The Portrait of a Mirror

books by A. Natasha Joukovsky

Download The Portrait of a Mirror

A stunning reinvention of the myth of Narcissus as a modern novel of manners, about two young, well-heeled couples whose parallel lives intertwine over the course of a summer, by a sharp new voice in fiction.Wes and Diana are the kind of privileged, well-educated, self-involved New Yorkers you may not want to like but can't help wanting to like you. With his boyish good looks, blue-blood pedigree, and the recent tidy valuation of his tech startup, Wes would have made any woman weak in the knees—any woman, that is, except perhaps his wife. Brilliant to the point of cunning, Diana possesses her own arsenal of charms, handily deployed against Wes in their constant wars of will and rhetorical sparring. Vivien and Dale live in Philadelphia, but with ties to the same prep schools and management consulting firms as Wes and Diana, they’re of the same ilk. With a wedding date on the horizon and carefully curated life of coupledom, Vivien and Dale make a picture-perfect pair on Instagram. But... One of the strengths of this book lies in its thoughtful exploration of themes that resonate beyond the story itself. The narrative subtly reflects real-world situations, encouraging readers to consider broader perspectives without becoming overly didactic. The characters are portrayed with emotional depth, making their struggles and decisions feel authentic. As a result, the book not only entertains but also invites reflection long after the final chapter is finished. The narrative benefits from its balanced use of detail, offering enough description to establish context without overwhelming the reader. This measured approach allows the story to maintain momentum while still providing a vivid sense of place and atmosphere throughout the book.