‘By turns bonkers, blissful, hilarious, and full of sorrow, Harmless drinks at the bar with McCarthy’s The Group and Dunham’s Girls.’
—Emma Copley Eisenberg, nationally bestselling author of Housemates
A twisty novel of sisterhood, friendship, and obsession that asks: Can we ever really outrun what haunts us most?
Two years ago, Bea’s life was upended when her beloved twin sister died. Audrey was captivating, an extrovert, their mother’s golden child. Bea was ‘different,’ too intense, and chronically lonely.
Now, in her late twenties, Bea is back home in Park Slope, Brooklyn, her spirits finally buoyed by her plan to start a dog kennel. Inspired by the childhood dream she once shared with Audrey and old, now-estranged friends Tatum and Layla, she’s sure this will be the perfect ode to her sister’s memory.
But as they reintegrate into one another’s lives, Audrey’s absence is keenly felt by all. Soon, simmering tensions and attractions emerge, and a sinister darkness breaks through to the surface. What do they really want? What happens when old secrets come to light? And when is it best to bury a dream, or a cherished friendship?
Genre: Literary Fiction
—Emma Copley Eisenberg, nationally bestselling author of Housemates
A twisty novel of sisterhood, friendship, and obsession that asks: Can we ever really outrun what haunts us most?
Two years ago, Bea’s life was upended when her beloved twin sister died. Audrey was captivating, an extrovert, their mother’s golden child. Bea was ‘different,’ too intense, and chronically lonely.
Now, in her late twenties, Bea is back home in Park Slope, Brooklyn, her spirits finally buoyed by her plan to start a dog kennel. Inspired by the childhood dream she once shared with Audrey and old, now-estranged friends Tatum and Layla, she’s sure this will be the perfect ode to her sister’s memory.
But as they reintegrate into one another’s lives, Audrey’s absence is keenly felt by all. Soon, simmering tensions and attractions emerge, and a sinister darkness breaks through to the surface. What do they really want? What happens when old secrets come to light? And when is it best to bury a dream, or a cherished friendship?
Genre: Literary Fiction
Praise for this book
"Miranda Shulman's glorious, original debut Harmless is a beautifully observed zeitgeist novel set in Park Slope; it's also a hilarious, painful look at young adulthood, sibling rivalry, friendship, competition, love, and loss - with a shocking twist. The young women in Shulman's world are the vivid, messy, unforgettable characters everyone will be talking about. This is a fantastic debut you don't want to miss." - Karen E Bender
"By turns bonkers, blissful, hilarious, and full of sorrow, Harmless drinks at the bar with McCarthy's The Group and Dunham's Girls. A sendup of the Brooklyn rich, a study of the delusion that a group project can be a viable substitute for the work of actually loving other people, and a glittering examination of grief, I cherished this book." - Emma Copley Eisenberg
"Harmless is a blistering story of desire, rivalry, and unraveling loyalties. Shulman captures the volatility and magnetism between a group of friends with wit, heat, and razor-sharp insight. I raced through this novel, from its bracingly original opening, all the way to its spine-tingling end." - Alison Fairbrother
"At once a complex study of childhood friendships, and a simmering, deliciously dark work of suspense . . . A completely singular debut you'll want to pass along to all your friends so you can discuss." - Olivia Muenter
"At once an astute social novel of the Brooklyn bourgeoisie and a twisty tale of obsession, Harmless swept me up and surprised me with every page. This examination of the dark sides of female friendship and sisterly love will keep you guessing until the very end." - Anna North
"A compulsive, funny, and tender tale of growing up, friendship, and grief that had me hooked until the last page. Shulman's sparkling prose and rich, unforgettable characters herald a new talent in fiction." - Cecile Pin
"Dark and tender and spot-on about grief, old friendship, and the strange uncertainty of being in your twenties when it's impossible to tell whether you're unraveling or just beginning." - Jessica Soffer
"A large-hearted and wise debut that captures something special about the way we live now and how we persist in the aftermath of tragedy. Shulman somehow manages to make grief highly readable, humorous, and delightful." - Stephanie Wambugu
"By turns bonkers, blissful, hilarious, and full of sorrow, Harmless drinks at the bar with McCarthy's The Group and Dunham's Girls. A sendup of the Brooklyn rich, a study of the delusion that a group project can be a viable substitute for the work of actually loving other people, and a glittering examination of grief, I cherished this book." - Emma Copley Eisenberg
"Harmless is a blistering story of desire, rivalry, and unraveling loyalties. Shulman captures the volatility and magnetism between a group of friends with wit, heat, and razor-sharp insight. I raced through this novel, from its bracingly original opening, all the way to its spine-tingling end." - Alison Fairbrother
"At once a complex study of childhood friendships, and a simmering, deliciously dark work of suspense . . . A completely singular debut you'll want to pass along to all your friends so you can discuss." - Olivia Muenter
"At once an astute social novel of the Brooklyn bourgeoisie and a twisty tale of obsession, Harmless swept me up and surprised me with every page. This examination of the dark sides of female friendship and sisterly love will keep you guessing until the very end." - Anna North
"A compulsive, funny, and tender tale of growing up, friendship, and grief that had me hooked until the last page. Shulman's sparkling prose and rich, unforgettable characters herald a new talent in fiction." - Cecile Pin
"Dark and tender and spot-on about grief, old friendship, and the strange uncertainty of being in your twenties when it's impossible to tell whether you're unraveling or just beginning." - Jessica Soffer
"A large-hearted and wise debut that captures something special about the way we live now and how we persist in the aftermath of tragedy. Shulman somehow manages to make grief highly readable, humorous, and delightful." - Stephanie Wambugu
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