by Ayad Akhtar
First published 2026
A writer lies broken on a country road after a hit and run accident. His body heals, but something deeper has shattered. He finds himself caught in what feels like either spiritual awakening or complete madness. An inexplicable force draws him to a brilliant colleague on campus. Their connection pulls them into a scandal that could destroy both their careers. The writer digs deeper into his accident, searching for answers about the violence that changed him and what came after. His investigation uncovers a family secret and exposes the mystery behind that night on the road. The story moves from rural America to Europe, weaving together academic conflicts, erotic complications, and metaphysical questions. As cultural and personal battles rage around him, the writer must confront what broke inside him and discover what light still remains.
Genres: literary-fiction, contemporary, adult-fiction, psychological-thriller, mystery-thriller, dark-academia
Vibes: dark, intimate, introspective, lyrical, thought-provoking, unsettling
Tropes: forbidden-attraction, mystery-investigation, psychological-breakdown, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Rural America, Europe, Campus
Period: Contemporary
304 pages · Hardcover · S&S/Summit Books
Content warnings: mental-illness, sexual-content, violence