Books like Modern Lovers by Emma Straub
Elizabeth, Andrew, and Zoe—friends and college bandmates—watch each other marry, buy homes, start businesses, and raise children while striving to keep the spirit of their youth alive. Now approaching fifty, they all live within shouting distance in a Brooklyn neighborhood that has become increasingly gentrified. As their adult children reach maturity and begin to sleep together, the adult stabilities of their lives begin to unravel, prompting the trio to confront long‑held secrets and revelations—especially about a fourth band member who rose and fell without them. In a blend of humor and insight, Straub explores themes of aging, family dynamics, neighborly intrigue, ambition, romance, and the enduring influence of music and friendship.
The novel examines the challenges of middle age, the shifting dynamics of friendships, and the inevitable evolution of passions such as food, music, and love, illustrating how these forces in your life never vanish but mature alongside you.
First publish date: 2016
Genre: Humorous Fiction/Comedy Fiction
Authors: Emma Straub
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