In my experience, being blown away by two novels in a row is fairly uncommon. When did this last happen to you?
Heart the Lover (Lily King, 2025) and Trust (Hernan Diaz, 2022) are equally exceptional. The former has a slightly more conventional architecture than the latter. But King is Diaz's equal as a storyteller and prose stylist. Both novels are intelligent, emotionally rich, fresh; each held me from first page to last.
And therein lies today's happy dilemma. Which of the two do I recommend you tackle first? Ever since finishing Trust, I've spent some time reflecting on this. Let me give it a shot.
In the mood for love? Start with Heart the Lover. Historical sweep? Start with Trust. Characters who like to read like you? Heart the Lover. Characters powerful enough to shape public perception? Trust. Space? Heart the Lover. Density? Trust.
Hope that helped.
Amazing recs! Just added Heart the Lover to my cart.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous; Glad to be of help. Remember to check back in after you finish and tell me what you think.
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