Close to Hugh

More about the book

This witty and compassionate national bestseller explores how two generations in a small town navigate extraordinary rites of passage during a single week in autumn. The story centers on fifty-something Hugh Argylle, owner of the Argylle Art Gallery, who suffers a jarring fall from a ladder, leading to a fractured view of his life and the lives of friends facing crises such as dying parents, troubled marriages, and failing businesses. As Hugh contemplates the need to fix their problems, the narrative also focuses on the younger generation—his friends' children—who are about to graduate from high school and are beginning to separate from their parents. Through the lens of modern technology like cellphones and social media, the desires, fears, and revelations of adolescence are mirrored in the second adolescence of soon-to-be childless adults. With exquisite insight and mastery, the author captures the distinct cadences and concerns of both generations, showcasing their simultaneous journeys of reinvention. Underpinning the sharp comedy and keenly observed drama is a rich perspective on the cycles of rising and falling, and the enduring obligations we have to those we love.