The Rest of Us

More about the book

A smart literary debut, this novel is an indelible love story that explores the legacy of an affair between a young student and her older professor. As a college student, Terry fell destructively in love with Rhinehart, her famous poetry professor, leading to a relationship from which she never fully recovered. Now, fifteen years later, she’s single, living in the same walk-up she moved into after college, and working as a photographer’s assistant, having abandoned her own art. When she discovers Rhinehart’s obituary online, she reflects on how her life has not met her youthful expectations, feeling distraught at the thought of never seeing him again. To her surprise, she later encounters Rhinehart, very much alive, married, and Christmas shopping at Bloomingdale’s. This unexpected reunion sparks an intense friendship that challenges Terry to confront the consequences of their past and her own aspirations, allowing her to rediscover her identity as an artist and a woman. Set against New York’s vibrant art scene, this captivating read serves as both a love letter to the city and a poignant exploration of the struggles faced by its artists.