I read Lily King’s latest novel, a story about a young woman navigating the challenges of writing and love, in late January 2020. At the time, I was quite busy and hesitant to take on another task.
During a few cold winter mornings, I carried the slim book in my bag, reading it on my crowded early commute to New York City. I carefully balanced the paperback while holding my travel mug, standing on the train as it traveled through different stops.
The late-nineties setting of Writers & Lovers provided a refreshing escape for me. The main character, Casey Peabody, a woman in her thirties aspiring to be a writer, faces challenges like the loss of her mother, a recent breakup, and romantic dilemmas with two very different men.
Casey shares her story in a raw, desperate voice that many aspiring writers can relate to. Despite initial skepticism, her struggles and aspirations come across as genuine and engaging.
As I found time to write about Writers & Lovers in late March, amidst a period of global upheaval, the book resonated more deeply. It served as a connection to shared vulnerabilities and desires for connection.
The novel may seem ordinary on the surface, but it delves into Casey’s life as she grapples with personal and professional challenges, living in a modest apartment in Cambridge.
Throughout the narrative, Casey navigates relationships with two men, both writers, each with their own complexities. The dynamics of this love triangle reveal vulnerabilities and self-awareness.
While the romantic plotline is compelling, Casey’s personal growth and triumphs shine the brightest. From securing a literary agent to overcoming health scares, her journey towards independence and self-reliance is empowering.
As Casey completes her novel and faces the daunting task of starting anew, she grapples with the familiar writer’s struggle of letting go of familiar characters for new creations.
Each reading of Writers & Lovers reminded me of the solace stories provide during times of solitude. King’s writing captures the essence of human connection and the solace found in storytelling.
In the end, like migrating geese, we find our way home, comforted by the narratives that bring us together.
