Reader Score
74%
74% of readers
recommend this book
A propulsive novel about the power and paradoxes of desire, from the acclaimed author of The Amateurs.
As small children, Francine and her twin Philip shared a seemingly unbreakable bond--but in adolescence the connection frayed, and in adulthood the siblings are locked in a repeating loop of complex, destructive emotions. Matters have reached a breaking point, and Francine, now in her thirties and the married mother of two small boys, is convinced that Philip's teenaged infatuation with religion and subsequent ongoing obsession with his sister's "moral impropriety"--sparked by his discovery of her involvement in a forbidden relationship--are to blame.
As storm clouds of resentment and mutual betrayal gather ominously, threatening to upend both siblings' lives and damage their families, Francine unexpectedly finds herself in a situation that mirrors her earlier transgression: stirred and unsettled by her attraction to a wildly inappropriate man. And the one person who suspects is the last person she trusts--her disapproving twin.
With the plot twists of a thriller, lean prose crackling with intensity, and big ideas explored alongside the messy truth of human relationships, Strange Loops simultaneously shocks and thrills the reader, all while asking vital questions about faith, love, and desire.
"Liz Harmer’s gripping new novel makes the most of its slim page count as it toggles between the perspectives of twins Francine and Philip... Dense with twists, Harmer builds to a stunning conclusion that somehow feels both inevitable and unexpected."
North-American, full-service literary agency with agents in the U.S. & Canada covering adult & children's markets. Over 700 bestselling, award-winning clients.
We are thrilled to share that @lizharmer's propulsive novel STRANGE LOOPS has been getting rave reviews and media attention from @quillandquire, @cbcbooks and @globeandmail! Follow the link to learn more: https://t.co/LEy6YHWhpg Liz is represented by @s_haywood https://t.co/5QQgPFPPY7
fiction | non-fiction | craft books
"One thing I love about writing is how some small craft decision you make ends up affecting the entire feel of the book. For each of my books, this emerges as a difference in tone and style." @jeanmarcahsen chats with @lizharmer about STRANGE LOOPS: https://t.co/aUDi6zPGLR
"Gripping. . . . Dense with twists, [Strange Loops] builds to a stunning conclusion that somehow feels both inevitable and unexpected." --Chatelaine
"Exquisite and propulsive. . . . [Strange Loops is] an unsettling story of doubleness, the messiness and irresolvability of power dynamics, and what it means to be a woman who wants, who desires." --Pickle Me This
"A slender, wildly compelling novel that asks infinite questions--a dizzying, kaleidoscopic foray into the desires and fears that make us so imperfectly human. I was compelled from beginning to end--this is a novel that sinks into your very bones." --Amanda Leduc, author of The Centaur's Wife
"Lean and enthralling, Strange Loops is brimming with the complexities and questions of human relationships. A story that burns with intensity and daring." --Iain Reid, author of I'm Thinking of Ending Things, and Foe