I am not good at giving bad reviews. This book dragged!!!! I almost didn't finish numerous times, but I kept thinking there must be something that pulls it together. There were too many descriptions about each child, I can see why some of it but I think half would have still made the book work. Sadly, this is my first book by this author, I will give her another chance as I saw many have loved her books prior.

The narrator did an excellent job. I had no problem keeping track of each character, and there was a lot to keep track of.

“This was the flaw in making a bargain with yourself. There is no one else there to agree to the terms.”

At just under 450 pages this book is a 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵. It’s quite long and it takes quite a bit of the book for it to really get going. Like at any point during the first probably half of the book I could have put it down and not revisited it without feeling like I was missing something.

The characters, for the majority of it, are all essentially unlikable. The Oppenheimer triplets can’t get along, but there’s really no discernible reason why. The husband, Salo, is distant. The wife, Johanna, is withdrawn.

And then there’s the politics. Just…no. It’s enough to see the divisiveness on social media and on the news, I don’t need to read about it as well. I read to get 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚 from that nonsense. But I soldiered on. “People with different ideas from one’s own were not the enemy; they were simply people with different ideas.”

But then the latecomer grows up, and she is exactly what the Oppenheimers have needed all along. The complex web of lies, secrets, and familial issues in this heavily character driven story all started to come together. And I grew to understand these broken people. To relate in some way, and even to root for them. Overall this one took quite a bit of time to get going but I am so glad I stuck it out!! If you enjoyed We Are The Brennan’s I think you will like this one too.

The audio was superb! Julia Whelan has narrated quite a few audiobooks that I have listened to and I was so excited when I heard her voice! She makes every book better I swear. I may have given up on this one had it not been for her lovely voice and the fire she gave to these characters! I highly recommend the audio of this one.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Celadon Books, Macmillan Audio, and the author for the gifted copy, eARC, and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting and well written I just personally couldn’t get into the story. A little slow and unbelievable at some points. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

THE LATECOMER is another engrossing story by Jean Hanff Korelitz and Julia Whelan did a fabulous job as the narrator. Loved the story! Loved the audiobook!

The description said it builds slowly and I found that to be maybe toooooo accurate... but so much happened in the last third and it was so satisfying as all the pieces fell into place. The narration was great and it was so interesting that the POV was of the youngest child even when she was a baby/before she was born, but I kind of liked that too. Slow, and long but somehow not deep enough, but worth it in the end. 3.5

Thank you to NetGalley, Jean Hanff Korelitz, and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I went into this one blindly and was surprised with what I found. This story is extremely character driven and discusses so many pertinent issues that are facing our world today, I appreciate the tact the author used when including these issues in the plot. I appreciated getting to know each sibling so well but I did have a hard time connecting to the siblings at times. All in all, I think that fans of literary fiction who enjoy a slow burn & build up will really enjoy this novel. This one is out on 5.31.22!

3.5 stars rounded up!

Ok, this one was thiiiiiiiick!

It’s a slow burn family drama that is quite complex and complicated. I enjoyed the general layout and I’m always up for a entertaining plot about a dysfunctional family!

Unfortunately for such a character driven story, I just never found myself connected or invested with any of the family members.
I personally gravitate more to plot driven stories but applaud how Korelitz explored some powerful topics of infertility, grief, adulterated, race, sexuality and so much more!

Great writing, well developed characters, creative take on the dysfunctional family plot, and wonderful narrator. Enjoyed more than The Plot, which I didn't think possible. Bravo!

Thank you to MacMillan audio for this amazing audiobook. The Latecomer audiobook blends one of my favorite literary voices, Jean Hanff Korelitz, with for me the always outstanding voice narration from Julia Whelan. I truly loved this book and how the voice acting added nuances and depth to a complicated character driven family drama.
I find Jean Hanff Korelitz a tremendously intriguing writer! I admire a versatile writer who can engage me, have me thinking and talking about characters and plot development, and who can draw me in to a story so effectively. So I can only rave about The Latecomer, I am sad to have finished it (though highly satisfied with the whole story!).

This is a complicated story, one of triplets who bare little connection or resemblance to each other, who strive to disconnect and yet are forced back together as the plot both takes them away from each other as they enter college/post high school development and then back together in a wonderfully tense, slow simmer crescendo. This book takes it time and asks the reader to savor the details, to get lost in each character, and get into their mindsets and then to feel compelled to want them to avoid the very disaster they seem to be creating for themselves (all the while eagerly waiting for that plot point to be revealed).

Wonderful narration with a thoughtfully engaging and thought provoking character/family drama. I will be recommending this one often!

Well, this book was not for me. I struggled to get through the physical copy and would have DNFd, but grabbing the audio saved it for me. The story is too long with too many people that I didn't care about. It was a bit exhausting, and I just kept wondering...if anything was actually going to happen in this story. The narrator of the audio is one of my all-time favorite narrators. Good choice there.

I cannot finish this one. Please keep in mind that this review is written off of the 20% of it I listened to. I loved Jean Hanff Korelitz's The Plot last year but this one just isn't for me. I'm sure many people will like this much better than me.

What didn't work for me:
- Unlikable characters. All of them. Nobody to root for
- Sad relationships between all of these family members
- Super long chapters. I am not a fan.

Note: I don't like to give star ratings to a book if I didn't complete it. However I can't submit this without one so I will put 3 stars.

I read/listened to 100 pages and I just realized didn't care about anything in this book. It's way too worry with no dialogue. I may go read the last few chapters in the physical book to see how it ends but this wasn't for me.

Couldn’t get into this book. I listened to the audiobook version in the first 10 minutes straight was a story being told to me with no dialogue and I just wasn’t interested.

I was excited to read this book because I really enjoyed The Plot, but it really missed the mark for me. It was much too long and slow and none of the characters were likable or relatable. There are so many frivolous details, no mystery, plot twists or turns to keep you invested in the story.

Part of the story focuses on Johanna and Salo's relationship, infertility and IVF journey to have their triplets. Another part of the story focuses on the triplets' lives, particularly when they go off to college. None of them like each other or have any meaningful bonds to speak of. They are all selfish, privileged and annoying.

Perhaps if I were forced to pick a favorite character, then it would have to be Phoebe. Her story was the most interesting part of the book, if you even get to her part before deciding to DNF. I suppose if you like long, wordy dysfunctional family dramas then you will like this book more than I did.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Celadon Books for an ARC of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Very complex novel and very long. The storyline follows the wealthy Oppenheimer family. The parents have a set of triplets along with another child born later. Jewish, New Yorker Salo Oppenheimer meets Johanna after a tragic accident and she makes it her mission to give him a family and help him.
The chapters span the decades and alternate between the family members. I had a hard time getting invested in this family. Family dynamics are complicated. The triplets, Sally, Lewyn and Harrison are very different and have their issues. I felt the triplets were entitled and selfish. Phoebe, the last sibling she tries to bring the family together.
I felt this novel could have been cut in half and still covered the basics.
Triggers: Racism, Accident, Language

I could hardly believe my luck getting an ARC of The Latecomer, especially considering “The Plot” by Jean Hanff Korelitz was one of my favorite books of 2021. While this book differed significantly in terms of subject matter, the same layers of intersecting parts and delicious writing style were evident.

I wouldn’t say I’m a particular connoisseur of upper class Jewish family life dramas, but this particular upper class Jewish family life drama completely worked for me. The Latecomer is funny, sarcastic, and beautifully written.

Julia Whelan masterfully narrates the audio edition.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It was fine, like cruise control driving under the speed limit. 💅🚘

"The Latecomer" is a contemporary Jewish family drama that spans decades. It's about a wealthy Oppenheimer family in New York City. The story started well and I was interested in Johanna's character wanting children. She did get triplets through IVF plus one extra frozen embryo.

By the time the kids go to college, their campus life didn't hold my interest. It's more slow-paced than I would have liked. I find the storyline lacking as I didn't particularly like any of the adult triplets. I wasn't sure where it's going but perhaps a great read for those who enjoy character studies. In the end, this one wasn’t the right fit for me. I loved "The Plot" by JHK so I'm looking forward to the next one!

🎧💖 Julia Whelan is amazing and I have to give her the credit for getting me through this long book.

I received this audiobook from Macmillan Audio via Netgalley, thank you!

The Latecomer is a complex novel that builds slowly and deliberately, It touches on
the topics of grief and guilt, generational trauma, privilege and race, traditions
and religion, and family dynamics. It is a profound and witty family story from an
accomplished author, known for the depth of her character studies, expertly woven
storylines, and plot twists. The audiobook dazzles and was total compliment to this remarkable read. Highly and enthusiastically recommend.

I don’t even know where to start this review. I loved this book so much! I just love the entire familial aspect of this novel. What a strange, and fascinating family the Oppenheimers are.
This novel,follows the Oppenheimers from the beginning of the marriage of Salo and Joanna to their in-vitro triplets growing up years to the latecomer, Phoebe, the last of the blastocysts that we’re viable to produce an Oppenheimer. So many twists and turns and a fascinating study in humanity and family. It was just so interesting! 35 years to make this family work together and actually love each other. What a journey!

*Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an audio version of this amazing work of art.*

I wasn’t sure I was going to like this when I started it. There wasn’t really many redeeming qualities about the the main characters. However, as I got further into it I ended up really liking it and enjoying the complicated family dynamics. Families are messy and beautiful and this book was a good reminder of it.