York, a blizzard is gathering force…

Harmon Pond, editor-in-chief of the local newspaper, is struggling to keep afloat amid mounting debt and vanishing ad revenue. So when the creditor who’s been secretly funding him vanishes without a trace, Harmon thinks it’s his lucky break. Meanwhile, his eldest daughter, Teresa—the paper’s ambitious intern—sees a story that could make her name.

But for Harmon’s devout Italian American wife, Pauline, the disappearance stirs up memories of a childhood she has tried hard to put behind her, and secrets she would prefer to keep buried.

With the parents tangled in their own concerns and Teresa relentlessly searching for answers, no one notices that middle-child Fran has developed a habit of sneaking out at night, and Lonnie, the youngest, is taking dangerous risks of his own.

As the manhunt intensifies, and the snowstorm builds into one of the worst in history, the Pond family must find a way to accept the truth, and each other, before they lose themselves forever.

In a dazzling debut that Rumaan Alam calls "gripping (and funny) and beautifully written,” Record Lows announces CJ Green as a thrilling new American voice.

Genres: Fiction

368 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication February 18, 2027

About the author

CJ Green is a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop who lives with his family in Virginia. Record Lows is his first novel.

Reviews

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last 1/3 of this book was a stunner of a novel. The hinges blew off and it went full throttle in a way that I really enjoyed. The Pond family was full realized and I loved how each one of them felt unique in their own right. However, I do feel as though many readers are going to give up on this book as it is PAINFULLY slow until about the halfway mark. I found myself wondering why we were spending so much time with stories about each family member that didn’t seem to propel the story forward. It definitely sags a bit in the first half. For those who want to stick with it, the payoff of the ending is worth it, and the writing and plot settings are impeccable. I enjoyed this one, just wish it hooked me sooner.

[Miranda]

thank you grand central for the arc!! can't wait to get to this one <3

[Books Before Bs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping, atmospheric and darkly funny, ‘Record Lows’ by CJ Green is a slow-burn literary thriller about the perfect storm of one family’s secrets, set against the backdrop of the 1977 Buffalo blizzard. In terms of atmosphere and its portrayal of a dysfunctional family, it is reminiscent of Daniel Mason’s ‘Country People’ and Madeline Cash’s ‘Lost Lambs’, and it will appeal to readers who appreciate dark humour and deep character work.

One of the novel’s standout features is its setting. Green vividly captures the mood of a small upstate New York town as it braces for the historic blizzard, creating an atmosphere that is rich and immersive. It makes an ideal read for cold, dark, winter days—though perhaps not the best choice during the midsummer heatwave in which I happened to read it!

In line with the approaching storm, the narrative builds gradually, with steadily rising tension that culminates in a sudden, violent release. The pacing leading up to the climax is expertly handled, and the novel's greatest strength lies in its characters. They are deeply flawed, believable and compelling, with their histories and relationships unfolding naturally over the course of the story. Readers who enjoy literary fiction that prioritises character development and atmosphere over relentless action will find plenty to appreciate; however, those expecting a fast-paced, action-driven thriller may find the slower pace frustrating.

The pacing of the denouement is less successful. After such a strong climax, the story loses its momentum, and the final ten per cent feels more drawn out than necessary. Furthermore, the ending itself could have been clearer and more definitive. While I don’t mind a degree of ambiguity in literary fiction, the ending here didn’t quite land for me, feeling less like a deliberately open question and more as though the story stopped short of fully committing to a resolution. There are a couple of minor but jarring plot inconsistencies, too.

Even so, ‘Record Lows’ is an impressive debut that successfully blends literary fiction with psychological suspense. Despite some pacing issues in its final act, it's a rewarding read for anyone who enjoys atmospheric, character-driven novels, and CJ Green is undoubtedly an author to watch.

Many thanks to NetGalley, CJ Green, and Picador for the ARC.

⚠️ Miscarriage, blood, murder, injury detail, violence, references to domestic violence and rape

[Amy Appleby · Rating 4 out of 5]

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Harmon and Paulina Pond, who became parents and were married at 16 barely knowing one another, are now 36 and have three children; Teresa, Fran and Lonnie.

Set in 1977, during a severe blizzard in upstate New York, Record Lows is a deeply moving portrayal of how one family slowly unravels as the past catches up with them.

This is a simple family tale of how one incident can spiral out of control and end up with the most unimaginable outcome possible. The novel switches between the present day and the teenage years of Harmon and Paulina, slowly setting the scene of how the characters lives are intertwined. The characters make frustrating choices, say the wrong things and hurt each other deeply; however, their moments of genuine connection feel incredibly earned and heartbreakingly real.

The pacing in the middle of the book sags just a little for me making this not quite a five-star review – I would place it at 3.5 to 4 stars. The slow burn pacing of the plot works very well to establish the mood but few chapters felt like they were stagnant rather than moving the emotional arc forwards.

Overall, Record Lows is a poignant look at resilience, grief and the messy reality of every day family life. I recommend this to anyone who appreciates character driven stories and fans of gritty emotional dramas.

[Gabby Hurley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

Thank you NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and the author CJ Green for gifting me with this ARC to review!

Liked:

-bad decisions and secret keeping makes for one dysfunctional family.
Harmon is the editor/owner of a failing newspaper and took a loan from a man that has mob ties (with no way to pay it back).
Pauline has secrets from her past that she’s had to carrying with her for her entire life and could rip her life apart if she told her family.
Lonnie is secret organizing bets for the local football fight club.
Fran is a social pariah now after a teacher reads her “fictional” short story out to the entire class.
Teresa is secretly sleeping with her father’s childhood neighbor/friend who also happens to be a cop.

-horrible snow storm that wrecks havoc on the town. The blizzard really set the story up for a nice conclusion in my opinion. Everything reached a boiling point (freezing point?) when the storm finally hit and provided a convenient way for some characters to achieve the things they wanted.

Disliked:

-pacing was a bit slow to start. It took me a bit to actually start getting into the book. But once it started picking up I was invested and eager to see how everything was going to work out for the Pond family.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this thinking the missing person case would be the main focus, but it ended up being much more about the Pond family and all the secrets they've been keeping from each other.

Every member of this family seems to have something going on, and I actually enjoyed watching all of those storylines slowly come together. The historic Buffalo blizzard was also a great backdrop. It added so much atmosphere and made everything feel even more tense as the story built toward the ending.

The biggest downside for me was the pacing. This is definitely a slow burn, and it took me a while to get invested. I found myself waiting for something to really pull me in, and that didn't happen until about halfway through. Once it did, though, I wanted to keep reading to see how everything would play out.

I wouldn't pick this up expecting a fast-paced mystery or thriller. It's much more of a family drama with a mystery woven into it. If you enjoy character-driven stories and don't mind a slower build, I think you'll appreciate this one more than readers looking for constant action.

Overall, I'm glad I stuck with it. The ending delivered, the family dynamics kept me interested, and I'm looking forward to seeing what CJ Green writes next.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free advance review copy of Record Lows by C.J. Green, and this is my honest review.

Set in 1977 in Oneira, New York, during the infamous blizzard, this is a character-driven family drama centred around the Pond family. In my opinion, the blizzard itself becomes a character in its own right, creating a constant sense of tension and uncertainty throughout the novel.

This is very much a slow-burn story, which I really enjoyed. The gradual pace allows each of the characters to develop naturally, giving us time to understand their motivations, relationships, and personal struggles. The slow burn pays off as the story gradually intensifies, building layer upon layer of tension. As long held secrets emerge, the characters slowly begin to unravel, making it increasingly difficult to put the book down.
The novel is told across two timelines and explores themes including violence, resilience, financial hardship, secrecy, corruption, ambition, marriage, and family relationships.

C.J. Green's writing is beautifully atmospheric, bringing both the harsh winter landscape and the emotional lives of the characters vividly to life. If you enjoy immersive, character-driven novels with a creeping sense of suspense, I'd definitely recommend Record Lows.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley.

You never really know what you’re going to get when you request an ARC from a debut author. Without a long list of comps or reader buzz, it can feel like a bit of a gamble. This one paid off completely. From the first page to the last, I was hooked.

Record Lows follows the Pond family. Harmon and Pauline, married at just sixteen, building a modest life in upstate New York. They’re an ordinary, lower middle-class family until a local man’s disappearance pulls them into something much bigger than themselves.

Set against the backdrop of the historic Buffalo blizzard of 1977, this is a story that seamlessly blends family drama with a slow-burning thriller. Each member of the Pond family is dealing with their own secrets, ambitions, and unravelings, and I loved how the tension builds both within the family and in the outside world.

It’s immersive, atmospheric, and incredibly readable. I absolutely devoured it. CJ Green delivers a wonderful debut, and I’ll definitely be watching for what he does next.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

[3.5-4] This will be a surefire hit next year—lit fic meets mystery meets family drama. Gorgeously well-sketched characters, even if I found Lonnie somewhat more inscrutable than I think the author intends him to be. More of a literary, setting-as-character approach would have been welcome; it’s a rich historical moment and region that is sometimes hurried through in initial scene and chapter description for the sake of character and plot development. Can hardly fault Green, since that’s the curse of knowing you have somewhere exciting to be—in this case, a propulsive back-half thriller. When Green does animate his setting throughout the novel, be it with the house as a stand-in for Pauline’s tightly-guarded emotions, or more foregrounded, with the raging blizzard as the backdrop for the book’s galloping final act, it lends itself to the novel’s best character work.

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This literary fiction book reads like a complex crime drama and I couldn’t put it down. The characters resonated with me in their own ways and I was very invested in them. The overall plot was genius. The book was fast paced but not overwhelmingly so and as more information comes out as the story goes on, I was so intrigued. With themes of secrets, corruption, moral dilemmas, and marital strife this book was beautifully done. I will definitely be reading this book again and again! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lydia Wagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of Record Lows. This one juggles a lot, a missing person, a family falling apart, and a historic blizzard, and for the most part it pulls it off. The writing is sharp and the setting is vivid, but with so many characters and threads going at once, it lost a bit of momentum for me in the middle. Still, a solid and promising debut.

[ror]

I don’t think this book was for me. normally I love a good mystery, but this one had a very slow start with a lot of information that seemed to be building to something, but honestly just bored me. I dnf’d at 17%, probably could’ve forced myself to continue reading but I don’t think I would’ve enjoyed it.

thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the arc!

[JoAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Debut author CJ Green has delivered the story of a complicated family situation set against one of Buffalo's famous snowstorms. For me, book was a slow start, dragged a bit, but was worth sticking with as, like the storm, it packed a wallop.

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

[Fiona Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This is a book of two very different halves. Set in the midst of a deadly storm, a mysterious disappearance, the threat of the mob, and a small town carrying its secrets leads one family to a very dark place.

[Natalie]

rtc when it's not my bedtime

[Jenn]

I picked this up expecting a mystery and ended up getting completely invested in the Pond family instead.

Set against the backdrop of the historic Buffalo Blizzard of 1977, Record Lows combines a missing-person case with a family drama full of secrets, regrets, and people trying their best while occasionally making spectacularly bad decisions.

What stood out most to me was how real the family felt. Everyone is carrying something, everyone is hiding something, and nobody is communicating nearly as well as they should. In other words, a family.

The approaching storm created such a strong sense of tension throughout the story, and I found myself just as interested in the relationships between the characters as I was in discovering what happened to the missing man.

Thoughtful, atmospheric, and surprisingly funny in places, this was an impressive debut from C.J. Green.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The prose in Record Lows keeps its hands clean around material that seems to want mess. Early on, that bothered me. The book circles frustration, shame, violence, want, and family damage, but the sentences often stay cool to the touch. I kept waiting for the language to get crowded by feeling but it didn't.
By the back half, I was reading that differently and it started to feel more like a way of showing how each character has learned to speak around themselves. I became more interested in the small differences between Teresa, Lonnie, Fran, Pauline, and Harmon: who explains too much? who withholds? who mistakes silence for control?
The book is arranged in sections rather than chapters and it doesn’t escalate so much as it accumulates. By circling the family through different perspectives, Green turns those differences in voice into the story's real movement. The novel contains plenty of dramatic events, but its revelations are less about shock than seeing a character or family history from a different angle. New information rarely turns the story. It adjusts how you read the Ponds.
It took me a minute to find my footing with the prose and pace, but once I settled into what Green was doing, I found a lot to admire.

[Estrella Alonso · Rating 5 out of 5]

I DEVOURED THIS!!!!!! can’t wait for everyone to read it