Andromeda

Therese Bohman’s Andromeda is a captivating exploration of human desire, ambition, and the subtle power dynamics of mentorship. A story narrated from two different perspectives, the plot rolls out like a leisurely stroll down Stockholm’s main street. Indeed, that is where Rydéns, the publishing house where the two main characters work, is located. Although the underpinnings of Andromeda might feel, at first, like the familiar trope of an older boss mentoring the impressionable young intern, Bohman takes a hard left on that assumption, subverting expectations with an unexpected change in perspective.

In an observational style familiar to Alice Munroe fans, whereby the sharing of everyday occurrences sparks magic in the mundane, Bohman paints intimate portraits of the emotional longings that exist between Gunnar, the editor-in-chief of Rydéns, and his ambitious young intern. The subliminal undertones of desire are concurrent—the intern aspires to what she believes Gunnar represents: literary influence, power, financial success, and respect.

Gunnar, feeling bruised and overwhelmed by his current partner, is attracted to the intern’s intelligence and confidence; a young woman unafraid to express her opinions in a room full of senior colleagues. She is, Gunnar believes, someone who will nourish his need for gentle kindness and nurturing—and hopefully a small amount of adoration. Throughout the narrative, Bohman skillfully explores the often-unspoken intricacies of human relationships in a way that feels both raw and universal.

As readers experience the development of each character, judgments form as to whose side we might take—that is until Bohman delivers a surprisingly poignant shift in semantics, which she masterfully takes her time to reveal. It is at this point that we realize Gunnar’s intentions are neither as clear-cut nor as selfish as we first imagined, which creates a deliciously effective sense of surprise, an “aha” we didn’t know we’d been waiting for, but welcome with a sense of newfound appreciation.

An accomplished author who understands and appreciates the ordinariness of workaday life, Bohman crafts a deeply relatable narrative that validates our emotional desires, reminding us that we are not alone in our jealousies, dreams, or desires. A must-read for those who savour literary fiction that turns the mundane into something extraordinary, Andromeda beautifully captures the quiet complexity of ordinary life.

—CANREADS TORONTO BOOK REVIEW

Published by Other Press

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