I picked up The Slip by Lucas Schaefer because it was compared to the writing of Jonathan Franzen—one of my all-time favorite authors. I couldn’t resist diving into what promised to be a bold, ambitious novel. What I found was a sprawling, deeply compelling tale that captures the essence of the Great American Story.

At the center of it all is Terry’s Boxing Gym, a no-frills, low-key warehouse in Austin, Texas where men who feel their glory days are behind them gather to punch bags, swap stories, and try to keep some semblance of pride alive. Bob Alexander is one of these morning regulars—amiable and unassuming. It's the summer of 1998 when Bob introduces his 16-year-old nephew, Nathaniel, to the gym. Nathaniel has been sent by his parents after an incident in his school, to find direction or at least get a job. At the gym, he meets David, a Haitian nurse and former boxing legend. The two form a unique bond, and David helps Nathaniel secure a job at a nursing home as his assistant. All is well for a moment.
Then, suddenly, Nathaniel disappears.

As the mystery of his disappearance unfolds, The Slip expands to introduce a cornucopia of unforgettable characters. There’s a young boy determined to change his life, a sex hotline worker grappling with her own struggles, a man crossing the border in search of something better, and the enigmatic coyote clown who guides him. Along the way, we meet cops, drifters, bullies, and others—each bringing their own stories and perspectives into a symphony of voices that are as gritty as they are captivating.

Lucas Schaefer ties these threads into a finale that is nothing short of breathtaking. The writing is bold, and deeply human, painting a vivid picture of Austin and the lives it holds. The characters feel so authentic, their stories so raw, that it’s impossible not to be swept away. Schaefer’s ability to capture both the individual struggles and the larger social dynamics at play is nothing short of magical. It’s the kind of book that leaves you in awe of how everything comes together.

The Slip isn’t just a novel—it’s an experience. It’s messy, beautiful, heartbreaking, and triumphant all at once. This is a cacophony of voices that demand to be heard, and Schaefer ensures each one is unforgettable. If you’re a fan of sweeping, character-driven stories that explore the complexity of life this is a book you cannot miss.

#SimonSchuster #LucasSchaefer #TheSlip #LiteraryFiction #GreatAmericanNovel #MustRead

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC!

This is a very ambitious, mostly successful debut. The characters are well-developed and the plot is truly unpredictable. I’m curious to see what Schaefer writes next. I will be recommending this to readers interested in queer, sports, and/or mystery stories.

i will never not think of this book when i think of austin now. the way each character was thought out, the way each life is interwoven with the others, the way the story unfolds so delicately. what a wonderful book, wonderful writing, wonderful story.

I will think about this book for years to come. WOW! There were so many subjects tackled in this book. It is one of the best debut novels I’ve ever read. This story is a book club’s dream. There is so much to discuss and analyze. I will be recommending this book to a lot of people.

I don't know much about the boxing world but I enjoyed this story. We follow multiple characters that frequent a boxing gym until one of them goes missing. Decades later Bob launches his own investigation into the disappearance of his nephew. It was quite obvious what the plot twist or the big reveal was going to be. But I still recommend this novel. The character's were well written and the plot moved at an enjoyable pace.

I really tried to get into this book, but I struggled. Maybe it was the boxing or the plot, maybe a mix of both. I just could not get into this story. What I plodded through reading was good, I just couldn’t keep going.

This novel is a great hybrid of coming-of-age and murder mystery, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the Texas setting - it felt so vividly realized, and I do not read a ton of books set in that part of the country.

"The Slip" by Lucas Schaefer is an engaging story that would make a great limited TV series. Set in an Austin boxing gym, this novel offers a cinematic experience through a kaleidoscope of characters.

The story is told through multiple characters’ narratives, which make the pacing move and shift like a boxer's footwork. Each character has a unique voice but shares the same environment, often struggling with how they are perceived in relation to their identity, including aspects like race, ethnicity, age, gender, and sexual orientation. They grapple with feeling pigeonholed/want to give the slip to the conflict between who society thinks they are and who they want to be or how they aspire to navigate the world. The plot also features an intriguing mystery that keeps readers guessing.

Similar to the characters, the book defies easy categorization. I highly recommend this book! It is engaging, thought-provoking, and keeps you guessing from beginning to end. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing the ARC.