I could not get into this. The characters were unlikeable and the story building was slow. Did not finish.

Jean Hanff Korelitz's "The Latecomer" is a captivating novel that delves deep into the complexities of family dynamics. The story centers on the Oppenheimer family, a wealthy New York clan with a complicated history. We follow them from the initial meeting of the parents, Salo and Johanna, through the birth of their triplets via IVF, and all the way to the unexpected arrival of a much younger fourth child.

The narrative unfolds slowly, offering a rich tapestry of the characters' lives, their dreams, disappointments, and the secrets they harbor. Each sibling in the trio of triplets yearns for independence and struggles to connect with their parents and each other. Johanna, the mother, grapples with loneliness and a yearning for a more fulfilling existence.

The arrival of the "latecomer" throws the already strained family dynamic into further disarray. Korelitz masterfully explores the impact this unexpected addition has on each member, forcing them to confront their own desires and the dysfunctional patterns within the family.

"The Latecomer" tackles a range of significant themes, including grief, guilt, generational trauma, privilege, and the complexities of parent-child relationships. While some might find the pacing a bit slow at times, the character development is superb, and the story rewards patient readers with a deeply affecting exploration of human nature.

Overall, this is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant novel that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. Recommend to fans of intricate family dramas and those who appreciate nuanced character portrayals.

I think I might have enjoyed this book more if I listened to it via audiobook on long commutes. Don't get me wrong, the premise of the book was great, a wealthy family in NYC and drama that comes with it, and of one character pursuing IVF. I have a personal affiliation with IVF, so this certainly spoke to me. However, the rest of the book seemed very slow-paced and I started to lose interest. I'm still interested in reading what JHK has to offer as I am hearing very good things about, The Plot she has also written.

A very realistic look at complicated family life. Marriage. Siblings. And life. Fascinating - draws you in like a bad wreck, you just have to finish it.
Triplets raised in a dysfunctional family cannot wait for the freedom of life after high school. Desperate to break away from their parents and each other.
Facing an empty nest, Johanna decides to have another baby.
This was a tough one for me - the repetition, the unnecessary length.

The premise of The Latecomer is so fascinating to me, and I so wanted to love this book, but the pace is so slow that after 149 pages (34%), I have to DNF. I'm trying to force myself to read and care about these characters who just aren't very interesting to me and aren't good people. They aren't even bad in interesting ways - they're just bland and insufferable. I wish the execution of the book had lived up to the premise because I really thought this would be one I enjoyed.

Very slow build. Told from different characters POVs. It was an interesting read I just struggled getting through the buildup. All in all though it was well written and a great story.

Give me a multi-layered dysfunctional family drama any day and I will gobble it up. Chock full of unlikeable characters I don’t know why I was compelled to keep reading but I devoured this in a day and loved the themes of identity, class, sexuality and race. Although it was a slow burn I felt the pacing was perfect to help understand the complexity of the characters and I felt overall satisfied with how their stories concluded. It

The Latecomer is about the Oppenheimer family that includes three triplets Sally, Harrison, and Lewyn. When the triplets are finally ready to leave the nest and eager to escape from each other, their mother decides to have another child.
This was a really captivating book that kept me hooked from the first page. It really focuses on the relationships between the family members and how a new child changes the dynamic for everyone. It had some really interesting twists that made it quite difficult to put down.

I've never read a novel by this author before so I have to say I was impressed by this book . I'd like to thank both the author and netgalley for the opportunity .

This is a profound and witty family story. Thanks for the review copy. I learned a lot about privilege, race, religion, traditions, and family dynamic.

THE LATECOMER is another example of how Korelitz can develop a complex, but completely all-encompassing novel. The people in this book showcase a family saga that will live within your mind for long after you have finished.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a definite character novel, not a lot happens, it is not plot driven in any way. There are things that happen but if you're waiting for a large climax that's not how it plays out. It is a great exploration between siblings and at the beginning even a marriage. Highly recommend.

"The Latecomer" by Jean Hanff Korelitz ventures into the intricate tapestry of the Oppenheimer family, exploring their journey from a tragic beginning to a fractured present. The novel unfolds gradually, revealing the complexities of grief, guilt, privilege, and family dynamics. While some may appreciate the profound exploration of these themes, my experience with the book left me wanting more.

One of the primary challenges I encountered with "The Latecomer" was its slow pacing. The narrative builds deliberately, perhaps too much so for my taste. The gradual unfolding of events made it difficult for me to stay engaged, and at times, I found myself yearning for a more dynamic and brisk plot progression. The pacing, unfortunately, hindered my ability to fully immerse myself in the story, leading to a disconnect between the characters and their experiences.

The novel's language, while undoubtedly crafted with care, posed another stumbling block for me. The wording felt convoluted at times, making it challenging to follow the narrative effortlessly. While I appreciate the linguistic richness, there were instances where the prose seemed unnecessarily intricate, obscuring the clarity of the storytelling. This linguistic complexity contributed to the overall sense of detachment I experienced as a reader.

Despite these reservations, Korelitz does succeed in weaving together a tapestry of themes encompassing generational trauma, race, traditions, and religion. Exploring these topics is undoubtedly thought-provoking, and the novel's depth reflects the author's skill in character studies. The Oppenheimer family, with its flawed members and intricate relationships, serves as a canvas for examining the intricacies of human experience.

In conclusion, "The Latecomer" is a novel that demands patience and a willingness to delve into its intricacies. While some readers may appreciate the deliberate pacing and linguistic complexity, others, like myself, might find these aspects challenging. Despite its depth of exploring various themes, the book falls short of delivering a compelling and engaging reading experience. I would give "The Latecomer" a 2 out of 5 stars rating, as it left me yearning for a more accessible and briskly-paced narrative.

"The Latecomer" unfolds the narrative of the affluent Oppenheimer family based in New York City, tracing their journey from the poignant initial meeting of parents Salo and Johanna to the birth of their triplets through IVF. The siblings, Harrison, Lewyn, and Sally, lack a strong familial connection and eagerly anticipate pursuing their individual paths. However, as their father grows more distant and their mother increasingly desperate, the family fractures. Upon the triplets' departure for college, Johanna, grappling with solitude, decides to have a fourth child. How will this "latecomer" reshape the dynamics of this fractured family? The novel spans the Oppenheimer triplets' lives from their parents' 1960s marriage to 2017.

Each chapter unfolds through the perspective of a different family member: Johanna, Harrison, Sally, Lewyn, and Salo. Despite their lack of likability and immersion in privileged and first-world problems, the narrative voice compels readers to delve deeper into their stories. Phoebe stands out as an exception. The gripping narrative voice, coupled with an underlying tension, keeps readers captivated and on edge. This complex character study delves into themes of identity, sexuality, race, class, and belonging, offering a compelling and engaging reading experience that's hard to put down.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book has a compelling premise but falls short in execution. While the novel introduces intriguing characters and weaves an intricate narrative, the pacing feels uneven, causing the story to become quite slow and drag on at various points. Korelitz's writing style is undoubtedly eloquent, but the plot's potential is hindered by a lack of cohesion, leaving readers grappling with moments of confusion. Additionally, the resolution of key plot points may leave some unsatisfied, as loose ends are tied up in a somewhat rushed manner. Despite these drawbacks, the book still manages to deliver moments of emotional resonance and introspection, making it a worthwhile read for those who appreciate character-driven stories, as long as they are aware before reading that the overall pacing is quite slow.

4.5 rounded up. Well this was a pleasant surprise! It’s been on my TBR for a while and for whatever reason I just wasn’t excited about picking it ahead of other books. The beginning hooked me but I wasn’t quite sure where it was going. Somewhere along the way, I great to love the Oppenheimers and their messed up familial relationships. This was very character driven and not a whole lot plot wise happened while still a lot happened! It spans 30+ years and deals with so many serious issues - religion, politics, infertility, sexuality, family relationships, and so much more. But it did it in such a tasteful, potent way. I’m surprised this book didn’t get more love because I thought it was an epic novel and enjoyed Phoebe’s narrative.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

I love a good sweeping family saga, and that's exactly what this is. Starting with the parents and their upbringing all the way through their youngest daughter trying to bring the family back together.

The first 3/4 or so of the book is told from the alternating perspective of the triplet children. These children grew up not really having any sort of family life and certainly no desire to be near one another. When it is time to go to college (which is primarily where the story takes place), they go in different directions, but are still connected. They aren't kind to each other and certainly are not kind to their mother.

The last 1/4 is where it got really good. This part is told from the perspective of Phoebe, the "latecomer." Phoebe is 19 years younger than the triplets, but seems to understand them better than anyone else. Her voice is different than theirs, and it is refreshing. How everything came together and wrapped up was really interesting. If you are looking for a long family saga, this is a good one.

Three siblings, from a wealthy NY family have an interesting life. They are triplets born during the early days of IVF and their parents Salo and Johanna should feel blessed. But this is a complex family and there really aren’t any family binds. Harrison, Lewyn and Sally can’t wait to grow up and move out. The closer Johanna tried to bring the family closer the farther apart they become. Even their dad gets distant. Until one day, when the kids head off to college Johanna decides to have another baby. Can this baby help the situation? Can this family get back together? This was a good read.. a four star read for me. It was slow to start but I did get hooked on the different plot lines. Overall it was well written and the characters were very honest. I want to thank Netgalley and Jean Hanff Korelitz for my copy for an honest review. It was my pleasure to read and review this book. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

The premise of the book is what originally caught my attention, it was a story that I hadn't read before and had a lot of potential. While I was still right, it was so slowly paced that it was hard to keep reading. When the book did pickup in the last quarter I was fairly entertained. This book was by no means a bad book it is just more for people who want a character heavy slow paced book and not for people who want to be a fast moving storyline with many plot points.

Beautiful cover. I wanted to like this one because a lot of people raved about it but ultimately I had to DNF due to lack of interest. I don't think family dramas and slow burns are my cup of tea. Thank you to Celadon, Jean, and Netgalley for the advance reader's copy!