Reed offers a thought-provoking exploration of familial expectations, sibling rivalry, and the pursuit of personal fulfillment, set against the backdrop of a North Woods arts commune, where the complex relationship between two brothers is shaped by their father’s demanding legacy. Stone Hunnicutt, a flashy, accomplished lawyer, and his younger brother Ted, a literary genius with one acclaimed novel under his belt, are at odds—but Ted, now living in a commune with his girlfriend, needs money, prompting Stone, who muses at “how much he actually like[s] his brother and how little he [understands] him” to visit, despite his hesitancy.

Reed (author of Free Spirits) masterfully crafts Stone and Ted’s characters, presenting a stark contrast between the dutiful, successful lawyer and the once-promising novelist turned commune dweller. Keen insight into family dynamics shines throughout, as Reed unravels the impact of their father's Olympic-inspired motto—“Citius. Altius. Fortius, Scitius… Faster. Higher. Stronger. Smarter”—on the family’s lives and choices. Most compelling is Reed’s portrayal of the women in Stone and Ted’s lives, as they help the brothers confront and ultimately overcome the lasting effects of their father’s very conditional love, an exploration of healing and growth that adds a hopeful dimension to the novel.

The pacing occasionally slows during introspective moments, but Reed’s narrative remains engaging. As Stone muses that his relationship with Ted is “happenstance… [a] biologic accident,” and Ted refuels his writing off the fumes of their volatile relationship, Stone also reflects on how two brothers, raised the same way, could experience such different outcomes. They eventually find common ground in contemplating their father’s implausible expectations, and Reed wryly observes that they’ve both internalized the belief that “you can’t lose if you don’t play [and] if you don’t play, you won’t win.” This will intrigue readers who appreciate literary fiction that plumbs family dynamics, personal growth, and the tension between ambition and authenticity.

Takeaway: Touching novel of brothers, art, healing, and measuring up to impossible expectations.

Comparable Titles: Ann Patchett's The Dutch House, Lauren Groff’s Arcadia.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: B+