Stranger, Father, Beloved

June 6, 2016
The delicate balance of family relationships, and the yearning for something more, lie at the heart of Larsen's debut novel. Many of the componentsâboth Michael and Nancy feel restless in their marriage, and their teenage daughter Ryan is struggling with the many changes adolescence bringsâfeel familiar and even a bit retro (think Updike or Cheever). At 42, Michael is lost and views almost everyone he encounters, whether old friend or new acquaintance, as a road not taken. He even traces his failing marriage back to "an awful woman from Georgia" whom he blames. When Michael becomes inexplicably fixated on a party guest named John, he hatches a plan: to replace himself in his family with John. Nancy, for her part, is similarly drawn to the turning point of their wedding, and also secretly feels that much has been lost. Ryan is oppressed by the "dreary energy of their house." She feels much closer to her longtime friend, Carol, and Carol's mom, Jill. As high school puts a wedge in the relationship of the two girls, Ryan and Jill are, strangely, bonding. Ryan's younger brother, Max, is adored by his family, and is arguably the glue that holds them together. Larsen makes her elements fresh with the quiet authority of her prose and the ease with which she transitions from the perspective of one main character to another. This is an intimate and involving story by a promising new voice.

Starred review from May 1, 2016
Larsen makes a noteworthy debut with a family drama that explores loyalty, lies, and well-being. Michael James and his wife, Nancy, have a seemingly envious life. They have a Cape-style home on the Rhode Island peninsula, two beautiful children, and friends and neighbors who socialize like family. Yet their perfect life is full of pleasantries hiding lies and discomfort. Michael suffers from neurotic paranoia, and his medication no longer seems to ease his symptoms, particularly when combined with alcohol. During a dinner party, Michael's behavior begins to shift into unpredictable territory. His delusions lead him to believe his wife would be better off married to John, one of their party guests. Michael not only works to bring his wife and John together, but he also befriends John to the point where the two men are inseparable. Larsen's attention to characterization makes this a compelling story. The story is told in the third person, but each chapter hews to a different character's viewpoint, offering varying perspectives on the family's life. Michael's struggle with anxiety reveals his motivation for wanting Nancy to be with John, while Nancy's experiences shed light on her own challenges in a complicated marriage. Their daughter, Ryan, provides an interesting perspective as the outsider who witnesses the demise of the marriage while struggling with her own relationship woes. The setting is very much a character in its own right, with Larsen's precise descriptions of the quaint community enhancing the mood. At the heart of this novel is a family of individuals working to keep everyone else happy, even if it means sacrificing something of themselves in the process. Larsen captures every nuance with finesse, every emotion with grace. An emotionally intelligent family drama that examines the breaking point of a marriage.

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