by John Wain
First published 2015
Joe Lamb steps off the train in his industrial hometown after years away. The place looks smaller than he remembered, but the old tensions remain. His childhood friend Robert has stayed behind, married, and settled into factory work. Joe carries ambitions that set him apart from the men who never left, yet he cannot fully escape the pull of home. The two friends circle each other with a mixture of affection and resentment. Robert sees Joe as someone who thinks himself superior. Joe sees Robert as someone who gave up too easily. Their wives and families become part of the conflict as old loyalties clash with new aspirations. The town itself seems to take sides, dividing between those who accept their lot and those who dream of something more. Joe must choose between the security of belonging and the isolation of ambition.
Genres: american-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, friends-to-lovers
Setting: Industrial Town
Period: 20th Century
224 pages · Paperback · Foruli Limited