Genre Fiction
![Katie Hafner - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B000AP7ZBC.jpg)
The Boys: A Novel
"Hafner's taut and utterly delightful debut is a novel of multitudes…. What a wonder of storytelling."―Weike Wang, New York Times
New York Times Editor's Choice | Good Morning America Reading Pick | LitHub Most Anticipated Book | Christian Science Monitor Summer Reading Pick
A delicious summer read filled with humor and surprise for readers of Anne Tyler and Kevin Wilson.
When introverted Ethan Fawcett marries fun-loving Barb, so comfortable in the world, he has every reason to believe he will be delivered from a lifetime of solitude. She fills his world with a sense of adventure, expanding his horizons beyond his comfortable routine. To ease Ethan's fears of becoming a father, Barb suggests they foster two young brothers, Tommy and Sam, and Ethan immediately falls in love with the boys.
When the pandemic hits, he becomes obsessed with providing a perfect life for them. But instead of bringing Barb and Ethan closer together, the boys become a wedge in their relationship, as Ethan is unable to share with Barb a secret that has been haunting him since childhood. Then Ethan takes Tommy and Sam on a biking trip in Italy, and it becomes clear just how unusual Ethan and his boys are.
New York Times Editor's Choice | Good Morning America Reading Pick | LitHub Most Anticipated Book | Christian Science Monitor Summer Reading Pick
A delicious summer read filled with humor and surprise for readers of Anne Tyler and Kevin Wilson.
When introverted Ethan Fawcett marries fun-loving Barb, so comfortable in the world, he has every reason to believe he will be delivered from a lifetime of solitude. She fills his world with a sense of adventure, expanding his horizons beyond his comfortable routine. To ease Ethan's fears of becoming a father, Barb suggests they foster two young brothers, Tommy and Sam, and Ethan immediately falls in love with the boys.
When the pandemic hits, he becomes obsessed with providing a perfect life for them. But instead of bringing Barb and Ethan closer together, the boys become a wedge in their relationship, as Ethan is unable to share with Barb a secret that has been haunting him since childhood. Then Ethan takes Tommy and Sam on a biking trip in Italy, and it becomes clear just how unusual Ethan and his boys are.
Editorial Reviews
"Katie Hafner's taut and utterly delightful debut is a novel of multitudes. It is travel escapism, a family drama, a character study, social commentary on pandemic isolation and an incredible journey back to center. We are emerging from a period of forced introversion, and The Boys provides the perfect antidote. … There is a surprise at the center of this book, so original and unusual that I stopped pushing forward for a day to reread the first half again and check for inconsistency. Hafner doesn't miss a beat. … I will just say this: What a wonder of storytelling. I will be thinking of these boys for a long time to come."―Weike Wang, New York Times Book Review
"Clever, skillfully crafted … a laugh-out-loud delight to read …. Also a poignant exploration of loneliness and the ways trauma survivors can go to extraordinary lengths to avoid facing their psychic wounds."―San Francisco Chronicle
"Think of Katie Hafner as Anne Tyler, but much weirder…. Hafner is a smart, funny observer of human foibles and in Ethan she has created a character so endearing that it would not be a surprise if this debut novel led to a career with Tyler's longevity."―Minneapolis Star Tribune
"Hafner makes a splash with her debut novel thanks to one stunning twist. No spoilers here, but this story about the bubbly Barb, her wallflower husband, Ethan, and the 8-year-old twins they decide to foster is a funny, poignant meditation on a timely topic: loneliness. It's also nearly impossible to put down."―Philadelphia Tribune
"Remarkable …. Starting out as a lighthearted romance before taking an unsettling turn…upends expectations in the best way."―Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A breeze to read, with characters who feel alive."―San Diego Magazine
"Tender and emotionally intelligent ... An audacious feat of narrative bravado."―Maria Semple, author of Where'd You Go Bernadette
"The Boys is utterly charming ―&nbs...
"Clever, skillfully crafted … a laugh-out-loud delight to read …. Also a poignant exploration of loneliness and the ways trauma survivors can go to extraordinary lengths to avoid facing their psychic wounds."―San Francisco Chronicle
"Think of Katie Hafner as Anne Tyler, but much weirder…. Hafner is a smart, funny observer of human foibles and in Ethan she has created a character so endearing that it would not be a surprise if this debut novel led to a career with Tyler's longevity."―Minneapolis Star Tribune
"Hafner makes a splash with her debut novel thanks to one stunning twist. No spoilers here, but this story about the bubbly Barb, her wallflower husband, Ethan, and the 8-year-old twins they decide to foster is a funny, poignant meditation on a timely topic: loneliness. It's also nearly impossible to put down."―Philadelphia Tribune
"Remarkable …. Starting out as a lighthearted romance before taking an unsettling turn…upends expectations in the best way."―Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A breeze to read, with characters who feel alive."―San Diego Magazine
"Tender and emotionally intelligent ... An audacious feat of narrative bravado."―Maria Semple, author of Where'd You Go Bernadette
"The Boys is utterly charming ―&nbs...
Readers Top Reviews
Mary A. Madsencar
Ms. Hafner has an uncanny insight onto the human condition and great skill for crafting a story. The plot unfolds slowly like the reserve engineering of an origami of complex characters and their interactions...and their children. Set in a.post-pandendemic world, Hafner explores loneliness and the quirks of we strange people. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who marvels at how odd "normal" people can be under abnormal circumstances.
tootsMary A. Mads
It takes half the book to get into this book but then it turns out swell. It’s a good read and worth your time.
Wes Ely, MD, MPHt
In Hafner’s “The Boys,” there are so many great hooks. I loved Columbo, Pavarotti‘s Ave Maria, Dr. Zhivago, Bach, Gabriel‘s oboe, Sinatra‘s fly me to the moon, the chess game, idioglossia, Anna Karenina, Runglish, scenes from Turin, and even the Goldilocks affect. Her phrases are mesmerizing and delivery pristine. "Petard of psychobabble” and the Jewish Ted Lasso. Izzy’s saint in the sky and her method of mailing the letters. Hafner’s main character teaches us about the unexpected ways our suffering is sometimes of deep benefit, not only to us, but to others around us. The lesson is brought it to life through Ethan and Izzy. How people aren't what they may appear. Is Barb a traitor or actually a beacon of patience, unafraid to risk everything by enforcing truth? There’s a mystical unlocking of the reality that the past is gone and that all we have is the power of now. How many of us get stuck in images and memories of the past. It ruins lives and relationships. Unable to tear away. Through the light and grace of friendship, a door is opened. I will take these lessons with me. Listening is the art of healing. And finally… “You are so much more amazing than you can possibly know.“ This is the fullness of truth of every human being and the distillation of the novel in a single sentence. Do yourself a favor - read this novel.
Kindle Wes Ely,
I usually don’t write reviews on books I read, but will make an exception for this one. First, it was my turn to choose a book for our book club, and I was not finding anything I liked. Then I saw a positive review of this book in the Washington Post. Secondly, many thanks to those who DO write detailed reviews on books, as the many positive responses convinced me to buy it. If you have read the other reviews, then you know the gist of this story and readers’ reactions. This is mine: the book is easy to read, interesting, and a great character study. By the time I got to the surprise “twist”, I liked the writing and trusted the writer enough to suspend judgment (not usual for me). The author didn’t disappoint, and I am glad I finished the book. This is a story of a shy, flawed young man whom you know is basically good and deserves happiness. Love at first saves him, but he must then reconcile with past experiences and his resulting fears, hesitancies and avoidance. How he finds his way makes this story heart-warming and believable. It also gives you hope in the power of small acts of kindness. Read it. And yes, I recommended it to my book club.
VJTM WoodsKindle
This book was recommended by a friend who told me it was her book club's favorite book last year. It starts out with what seems like a fairly mundane story of a marriage that is falling apart. You feel a bit like something doesn't quite add up. Then the narrator changes, everything becomes clear, and the beauty of the story and it's characters is revealed.
