Jean Hanff Korelitz’s The Latecomer is a profound and intricately crafted family saga that delves into the complexities of relationships, identity, and redemption within the affluent Oppenheimer family. At its core, the novel explores the emotional disconnection and simmering tensions that define the lives of Johanna and Salo Oppenheimer and their three children, Harrison, Lewyn, and Sally. This family, bound by wealth and privilege, is fractured by unspoken grievances, personal insecurities, and the weight of unprocessed grief.
The story begins with Johanna and Salo’s struggles with infertility, which lead to the conception of their triplets through IVF. Despite their shared origins, the siblings grow up as emotionally distant individuals, each navigating their personal struggles in isolation. Harrison, the eldest, is rigid, rule-abiding, and socially conservative, yet his inflexibility alienates him from meaningful connections. Lewyn is a romantic and a dreamer, but his idealism often leaves him unmoored and uncertain about his place in the world. Sally channels her frustrations and independence into her art, but she remains emotionally guarded and detached from her family. Their shared disdain for one another and their parents further deepens the chasm that divides them.
Salo, the enigmatic and distant patriarch, retreats into his obsession with art collecting, using it as a refuge from his unspoken sorrows and responsibilities. Meanwhile, Johanna, the ever-devoted but often overlooked matriarch, quietly endures the emotional void in her marriage and family. Her decision to have a fourth child many years after the triplets’ birth—a decision met with skepticism and resentment—ushers in Phoebe, the titular "latecomer." Phoebe’s arrival represents hope and renewal but also disruption, challenging the family’s uneasy status quo.
Unlike her older siblings, Phoebe grows up with a clarity of purpose and a resilience that sets her apart. Her presence forces the Oppenheimers to confront the emotional wounds and unresolved conflicts they have long ignored. Through her efforts to connect with her estranged siblings and navigate the legacy of their fractured family, Phoebe becomes the catalyst for a painful but necessary reckoning. Her perspective brings a fresh lens to the family’s dysfunction, revealing how privilege, grief, and unspoken truths have shaped their lives.
Korelitz masterfully weaves the story through multiple perspectives, giving each character a voice and revealing the nuances of their individual journeys. The narrative examines how wealth can both cushion and amplify personal struggles, how societal expectations shape identity, and how unprocessed grief can ripple through generations. The theme of lateness is central to the novel—not just in Phoebe’s delayed arrival but also in the slow unfolding of self-awareness and reconciliation among the Oppenheimers. Korelitz suggests that it is never too late to seek understanding, forgiveness, and connection, even in the face of longstanding resentment and hurt.
The Latecomer is a deeply emotional and thought-provoking novel that transcends the boundaries of a traditional family drama. Korelitz’s prose is incisive and rich with insight, her characters deeply flawed yet achingly human. As the Oppenheimers grapple with their past and learn to embrace their imperfections, the novel offers a moving meditation on what it means to belong and the possibilities of healing and growth within even the most fractured families. By its conclusion, The Latecomer leaves readers with a poignant reminder of the enduring power of love, forgiveness, and the bonds that tie us together.
