“[Loved One] is special . . . full of wildly astute, delectably thorny questions about love and loss and possession.” —Maggie Shipstead, New York Times bestselling author of Great Circle
“Shimmers with wit even as it explores deep loss.” —Rachel Khong, New York Times bestselling author of Real Americans
Julia is eighteen when she meets her first-love-turned-close-friend, Gabe, at a party in Barcelona. Twelve years later, Julia meets Elizabeth, Gabe’s most recent ex-girlfriend, at Gabe’s funeral—an interaction that leaves Julia with more questions than answers about Gabe and their shared history.
When Gabe’s mother asks Julia to retrieve the sentimental objects her late son left in the London home he shared with Elizabeth, Julia leaps at the chance to track down her ex’s ex and make sense of their brief encounter. Soon, the two women find themselves in a complex dance of withholding and revelation. Both, it turns out, have something to hide.
An emotional mystery spanning years, continents, and relationship statuses, Loved One introduces Aisha Muharrar as a novelist intimately attuned to the intricacies of love, memory, and ambiguous loss. What happens when we admit that the deepest feelings never die? How do we reconcile various—and sometimes contradictory—truths about those closest to us? An engrossing, transformative coming-of-age story with a powerful love at its heart, Loved One is poised to become an instant classic.
Advance praise for Loved One:
“Loved One is special. This is the funniest book you’ll ever read about grief, and it’s full of wildly astute, delectably thorny questions about love and loss and possession.” —Maggie Shipstead, New York Times bestselling author of Great Circle
“Loved One shimmers with wit even as it explores deep loss. What does it mean to love and lose? How do we undo—and make—each other? Aisha Muharrar asks enduring questions while acknowledging how funny they can be, too. This is a book I will be pressing, urgently, into the hands of my own loved ones.” —Rachel Khong, New York Times bestselling author of Real Americans
“Aisha Muharrar has written the type of book you don’t just read, you consume. It’s equal parts hilarious, poignant, and thrilling. I was so engrossed I forgot to pick my kids up from school, so I’m also mad at her.” —Casey Wilson, actress, comedian, podcaster, and New York Times bestselling author of The Wreckage of My Presence
“Warm-hearted, funny, and written with style and panache, Loved One is both wise and a pleasure to read. I tore through it, from page one until its moving final pages. A terrific novel.” —Adelle Waldman, author of The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P.
Aisha Muharrar is an Emmy Award–winning writer and co-executive producer of the hit show Hacks (HBO). She was a writer for Parks and Recreation (NBC) for six seasons and has also written for The Good Place (NBC). Born in Connecticut and raised on Long Island, Muharrar lives in Los Angeles with her family. Loved One is her first novel.
View titles by Aisha Muharrar
“[Loved One] is special . . . full of wildly astute, delectably thorny questions about love and loss and possession.” —Maggie Shipstead, New York Times bestselling author of Great Circle
“Shimmers with wit even as it explores deep loss.” —Rachel Khong, New York Times bestselling author of Real Americans
Julia is eighteen when she meets her first-love-turned-close-friend, Gabe, at a party in Barcelona. Twelve years later, Julia meets Elizabeth, Gabe’s most recent ex-girlfriend, at Gabe’s funeral—an interaction that leaves Julia with more questions than answers about Gabe and their shared history.
When Gabe’s mother asks Julia to retrieve the sentimental objects her late son left in the London home he shared with Elizabeth, Julia leaps at the chance to track down her ex’s ex and make sense of their brief encounter. Soon, the two women find themselves in a complex dance of withholding and revelation. Both, it turns out, have something to hide.
An emotional mystery spanning years, continents, and relationship statuses, Loved One introduces Aisha Muharrar as a novelist intimately attuned to the intricacies of love, memory, and ambiguous loss. What happens when we admit that the deepest feelings never die? How do we reconcile various—and sometimes contradictory—truths about those closest to us? An engrossing, transformative coming-of-age story with a powerful love at its heart, Loved One is poised to become an instant classic.
Reviews
Advance praise for Loved One:
“Loved One is special. This is the funniest book you’ll ever read about grief, and it’s full of wildly astute, delectably thorny questions about love and loss and possession.” —Maggie Shipstead, New York Times bestselling author of Great Circle
“Loved One shimmers with wit even as it explores deep loss. What does it mean to love and lose? How do we undo—and make—each other? Aisha Muharrar asks enduring questions while acknowledging how funny they can be, too. This is a book I will be pressing, urgently, into the hands of my own loved ones.” —Rachel Khong, New York Times bestselling author of Real Americans
“Aisha Muharrar has written the type of book you don’t just read, you consume. It’s equal parts hilarious, poignant, and thrilling. I was so engrossed I forgot to pick my kids up from school, so I’m also mad at her.” —Casey Wilson, actress, comedian, podcaster, and New York Times bestselling author of The Wreckage of My Presence
“Warm-hearted, funny, and written with style and panache, Loved One is both wise and a pleasure to read. I tore through it, from page one until its moving final pages. A terrific novel.” —Adelle Waldman, author of The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P.
Aisha Muharrar is an Emmy Award–winning writer and co-executive producer of the hit show Hacks (HBO). She was a writer for Parks and Recreation (NBC) for six seasons and has also written for The Good Place (NBC). Born in Connecticut and raised on Long Island, Muharrar lives in Los Angeles with her family. Loved One is her first novel.
View titles by Aisha Muharrar
