Publication Date: September 23, 2025
The acclaimed, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Ruth and A Map of the World returns with a stunning coming-of-age novel about girls, mothers, and finding one’s way in the world.
Seventeen-year-old Phoebe was never interested in her birth family. But on the cusp of her high school graduation, her adoptive mother, Greta, insists on a visit to meet her biological parents and siblings. The encounter is a jolt, a revelation that derails Phoebe.
With the help of her best friend Luna, Phoebe runs away—as far as their friend Patrick O’Connor’s chaotic home, where she hopes to go unnoticed among his thirteen siblings. But when Phoebe asks Patrick to chop off her hip-length hair, she’s suddenly transformed. Patrick’s older brothers can’t help but notice the striking, Peter Pan–like stranger who has suddenly appeared in their midst.
What starts as an adolescent rebellion soon spirals into a whirlwind of self-discovery and unexpected connections. As she grapples with her shifting identity and strained relationships, Phoebe must navigate the tumultuous road out of girlhood and chart a new and unknown course.
A teenage girl finds herself searching for identity as she prepares to graduate from high school.
Her efforts resonate not only because of her age but through a series of events that challenge her beliefs. Author Jane Hamilton delivers a coming-of-age story in The Phoebe Variations.
Phoebe faces multiple challenges from all sides. Her adoptive mother pushes for a birth family reunion, her class ranking takes a tumble, and she refuses to become a babysitter for her mom’s latest additions.
The contrast between Phoebe and her best friend, Luna, offers key insight into the story. Luna comes from a wealthy family, while Phoebe doesn’t. Luna’s future is full of tradition, whereas Phoebe seems to be bobbing around aimlessly.
Phoebe’s decision to stay temporarily with another friend who has a large family also coincides with another significant milestone. Cutting off her waist-long hair is not only part rebellion, but it also illustrates Phoebe’s determination to leave the past behind. It also lays the foundation for an unexpected future.
The author’s writing is deep, requiring readers to think and draw conclusions. While I didn’t form a connection with the characters, readers who enjoy literary fiction will fall in love with this story.
The Phoebe Variations delves into the decisions of a teen girl and the consequences that follow.
Jane Hamilton’s novels have won literary prizes, have been made into films, and have been international bestsellers, and two of them, The Book of Ruth and A Map of the World, were selections of Oprah’s Book Club. Her nonfiction has appeared in the New York Times; The Washington Post; Allure; O, The Oprah Magazine; Elle; and various anthologies. She lives on an apple farm in Wisconsin.
