The first Korelitz book I read was The Plot, reviewed here back in 2021 (The Plot, by Jean Hanff Korelitz — Marguerite Reads). I was unfamiliar with her writing, and that book made me an instant convert, both for its twisty plotting and snarky humor. I was eager for more. The Latecomer demonstrates Korelitz’s gift for complex plot, and while her witty humor is present, this is not intended to be purely for amusement. This is a family story, in which Korelitz asks some interesting questions.

We get to know, in mostly chronological order, the story of the Oppenheimer family, consisting of parents Salo and Johanna, their triplets Harrison, Lewyn, and Sally, conceived as in vitro babies; and eighteen years later, the last in vitro baby, Phoebe, who was “on ice”, part of the triplets’ conception effort, carried to term by a surrogate. This is a culturally Jewish family rooted in New York City, but their story starts with the meeting of Salo and Johanna at a New Jersey synagogue during a funeral service. For Salo was driving his Jeep Laredo with three passengers, all Cornell undergrads in their freshman year, when the Jeep flips over after hitting a rock in the road, killing his best friend, Daniel, and Salo’s girlfriend, Mandy. Surviving are Salo and Daniel’s girlfriend, Stella, whom Salo had barely met, barely saw, as she climbed in the back of the Jeep. Johanna was a friend of Mandy, as was everyone Mandy came in orbit with, After expressing her condolences, the two will not again meet until a few years later, at the wedding of mutual friends. This second encounter leads them on the path to marriage, largely driven by Johanna.

It should be said that Salo sleepwalked through life at the time of the accident. He didn’t know what he wanted in life, destined to work at the family firm, live in New York City, marry a Jewish girl, have a family, and be a good husband and father. No drive, no motivation, no ambition, and no self knowledge. Add the tragedy, and it appears that depression and existential malaise account for Salo’s rudderless life. During a solo European backpacking trip after college graduation, Salo discovers a passion that breaks through, the art of Twombly, a modernist. Salo is driven to collect art based on how it makes him feel, collecting works by outsiders who later are greatly valued. View the work of Twombly, and you can determine for yourself why Salo feels brought to life by it.

Korelitz does a fine job of describing a character’s behavior, but not naming their emotional state, the classic “show, don’t tell”. It is the best way to pull the reader into interaction and engagement with the story, as you struggle to understand why Salo makes his choices, to later disasterous effect. Once he marries Johanna, she takes charge of their lives, finding their home in Brooklyn, determined to start a wonderful family that will erase Salo’s tragedy and make their lives complete and happy. Harrison is the smartest of the triplets, with nothing but contempt for everyone else in the family. Lewyn is sensitive and emotional, somewhat directionless, until he discovers the visual arts, a fateful choice as it turns out. Sally, as the only girl, is equally clueless about her direction in life. Johanna, in her quest for perfect motherhood and family closeness, finds the three children dislike each other and her, distancing themselves as soon as they can walk. While Salo is in most respects the dutiful husband and father, he is mostly absent, and certainly not emotionally engaged. When the triplets are launched into college, Johanna determines that she will bring that fourth embryo, eighteen years in the freezer, to life. A surrogate mother brings Phoebe into the world, who will ultimately save the entire family from themselves, and give them a true second chance at being a loving family that nurtures one another.

You could say this is a book about the importance of self knowledge, personal responsibility and boundaries. Johanna senses Salo’s brokeness, and decides that she can fix him through force of will. He is not her project to fix, however, and by doing so, ignores understanding herself and addressing her own needs and identity. For family is not the facade, the rituals, the holidays, the superficiality. Those are merely emblematic of the deeper connection rooted in love, love of others, unselfish, mutual love. It is a connection we all crave, yet cannot force. It must be given freely and mutually. This and so much more is explored in this story of convincingly portrayed characters and gentle humor.

I have intentionally omitted large segments of critical plot here, since I want you to read, and discover for yourself the large plot twists Korelitz has created for the Oppenheimer family. That is the fun of her book, how characters are capable of growth and change, and what helps them in that direction. I really loved this exploration of identity and family, and how the two feed each other to make us who we are. Highly recommended.