Relativity

A “beautifully written, heartbreaking” (S. J. Watson) literary novel about a gifted boy obsessed with physics who uncovers the truth about his past—and the devastating family secret his overprotective single mother has tried to hide.

“Original, compassionate, cleverly plotted, and genuinely difficult to put down.” —Graeme Simsion, New York Times bestselling author of The Rosie Project

Twelve-year-old Ethan Forsythe is a precocious, astronomy-loving boy growing up in Sydney, Australia, raised by his fiercely devoted single mother, Claire, a former professional ballerina. Ethan’s world is shaped by science, logic, and the mysteries of the universe—but he’s increasingly curious about the father he has never known. Claire has always shielded him from the past, guarding both her vulnerable son and her own carefully contained grief.

When Ethan falls ill—an illness tied to a traumatic event from his infancy—long-buried truths begin to surface. Thousands of miles away in Western Australia, Mark has spent years trying to outrun the tragedy that shattered his family. But an unexpected call forces him to confront what happened and return home. When Ethan secretly intercepts a letter from Mark to Claire, he sets in motion a chain of events that pulls mother, father, and son back into each other’s orbit—testing the limits of love, forgiveness, and what it means to protect the ones we love.

Told in alternating perspectives, Relativity is a poignant, thought-provoking exploration of family bonds, childhood trauma, parental love, and the fragile line between protection and truth. Perfect for readers of Jodi Picoult, Lisa Genova, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, this is an unforgettable debut about science, secrets, and the gravity of love.