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The Frequency of Living Things
A heartbreaking American epic about three sisters who unearth lifetimes of family tensions as they are forced to rescue one of their own from peril, testing the limits of sacrifice, sisterhood, and forgiveness from the author of the “profound work of great wisdom” (Alice Elliott Dark)
The Great Transition
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Josie may be the youngest sister, but she takes care of everyone. She is the left-brained scientist to her twin sisters’ right-brained artistic chaos. She makes sure their rent gets paid on time, they make their therapy appointments, and has also been their de-facto band manager since she was a teenager. When Ara, her middle sister (by a few minutes), calls from jail, it isn’t exactly a surprise, and Josie knows exactly how to snap into action.
Emma is the quintessential frontwoman, complete with looks and attitude. But the success of The Twins’ first (and only) album—gold records, Grammy nominations, and diehard fans—is two decades behind her. Hiding under the surface of her swagger is a long-held guilt that has turned her into her sister’s enabler. Emma knows she needs Ara’s creative genius and thinks a jailhouse record could be just the thing to get Ara her freedom and their band back on the main stage.
Ara is detoxing, not only from her opioid habit but also from her family. The truth is, as crazy as it sounds, she’s not in a hurry to get out of lock-up. In the most unlikely and dangerous of places, this could be her chance to face the demons of her past and disentangle herself from her family.
Bertie, who raised her three daughters as a single mother, has always taught them that family won’t always be around to take care of you. A former defense attorney and perennial do-gooder, she’s committed to taking care of everyone less fortunate even if that means putting her girls’ needs second. But now Bertie must decide if she should reenter her daughters’ lives in their greatest time of need—or watch to see if the resilience she’s taught them will help carry them through.
A story both intimate and sweeping, The Frequency of Living Things explores the timeless question of how our individual destinies are intertwined with our family, our siblings, and our history no matter how we try to untangle ourselves from them.
Josie may be the youngest sister, but she takes care of everyone. She is the left-brained scientist to her twin sisters’ right-brained artistic chaos. She makes sure their rent gets paid on time, they make their therapy appointments, and has also been their de-facto band manager since she was a teenager. When Ara, her middle sister (by a few minutes), calls from jail, it isn’t exactly a surprise, and Josie knows exactly how to snap into action.
Emma is the quintessential frontwoman, complete with looks and attitude. But the success of The Twins’ first (and only) album—gold records, Grammy nominations, and diehard fans—is two decades behind her. Hiding under the surface of her swagger is a long-held guilt that has turned her into her sister’s enabler. Emma knows she needs Ara’s creative genius and thinks a jailhouse record could be just the thing to get Ara her freedom and their band back on the main stage.
Ara is detoxing, not only from her opioid habit but also from her family. The truth is, as crazy as it sounds, she’s not in a hurry to get out of lock-up. In the most unlikely and dangerous of places, this could be her chance to face the demons of her past and disentangle herself from her family.
Bertie, who raised her three daughters as a single mother, has always taught them that family won’t always be around to take care of you. A former defense attorney and perennial do-gooder, she’s committed to taking care of everyone less fortunate even if that means putting her girls’ needs second. But now Bertie must decide if she should reenter her daughters’ lives in their greatest time of need—or watch to see if the resilience she’s taught them will help carry them through.
A story both intimate and sweeping, The Frequency of Living Things explores the timeless question of how our individual destinies are intertwined with our family, our siblings, and our history no matter how we try to untangle ourselves from them.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published August 12, 2025
26 people are currently reading
5678 people want to read
About the author
Nick Fuller Googins
4 books150 followersNick Fuller Googins is the author of the novel, The Great Transition (Atria Books). His short fiction and essays have appeared in The Paris Review, Men’s Health, The Sun, The Los Angeles Times, and elsewhere. He lives in Maine, and works as an elementary school teacher. He is a graduate of the Rutgers-Newark MFA program and recipient of a fellowship at the Hawthornden Castle International Retreat for Writers, which is definitely not haunted.
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August 3, 2025
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This is a tale about three sisters: Josie, Emma, and Ara. Ara ends up in jail, and Josie comes to the rescue yet again. Emma, the lead of their band back in the day, decided to help by suggesting they release a jailhouse record.
This was a very emotional read dealing with addiction and family drama. It is a well-written exploration of what sisterhood and family mean. I loved how different the characters were, yet at the same time, very similar in their love and devotion to each other.
While not everything was entirely plausible and had me shaking my head at times, I enjoyed the drama and messiness of life that the book portrays. It is very character-driven, and these are complex women who all have their strengths and weaknesses. The pace can be a bit slow, and the scientific jargon got to me (even though I understood the point of the insects being a metaphor for the family's dynamics). I appreciated how the author shed light on codependency and forgiveness. And even though these tough subjects are hard to read about, I also felt a lot of hope throughout these pages.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
The Book Review Crew Blog
This is a tale about three sisters: Josie, Emma, and Ara. Ara ends up in jail, and Josie comes to the rescue yet again. Emma, the lead of their band back in the day, decided to help by suggesting they release a jailhouse record.
This was a very emotional read dealing with addiction and family drama. It is a well-written exploration of what sisterhood and family mean. I loved how different the characters were, yet at the same time, very similar in their love and devotion to each other.
While not everything was entirely plausible and had me shaking my head at times, I enjoyed the drama and messiness of life that the book portrays. It is very character-driven, and these are complex women who all have their strengths and weaknesses. The pace can be a bit slow, and the scientific jargon got to me (even though I understood the point of the insects being a metaphor for the family's dynamics). I appreciated how the author shed light on codependency and forgiveness. And even though these tough subjects are hard to read about, I also felt a lot of hope throughout these pages.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
August 2, 2025
So different from The Great Transition, which I absolutely loved.
Nick Fuller Googins writes such powerful, emotionally complex, colorful and dynamic women characters. In this riveting novel, we have fierce feminist rock musicians, a prison matriarch, a brilliant scientist, an activist mom who’s more focused on saving the world and others less fortunate than her own children (which seemed to be the central theme in The Dutch House that people found so compelling but doesn’t hold a candle to this book!), none of them in traditional relationships.
And the writing is fantastic. Pithy, irreverent, precise.
Because of the deep research and knowledge that went into Googins’ previous book, I expected (hoped) this one would also be nature or climate-focused. But it’s completely a completely different genre, subject matter, era, everything! it’s about sisters and music and trauma and addiction (with some entomology and neuroscience mixed in, thanks to the caretaker sister, Josie, “the left-brained scientist to her twin sisters right-brained artistic chaos.”).
4.5 ⭐️s. Highly recommend. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Nick Fuller Googins writes such powerful, emotionally complex, colorful and dynamic women characters. In this riveting novel, we have fierce feminist rock musicians, a prison matriarch, a brilliant scientist, an activist mom who’s more focused on saving the world and others less fortunate than her own children (which seemed to be the central theme in The Dutch House that people found so compelling but doesn’t hold a candle to this book!), none of them in traditional relationships.
And the writing is fantastic. Pithy, irreverent, precise.
“What am I supposed to do?” Emma said, her voice climbing into an octave normally reserved for encores and orgasms.”
“Monogamy didn’t require marriage, but Unite-Here’s health plan did.”
“As for Bertie, if her marriage announcement is an olive branch, the disappointment from her parents is a woodchipper.”
Because of the deep research and knowledge that went into Googins’ previous book, I expected (hoped) this one would also be nature or climate-focused. But it’s completely a completely different genre, subject matter, era, everything! it’s about sisters and music and trauma and addiction (with some entomology and neuroscience mixed in, thanks to the caretaker sister, Josie, “the left-brained scientist to her twin sisters right-brained artistic chaos.”).
The vision calmed her with a warm cocktail of serotonin and allopregnenolone, the brain’s reward for knowing it was right.
4.5 ⭐️s. Highly recommend. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 17, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for inviting me to read this ARC and for sending me a physical copy!
This was nothing short of a masterpiece. I loved every second of it, even though a lot of it hurt me or made me upset.
This reads like a Fredrik Backman book, which I loved. The storytelling aspect of his writing at least. It is a very character driven book and I thought it was done fantastically.
It was a slow moving book, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t interesting or engaging. It felt like I was apart of all their lives.
Each of these characters were all very real people and I connected in some way with every single one of them. From Josie, to the twins, to Dean. Even Bertie and Walt. It took me about 2 pages to fall in love with them and their story. It was devastating how it ended. But that event and marriage changed the shape of these women’s lives. I even happened to care for Fabio and Mimi, who were very much side characters. I also really loved Janice! I wish she was in it more. That just goes to show you how amazing each of these characters were.
Araminta’s chapters had to be my favorite, even though they were so tragic and heartbreaking I couldn’t even bear to think about it.
The science stuff went over my head, it was a little too much for me. But it was cool to read about a woman so into science and who is so smart.
Politics were brought into the novel, and even if it didn’t take up a lot of space in the word count, its effects it had on the book were one of the most important aspects of the novel. It shaped a lot of the characters actions, especially Bertie’s.
I could tell where this book was going, but it is one of those cases where you are just praying it doesn’t end up how you think it will.
The ending left tears in my eyes, both happy and sad. I thought it wrapped up beautifully. My heart is aching and will for a while. This story will sit with me for a very long time.
The message of this whole entire book is so important, I think everyone should do themselves a favor and pick it up! Be prepared for reading about a lot of harsh and cruel things, such is life, but it is so worth it to know these characters.
This was nothing short of a masterpiece. I loved every second of it, even though a lot of it hurt me or made me upset.
This reads like a Fredrik Backman book, which I loved. The storytelling aspect of his writing at least. It is a very character driven book and I thought it was done fantastically.
It was a slow moving book, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t interesting or engaging. It felt like I was apart of all their lives.
Each of these characters were all very real people and I connected in some way with every single one of them. From Josie, to the twins, to Dean. Even Bertie and Walt. It took me about 2 pages to fall in love with them and their story. It was devastating how it ended. But that event and marriage changed the shape of these women’s lives. I even happened to care for Fabio and Mimi, who were very much side characters. I also really loved Janice! I wish she was in it more. That just goes to show you how amazing each of these characters were.
Araminta’s chapters had to be my favorite, even though they were so tragic and heartbreaking I couldn’t even bear to think about it.
The science stuff went over my head, it was a little too much for me. But it was cool to read about a woman so into science and who is so smart.
Politics were brought into the novel, and even if it didn’t take up a lot of space in the word count, its effects it had on the book were one of the most important aspects of the novel. It shaped a lot of the characters actions, especially Bertie’s.
I could tell where this book was going, but it is one of those cases where you are just praying it doesn’t end up how you think it will.
The ending left tears in my eyes, both happy and sad. I thought it wrapped up beautifully. My heart is aching and will for a while. This story will sit with me for a very long time.
The message of this whole entire book is so important, I think everyone should do themselves a favor and pick it up! Be prepared for reading about a lot of harsh and cruel things, such is life, but it is so worth it to know these characters.
February 12, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this advance reader copy, in exchange for an honest review. The Frequency of Living Things is a primarily sister story— about twins, Ara and Emma, and their sister, Josie, who have found their way into adulthood in a dependent, intense, and fraught connection with the added stress of a mostly absentee mother. Ara and Emma formed a band that experienced very early, intense success with a severe drop in popularity shortly thereafter and Josie has been along for the ride to act as a manager, both personally and professionally, for all of it. What emerges in this story is what happens when all of this is thrown into immediate chaos, with Ada’s involvement with drugs leads to her arrest, leading the three sisters into a whirlwind of emotions and activity.
This book was an interesting take on a sisterhood story and had a number of sharp turns that felt fresh and kept me reading throughout. I really enjoyed Ara and Emma’s characters as it was interesting to explore their dynamic as twins, as sisters, as bandmates, etc. and to see how much their lives were affected by Ara’s physical and later emotional distance from Emma. The story covers a lot of heavy topics and emotions related to addiction but, I felt like the author handled them well. The character of Josie felt a little unbelievable or maybe just a little ridiculous to me because of how heavily she managed and coordinated her sister’s activities and lives; I understand that this might be the reality for some families, especially when someone is struggling financially or with addiction but, I didn’t feel the extent of exasperation that I might expect in this type of case; it almost felt like Josie reveled in it and enjoyed this sense of control a bit too much to be realistic, given the circumstances. But, perhaps this is just my interpretation as an external reader. Otherwise, the pacing of this book was good and I enjoyed the overall reading experience. I would rate this at a 3.5 stars.
In any case, this book was a quick read and I think anyone interested in sister stories or contemporary fiction would enjoy this! I would caution a reader that there are trigger warnings in this book related to suicide and addiction to be aware of. However, I think it’s still a good read and would recommend it!
This book was an interesting take on a sisterhood story and had a number of sharp turns that felt fresh and kept me reading throughout. I really enjoyed Ara and Emma’s characters as it was interesting to explore their dynamic as twins, as sisters, as bandmates, etc. and to see how much their lives were affected by Ara’s physical and later emotional distance from Emma. The story covers a lot of heavy topics and emotions related to addiction but, I felt like the author handled them well. The character of Josie felt a little unbelievable or maybe just a little ridiculous to me because of how heavily she managed and coordinated her sister’s activities and lives; I understand that this might be the reality for some families, especially when someone is struggling financially or with addiction but, I didn’t feel the extent of exasperation that I might expect in this type of case; it almost felt like Josie reveled in it and enjoyed this sense of control a bit too much to be realistic, given the circumstances. But, perhaps this is just my interpretation as an external reader. Otherwise, the pacing of this book was good and I enjoyed the overall reading experience. I would rate this at a 3.5 stars.
In any case, this book was a quick read and I think anyone interested in sister stories or contemporary fiction would enjoy this! I would caution a reader that there are trigger warnings in this book related to suicide and addiction to be aware of. However, I think it’s still a good read and would recommend it!
August 10, 2025
4 stars. A generational family drama about an absentee activist mother putting others over her own children, and her three daughters bound by sisterhood but broken apart by trauma. The book is an emotional + twisty sister story of survival that focuses on the three sisters, music, family dynamics, codependency and addiction. What Googins does particularly well is how he reflects upon the meaning of sisterhood and family. I like that it’s very character-driven and is such an interesting and fresh take on a sisterhood story. Definitely moving up his backlist book. Pub. 8/12/25
⚠️There are trigger warnings related to suicide and addiction.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
⚠️There are trigger warnings related to suicide and addiction.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 22, 2025
I would say this is 3.5 stars.
This book was good, but it was not a fast read for me. There were parts I really liked, and parts I really different. There was great character development, and each character's personality was defined. There were times it go repetitive, and the use of very complicated scientific language at times made it hard to follow. But, all and all, a good story about family, heartbreak and growth.
Thank you so much to Atria Books for gifting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book was good, but it was not a fast read for me. There were parts I really liked, and parts I really different. There was great character development, and each character's personality was defined. There were times it go repetitive, and the use of very complicated scientific language at times made it hard to follow. But, all and all, a good story about family, heartbreak and growth.
Thank you so much to Atria Books for gifting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 5, 2025
This.....this did nothing for me.
Generally, I'm drawn to stories about sisters. I've said that time and time again. The Frequency of Living Things is the story of three sisters and their mother. It's about strained relationships, independence, music, friendship, romance, and pain. Sounds good, right?
Well, these are the four worst kind of women.
Bertie, the mother: activist too busy saving lives to worry about her own children.
Ara and Emma, the rockstars: The twins had one huge hit, but now are trying to make a comeback, despite one being a drug addict and the other being the enabler.
Josie, the youngest: What a miserable nerd. Constant maryter syndrome. Impulsive personality. Dean deserved more.
I think that this had the potential to be a great story about redemption and acceptance, but reading this was worse than pulling teeth. It JUST.KEPT.GOING.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Generally, I'm drawn to stories about sisters. I've said that time and time again. The Frequency of Living Things is the story of three sisters and their mother. It's about strained relationships, independence, music, friendship, romance, and pain. Sounds good, right?
Well, these are the four worst kind of women.
Bertie, the mother: activist too busy saving lives to worry about her own children.
Ara and Emma, the rockstars: The twins had one huge hit, but now are trying to make a comeback, despite one being a drug addict and the other being the enabler.
Josie, the youngest: What a miserable nerd. Constant maryter syndrome. Impulsive personality. Dean deserved more.
I think that this had the potential to be a great story about redemption and acceptance, but reading this was worse than pulling teeth. It JUST.KEPT.GOING.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 3, 2025
It’s the All-American Family. The mother, Bertie, is single working late hours and too busy to raise her daughters. The twins, Ara and Emma, are able to cope with music. They eventually start a successful band. One gets hooked on drugs; the other one is an enabler. They fight and then get along.
The younger sister, Josie, has control issues. She takes care of the older twins with finances and seems very bossy. She also studies leaf cutter ants at a PhD level (fascinating addition to the story). She’s the only one with a relationship with her best friend, Dean. They all could use a good therapist or at least a caring mom. Sadly, their dad had died when they were all very young.
The plot was well crafted on several levels. Yet, for me, however, it was dark and I just wanted to step away at times which created a slow pace. It felt like I was crawling through the 336-page book with deeply depressing issues. The only character that seemed happy was Dean. It was all about love for him. The women all had multifaceted, complicated matters in their lives.
It made me think about how children develop emotional traits of depression, anger, anxiety, independence or curiosity with the love of art and science. Was alcoholism and addiction passed down from the genes? And how did all of this relate to the ants taking care of each other? Made me think of the fire ants that bite if you get in their way.
I kept wondering how this author had the imagination of these women. It would be an interesting interview. Did he know anyone like them? I could feel the presence of each person in the story with their clothes, behavior and personality. I’ll now put his books on my list.
My thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of August 12, 2025.
The younger sister, Josie, has control issues. She takes care of the older twins with finances and seems very bossy. She also studies leaf cutter ants at a PhD level (fascinating addition to the story). She’s the only one with a relationship with her best friend, Dean. They all could use a good therapist or at least a caring mom. Sadly, their dad had died when they were all very young.
The plot was well crafted on several levels. Yet, for me, however, it was dark and I just wanted to step away at times which created a slow pace. It felt like I was crawling through the 336-page book with deeply depressing issues. The only character that seemed happy was Dean. It was all about love for him. The women all had multifaceted, complicated matters in their lives.
It made me think about how children develop emotional traits of depression, anger, anxiety, independence or curiosity with the love of art and science. Was alcoholism and addiction passed down from the genes? And how did all of this relate to the ants taking care of each other? Made me think of the fire ants that bite if you get in their way.
I kept wondering how this author had the imagination of these women. It would be an interesting interview. Did he know anyone like them? I could feel the presence of each person in the story with their clothes, behavior and personality. I’ll now put his books on my list.
My thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of August 12, 2025.
March 3, 2025
I received a digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my review-this book comes out in August 2025.
I loved the characters of Emma, Ara, Josie, and Bertie. The story of these sisters and their mother was one I could relate quite a bit to and I saw pieces of myself in each of the characters. This was a story about love, loss, and forgiveness and what all of those mean for each of the characters.
I loved the characters of Emma, Ara, Josie, and Bertie. The story of these sisters and their mother was one I could relate quite a bit to and I saw pieces of myself in each of the characters. This was a story about love, loss, and forgiveness and what all of those mean for each of the characters.
August 10, 2025
Emma and Ara are twins who found fame with an album years ago but haven't made new music since. While Emma yearns to be back, Ara struggles with a drug addiction and trips to rehab. Their younger sister Josie bears the burden of it all trying to keep them all going, even when she herself goes a bit unnoticed. As for their mother, Bertie: once a renowned lawyer and activist, she now spends her time fighting for the world rather than providing care for her own family. When Ara winds up in prison, she sees it as a chance to fully detox- from the drugs and from her sisters. Meanwhile, Emma sees it as an opportunity for a musical comeback, and Josie will stop at nothing to get Ara out of jail.
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Normally, I'm a sucker for a sibling/ family story. With heavy vibes of Blue Sisters (and a little bit of Griffin Sisters Greatest Hits), I had every expectation to love this one, but I just don't think I fully connected with most of the characters or story. Josie started to feel like too much of a martyr that I began to lack empathy for her. I enjoyed getting Bertie's backstory but didn't feel it helped to soften her character much. I did love Ara and found her the most compelling and heartbreaking to watch her fight to overcome her addictions. There were also a few prominent side characters that I found I loved more than most of the main players. My interest picked up a bit in the middle (partly in thanks to chatting with Barb who was reading this at the same time) but by the last section of the book, it had significantly tapered again. It wasn't ultimately a fit for me, but I do feel it will resonate strongly with others and still recommend it if you gravitate towards these types of stories.
✨ Thank you to Atria for the invitation to read this one through Net Galley!
🎉 Pub date: 8•12•2025
▪️
Normally, I'm a sucker for a sibling/ family story. With heavy vibes of Blue Sisters (and a little bit of Griffin Sisters Greatest Hits), I had every expectation to love this one, but I just don't think I fully connected with most of the characters or story. Josie started to feel like too much of a martyr that I began to lack empathy for her. I enjoyed getting Bertie's backstory but didn't feel it helped to soften her character much. I did love Ara and found her the most compelling and heartbreaking to watch her fight to overcome her addictions. There were also a few prominent side characters that I found I loved more than most of the main players. My interest picked up a bit in the middle (partly in thanks to chatting with Barb who was reading this at the same time) but by the last section of the book, it had significantly tapered again. It wasn't ultimately a fit for me, but I do feel it will resonate strongly with others and still recommend it if you gravitate towards these types of stories.
✨ Thank you to Atria for the invitation to read this one through Net Galley!
🎉 Pub date: 8•12•2025
February 21, 2025
Emma and Ara are rockstars whose band is on the way to just being known as a one hit wonder. Their mother, Bertie, cares so much about helping others that she's barely around for her own family. And their younger sister Josie is the opposite - she's always there to help no matter what. Ara struggles with addiction and this ends up landing her in prison while her sisters stop at nothing to get her out.
As a protective and super engaged sister, I felt for Josie but even I have my limits! Josie dropped everything for her sisters, even if it meant straining relationships and causing herself insane stress. I found this a bit much. I also struggled with liking the characters at times because of the choices they made throughout the story. I did really love Ara's character though - I think addiction is such a tricky topic to write about but it translated well and realistically in this story and Ara was relatable, strong and inspiring.
When it comes down to it, this story is about family and how complicated life can be with them. If you like family dramas and stories with strong sister bonds, I'd recommend this. Don't blame me if you cry a few times like I did!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
As a protective and super engaged sister, I felt for Josie but even I have my limits! Josie dropped everything for her sisters, even if it meant straining relationships and causing herself insane stress. I found this a bit much. I also struggled with liking the characters at times because of the choices they made throughout the story. I did really love Ara's character though - I think addiction is such a tricky topic to write about but it translated well and realistically in this story and Ara was relatable, strong and inspiring.
When it comes down to it, this story is about family and how complicated life can be with them. If you like family dramas and stories with strong sister bonds, I'd recommend this. Don't blame me if you cry a few times like I did!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 28, 2025
Because family and opioids really aren’t so different. Both can make you feel great until suddenly they don’t. from The Frequency of Living Things by Nick Fuller Googins
I wasn’t sure about this book until suddenly I couldn’t put it down. This story of sisters who have been self-reliant with absent parents most of their lives becomes deeper and more complex the more we learn the family backstory.
Twins Ara and Emma were a one-hit wonder. Their dad left them a legacy of music, Smiley Smile by the Beach Boys a favorite album. (Yes, sad timing for the book, so soon after the death of Brian Wilson.) Emma tries to manage Ara’s addiction, but Ara lands back in jail. Their younger sister Josie has put her life on hold–again–to help her sisters.
Their mother, a disbarred lawyer and Boomer bleeding heart, is better at dedicating herself to fighting injustice than her to her daughters; she believes they can take care of themselves. Because they always did take care of themselves, their photographer dad killed covering a story and their politically active mom Bertie letting them raise themselves. Even when Ara suffered a crisis. Bertie leaves the country instead of staying to help Ara.
Josie can’t believe anyone or anything in life is reliable. “Humans always let you down,” she knows. So she dedicates herself to biological studies, particularly the leaf cutter ant. Unlike humans, the ants always put the colony first.
Ara commits to sobriety and helping others in prison. Emma is committed to developing a new album to raise money for Ara’s bail. Josie puts her relationship to Dean second to helping her sisters.
And their mother Bertie comes to a reckoning when things go wrong.
Do we put the greater good first, or take care of our own?
I ended up loving this story of family and sisters and generational conflicts and music and growth. The deeper insight I gained into the characters, the more I cared about them.
Thanks to the publisher for a free egalley.
I wasn’t sure about this book until suddenly I couldn’t put it down. This story of sisters who have been self-reliant with absent parents most of their lives becomes deeper and more complex the more we learn the family backstory.
Twins Ara and Emma were a one-hit wonder. Their dad left them a legacy of music, Smiley Smile by the Beach Boys a favorite album. (Yes, sad timing for the book, so soon after the death of Brian Wilson.) Emma tries to manage Ara’s addiction, but Ara lands back in jail. Their younger sister Josie has put her life on hold–again–to help her sisters.
Their mother, a disbarred lawyer and Boomer bleeding heart, is better at dedicating herself to fighting injustice than her to her daughters; she believes they can take care of themselves. Because they always did take care of themselves, their photographer dad killed covering a story and their politically active mom Bertie letting them raise themselves. Even when Ara suffered a crisis. Bertie leaves the country instead of staying to help Ara.
Josie can’t believe anyone or anything in life is reliable. “Humans always let you down,” she knows. So she dedicates herself to biological studies, particularly the leaf cutter ant. Unlike humans, the ants always put the colony first.
Ara commits to sobriety and helping others in prison. Emma is committed to developing a new album to raise money for Ara’s bail. Josie puts her relationship to Dean second to helping her sisters.
And their mother Bertie comes to a reckoning when things go wrong.
Do we put the greater good first, or take care of our own?
I ended up loving this story of family and sisters and generational conflicts and music and growth. The deeper insight I gained into the characters, the more I cared about them.
Thanks to the publisher for a free egalley.
July 14, 2025
Thank you to Atria Books for sending me a physical ARC of this book!!
I originally discovered Nick Fuller Googins via a Goodreads Giveaway. The Great Transition blew me away when I read it. It was both literary and dystopian and unlike anything I had read before. This book takes all the same skill Googins had with his debut and puts it into a fully literary genre.
This novel follows three sisters and their estranged mother. Each have their own struggles. The youngest is kind of a "retired overachieving student." Then there are the two twins used to be in a hit band with one hit album... and nothing since. When one of them is suddenly arrested, all of them are forced to consider what they'd do for their family. Will one of them stay clean? Are they willing to betray friends for bail money? Would they write music without their other half? All while that happens, they are forced to also confront who they are as individuals and what they want.
This story wouldn't have been anything I'd gravitate towards normally. (I mean the cover is giving National Geographic's worst cover ever.) I wanted to read it knowing how well Googins writes prose. He does one of my favorite things in literary fiction (or any fiction) where there are mini stories throughout scenes to add to characterization. It works so well and is something I badly want to mimic in my own writing!
Between the two, The Great Transtition is my favorite of his novels, but this one, though it is so different, holds the same charm. I would highly recommend it!
I originally discovered Nick Fuller Googins via a Goodreads Giveaway. The Great Transition blew me away when I read it. It was both literary and dystopian and unlike anything I had read before. This book takes all the same skill Googins had with his debut and puts it into a fully literary genre.
This novel follows three sisters and their estranged mother. Each have their own struggles. The youngest is kind of a "retired overachieving student." Then there are the two twins used to be in a hit band with one hit album... and nothing since. When one of them is suddenly arrested, all of them are forced to consider what they'd do for their family. Will one of them stay clean? Are they willing to betray friends for bail money? Would they write music without their other half? All while that happens, they are forced to also confront who they are as individuals and what they want.
This story wouldn't have been anything I'd gravitate towards normally. (I mean the cover is giving National Geographic's worst cover ever.) I wanted to read it knowing how well Googins writes prose. He does one of my favorite things in literary fiction (or any fiction) where there are mini stories throughout scenes to add to characterization. It works so well and is something I badly want to mimic in my own writing!
Between the two, The Great Transtition is my favorite of his novels, but this one, though it is so different, holds the same charm. I would highly recommend it!
July 23, 2025
I love stories about sisters, and Nick Fuller Googins delivers brilliantly in "The Frequency of Living Things," a novel that explores the complex web of mother-daughter relationships and sisterhood. I was immediately drawn into the lives of three sisters—older twins Ara and Emma, their younger sister Josie, and their mother Bertie.
The family dynamics fascinated me, particularly how Josie, despite being the youngest, became the responsible one who felt accountable for her older sisters. Emma and Ara, former members of a one-hit-wonder band, battle their own demons throughout the narrative. Meanwhile, the mother-daughter relationship is fraught with irony—Bertie dedicates herself to helping those in need yet fails her daughters when they seek her help.
This story broke my heart and moved me deeply. The ending strikes a delicate balance between tragedy and hope, leaving a lasting impression. If you enjoyed "Blue Sisters," this one will resonate with you just as powerfully.
Special thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advance copies. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
The family dynamics fascinated me, particularly how Josie, despite being the youngest, became the responsible one who felt accountable for her older sisters. Emma and Ara, former members of a one-hit-wonder band, battle their own demons throughout the narrative. Meanwhile, the mother-daughter relationship is fraught with irony—Bertie dedicates herself to helping those in need yet fails her daughters when they seek her help.
This story broke my heart and moved me deeply. The ending strikes a delicate balance between tragedy and hope, leaving a lasting impression. If you enjoyed "Blue Sisters," this one will resonate with you just as powerfully.
Special thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advance copies. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
May 10, 2025
The Frequency of Living Things is a story of three women bound by sisterhood, but broken apart by familial trauma and the long-term effects of trying to cope with their unorthodox childhood and the emotional abandonment they experienced.
The Twins are destined to be one-hit wonders. Their freshman album reached gold status and received a Grammy nomination, but that was twenty years ago, and their gigs now are few and far between. Emma isn't willing to accept defeat, but she's nothing without Ara, and Ara is nothing without drugs. Younger sister Josie acts as the band's manager and constantly drops everything to help her sisters; from paying bills to managing the merch table - there's nothing she won't do for her older sisters; often sacrificing her own needs for theirs.
When Ara is arrested, Josie sees it as an opportunity to try again to help her sister get clean. Emma sees it as her chance to create a jailhouse album that's sure to put The Twins back in the spotlight. Ara, on the other hand, feels like this separation is just what she needs to clear her mind and body, not only of drugs, but of her family, too. With their mother Bertie busy helping those who "need love most", the sisters must come together to raise money to bail out their sister and get their lives back on track.
Heartbreaking in its raw look at addiction and family dysfunction, this powerful story feels like a peek behind the curtain of what people allow the world to see. Each of the characters has unhealthy coping skills and struggles to come to terms with the life they've created for themselves. The alternating POV allows the reader to experience the situation from each character's perspective, allowing the big picture to come into focus.
I'm very impressed with Googins' ability to include fascinating information, write emotionally deep characters, and cover so many traumatic elements, and for it to be woven into a braid of a story that will stay with me for a long time. The Frequency of Living Things is beautifully written and worth reading if you're looking for an emotionally charged story that will break you in the best way possible.
Pub Date: August 12, 2025
5 Stars
Huge thank you to Atria Books for sending me an ARC of this novel.
The Twins are destined to be one-hit wonders. Their freshman album reached gold status and received a Grammy nomination, but that was twenty years ago, and their gigs now are few and far between. Emma isn't willing to accept defeat, but she's nothing without Ara, and Ara is nothing without drugs. Younger sister Josie acts as the band's manager and constantly drops everything to help her sisters; from paying bills to managing the merch table - there's nothing she won't do for her older sisters; often sacrificing her own needs for theirs.
When Ara is arrested, Josie sees it as an opportunity to try again to help her sister get clean. Emma sees it as her chance to create a jailhouse album that's sure to put The Twins back in the spotlight. Ara, on the other hand, feels like this separation is just what she needs to clear her mind and body, not only of drugs, but of her family, too. With their mother Bertie busy helping those who "need love most", the sisters must come together to raise money to bail out their sister and get their lives back on track.
Heartbreaking in its raw look at addiction and family dysfunction, this powerful story feels like a peek behind the curtain of what people allow the world to see. Each of the characters has unhealthy coping skills and struggles to come to terms with the life they've created for themselves. The alternating POV allows the reader to experience the situation from each character's perspective, allowing the big picture to come into focus.
I'm very impressed with Googins' ability to include fascinating information, write emotionally deep characters, and cover so many traumatic elements, and for it to be woven into a braid of a story that will stay with me for a long time. The Frequency of Living Things is beautifully written and worth reading if you're looking for an emotionally charged story that will break you in the best way possible.
Pub Date: August 12, 2025
5 Stars
Huge thank you to Atria Books for sending me an ARC of this novel.
August 23, 2025
THE FREQUENCY OF LIVING THINGS
BY: NICK FULLER GOOGINS
Literary Fiction is my favorite genre because it's character driven which this unique narrative definitely was. It's about an activist single mother who can be proactive taking up International causes, named Bertie. I could see that Bertie didn't leave home in the best of circumstances, which one example she describes as flinging jam at her father, and his reaction being abusive. She isn't a presence in her daughters lives especially when a huge crises occurs, and her youngest daughter Josie drives back to Maine to coax her back to the Boston area (which I'm very familiar with). There are two older twins named Emma, and Ara, who have a band that was nominated for a Grammy Award, but seems to be floundering to which after giving a concert to a small amount of people who attend, Ara is put in prison for drug trafficking. Ara has an addiction to heavy duty drugs, so she's detoxing in jail. That's the reason why Josie, who is the family caretaker went to Maine, since even though the girls are adults they needed their mother, and she didn't see reason. Their father died when the girls were young.
Ara's bail is $100,000.00 and her mother was a lawyer, so she seemed to be completely self-absorbed by ignoring her youngest daughter's pleas to the point of being if not cold, then unconcerned. They had a family home where a home equity loan could have helped bail her daughter out, but Bertie the mother lost the home for not paying Federal income taxes, and the IRS seized it. Ara's lawyer offered her what I thought was a great deal which she declined since she didn't want to implicate the man named Roman who was involved with the drugs. Ara was the creative brains behind their band writing the lyrics, and her twin sister Emma looks in Ara's box of diaries, and journals, and is attempting to raise the bail money by producing a "Jailhouse" new music. Her twin sister Emma goes in her twin sister's name under false identification to a therapist that was supposed to be for Ara.
Josie, the youngest sister visits Ara alone in jail, and when the subject of bail comes up, Ara doesn't want to leave without sending Josie on a mission to bring her jailhouse roommate's three young children to see their mother. Josie was a PhD student that was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship and ended up at Stanford which wasn't her first choice. The Fulbright Fellowship program was founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. It has been considered as one of the most prestigious scholarships in the United States. At Stanford she was a participant in Dr Lees lab at the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Josie had published two articles after spending three years in Dr. Lee's lab in 'American Myrmecologist. Myrmecology is the branch of entomology that deals with ants. There's quite a bit of discourse from Josie in which she narrates how sister ants play a significant role in ant colonies. Just like this novel's heavy emphasis on sisters did not escape my attention. She has a falling out with Dr. Lee about her dissertation, and gets in an accident which leads to her suspension.
"Every ant and butterfly and Lizard in the World knew it. For the survival of the
family--the colony, the species, the genome--what won't an organism do?"
Publication Date: August 12, 2025
Thank you to Net Galley, Nick Fuller Googins, and Atria Books for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own, as always.
#TheFrequencyofLivingThings #NickFullerGoogins #AtriaBooks #NetGalley
September 2, 2025
Josie may be the youngest Tayloe but make no mistake—she carries the heaviest weight. The doer, the leader, the protector, Josie sincerely believes she can take care of everyone. But her compulsive need to keep her family in line takes a mental and emotional toll, leaving her own desires neglected and her relationships strained.
Emma is the loud, dazzling musical prodigy with the voice of an angel, desperate to reclaim the fame she once tasted. Along with her twin sister Ara, Emma once took the music world by storm—Grammy nomination and all. But now Ara is behind bars, and what begins as a joke about recording a “prison album” sparks Emma’s determination to pull her sister back into the spotlight for their long-awaited sophomore release.
Ara, the violently loud drummer, is ironically the quietest of them all. Her lyrics fueled the band’s success, but her silence hides relentless trauma. To numb the pain, she turns to opioids—an escape that lands her in jail. And yet, in confinement, Ara finds the unexpected: space to face her past, get clean, and consider the future she truly wants.
Bertie, their mother, grew up in southern country clubs and debutante balls, but always knew she didn’t belong in that world. Brilliant, sharp, and activist-minded, she left that lifestyle behind, determined to raise three daughters who would never need saving. Fiercely feminist, sometimes to extremes, Bertie’s parenting is laid bare as the story shows how her choices echo in each child’s life.
Despite their dysfunction—and perhaps because of it—the Tayloes remain tightly bound. Josie, Emma, and Ara’s extreme personalities often veer toward the one-dimensional, but Bertie’s uncompromising ideals shaped them this way. The Frequency of Living Things examines parenting, trauma, and identity under a microscope, giving readers, a front-row seat to dissecting the costs of family and the weight of survival.
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and author Nick Fuller Googins for the advanced copy of the book. The Frequency of Living Things is out now. All opinions are my own.
http://www.instagram.com/passionforprose
Emma is the loud, dazzling musical prodigy with the voice of an angel, desperate to reclaim the fame she once tasted. Along with her twin sister Ara, Emma once took the music world by storm—Grammy nomination and all. But now Ara is behind bars, and what begins as a joke about recording a “prison album” sparks Emma’s determination to pull her sister back into the spotlight for their long-awaited sophomore release.
Ara, the violently loud drummer, is ironically the quietest of them all. Her lyrics fueled the band’s success, but her silence hides relentless trauma. To numb the pain, she turns to opioids—an escape that lands her in jail. And yet, in confinement, Ara finds the unexpected: space to face her past, get clean, and consider the future she truly wants.
Bertie, their mother, grew up in southern country clubs and debutante balls, but always knew she didn’t belong in that world. Brilliant, sharp, and activist-minded, she left that lifestyle behind, determined to raise three daughters who would never need saving. Fiercely feminist, sometimes to extremes, Bertie’s parenting is laid bare as the story shows how her choices echo in each child’s life.
Despite their dysfunction—and perhaps because of it—the Tayloes remain tightly bound. Josie, Emma, and Ara’s extreme personalities often veer toward the one-dimensional, but Bertie’s uncompromising ideals shaped them this way. The Frequency of Living Things examines parenting, trauma, and identity under a microscope, giving readers, a front-row seat to dissecting the costs of family and the weight of survival.
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and author Nick Fuller Googins for the advanced copy of the book. The Frequency of Living Things is out now. All opinions are my own.
http://www.instagram.com/passionforprose
March 20, 2025
The Frequency of Living Things by Nick Fuller Googins is an expansive book about three sisters facing life’s trials while dealing with their past. The twins, Emma and Ara, are the oldest and have been in a rock band together since high school. While they enjoyed tremendous success early in their careers, they have lost their spark and now play only local bars. Josie is the youngest sister and she is the caretaker. She makes sure the twins have a place to live. She runs the merch table at their shows and manages their band. Josie is a scientist but works full-time at Butterfly & Reptile World as a manager. When a crisis arises involving one of the sisters, Josie is always the one who steps up. Their mother, Bertie, is a former defense attorney. She wasn’t around for much of their childhood due to work or various charitable causes. Bertie appears for several chapters but believes in allowing her daughters to depend on themselves. She struggles with whether to intervene in the current crisis or not.
The pacing of this novel is slow to medium. This is not necessarily a bad thing. It is very character-driven. I cared about the girls and what was happening in the story. I was never bored. I found Ara’s story arc interesting, especially the latter parts when she came to certain realizations about her life and the direction she wanted it to go. I also liked the way Josie & Emma’s characters developed toward the end, choosing to focus on the future rather than the past. The themes of family/generational trauma, grief, rape, co-dependency, and substance abuse were treated with care. I found the book both realistic and heartbreaking. However, there is a ribbon of hope tucked inside.
I will recommend this book to everyone who enjoys family/relationship fiction. Thank you to Simon & Schuster/Atria Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The pacing of this novel is slow to medium. This is not necessarily a bad thing. It is very character-driven. I cared about the girls and what was happening in the story. I was never bored. I found Ara’s story arc interesting, especially the latter parts when she came to certain realizations about her life and the direction she wanted it to go. I also liked the way Josie & Emma’s characters developed toward the end, choosing to focus on the future rather than the past. The themes of family/generational trauma, grief, rape, co-dependency, and substance abuse were treated with care. I found the book both realistic and heartbreaking. However, there is a ribbon of hope tucked inside.
I will recommend this book to everyone who enjoys family/relationship fiction. Thank you to Simon & Schuster/Atria Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
July 28, 2025
The Frequency of Living Things by Nick Fuller Googins is a recommended family drama, for the right reader, that follows three sisters and their absent mother.
The youngest Tayloe sister Josie, left her PhD program and now takes care of her older sisters. Twins Emma and Ara had a hit record years ago with their band named Jojo and the Twins where Emma was vocals and on the guitar while Ara wrote the songs and played drums. Now the two are broke, Ara is on drugs, and they depend upon Josie to take care of them. Their mother, Bertie, is off doing her own thing. Now Ara is in jail and detoxing, Emma wants to use this situation to create a new album, and Josie is trying to raise bail money.
At it's core, this is a novel about choices and consequences. Part of my issue with it was everyone was making bad choices without considering the consequences. This required setting aside a great deal of disbelief. While the quality of the writing was basically good, the pace felt glacially slow to me and it was a slog to finish. The one good choice was Ara using her incarceration to detox from drugs and her family.
None of the characters were likable and I struggled to connect with them. I hated that Josie sacrificed to care for her sisters who are adults. They were both capable to go find a job, pay their own rent, and care for themselves. It wasn't Josie's responsibility to do so but her sisters seemed to expect her to take care of them while they were never grateful.
Bertie is an annoying character with no redeeming qualities. All the political messaging in any chapter featuring her was irritating and off-putting. This along with the rampant bad choices made The Frequency of Living Things a struggle for me to read and stay invested in the story. Thanks to Atria Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2025/0...
The youngest Tayloe sister Josie, left her PhD program and now takes care of her older sisters. Twins Emma and Ara had a hit record years ago with their band named Jojo and the Twins where Emma was vocals and on the guitar while Ara wrote the songs and played drums. Now the two are broke, Ara is on drugs, and they depend upon Josie to take care of them. Their mother, Bertie, is off doing her own thing. Now Ara is in jail and detoxing, Emma wants to use this situation to create a new album, and Josie is trying to raise bail money.
At it's core, this is a novel about choices and consequences. Part of my issue with it was everyone was making bad choices without considering the consequences. This required setting aside a great deal of disbelief. While the quality of the writing was basically good, the pace felt glacially slow to me and it was a slog to finish. The one good choice was Ara using her incarceration to detox from drugs and her family.
None of the characters were likable and I struggled to connect with them. I hated that Josie sacrificed to care for her sisters who are adults. They were both capable to go find a job, pay their own rent, and care for themselves. It wasn't Josie's responsibility to do so but her sisters seemed to expect her to take care of them while they were never grateful.
Bertie is an annoying character with no redeeming qualities. All the political messaging in any chapter featuring her was irritating and off-putting. This along with the rampant bad choices made The Frequency of Living Things a struggle for me to read and stay invested in the story. Thanks to Atria Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2025/0...
July 31, 2025
I hope this novel finds its audience because it is sure to leave an impression.
Walt and Bertie believed in making the world a better place for their three daughters. They both lived and breathed activism. It cost Walt his life when the girls were very young and Bertie continued to set this example through her work as an attorney. The issue is that as much as Bertie is a loving mother she isn't a present mother. The eldest daughters Ara and Emma are twins. They experienced short lived success as a band but haven't been able to recapture that lightning in a bottle. Ara's drug addiction doesn't help and neither does Emma's attraction to every Mr. Wrong in the vicinity. Josie the youngest is the responsible one. It's not surprising that she studied science and trusts in facts. She often finds herself scrambling to make sure her sisters have a roof over their heads. Ara ends up getting arrested for drugs. Heroin is notoriously hard to get free of and Ara's struggle bleeds over onto her family. The author does a great job of showing how trauma leads to addiction. I also liked how Josie's tendency to be the "family's fixer" was shown as a way of her not moving forward in her own personal life. She was hiding behind her sister's issues instead of dealing with her own. The twins finally begin recording new music with one behind bars and the other on the outside.
There are so many brilliant aspects to unpack in this novel, but the content is dark.
There are many characters here that are sure to stand out. Everyone in this family is flawed but they love each other. The content was difficult for me to read at times, but it was worth it.
A memorable gut wrenching read.
*Content Warning*:
This list may not be complete.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
heavy addiction
death of a parent
abortion
suicide ideology
violence
rape
murder
Thank you to Atria Books for providing a physical ARC for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Walt and Bertie believed in making the world a better place for their three daughters. They both lived and breathed activism. It cost Walt his life when the girls were very young and Bertie continued to set this example through her work as an attorney. The issue is that as much as Bertie is a loving mother she isn't a present mother. The eldest daughters Ara and Emma are twins. They experienced short lived success as a band but haven't been able to recapture that lightning in a bottle. Ara's drug addiction doesn't help and neither does Emma's attraction to every Mr. Wrong in the vicinity. Josie the youngest is the responsible one. It's not surprising that she studied science and trusts in facts. She often finds herself scrambling to make sure her sisters have a roof over their heads. Ara ends up getting arrested for drugs. Heroin is notoriously hard to get free of and Ara's struggle bleeds over onto her family. The author does a great job of showing how trauma leads to addiction. I also liked how Josie's tendency to be the "family's fixer" was shown as a way of her not moving forward in her own personal life. She was hiding behind her sister's issues instead of dealing with her own. The twins finally begin recording new music with one behind bars and the other on the outside.
There are so many brilliant aspects to unpack in this novel, but the content is dark.
There are many characters here that are sure to stand out. Everyone in this family is flawed but they love each other. The content was difficult for me to read at times, but it was worth it.
A memorable gut wrenching read.
*Content Warning*:
This list may not be complete.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
heavy addiction
death of a parent
abortion
suicide ideology
violence
rape
murder
Thank you to Atria Books for providing a physical ARC for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 16, 2025
Jojo and the Twins was the name of the band fronted by twins Emma and Araminta (Ara) Tayloe. Emma is the singer/guitarist, and Ara writes their songs and plays drums. They had a hit record (their only record) several years ago, before Ara settled on heroin as her drug of choice and scuttled their chance at real success. But they have a gig tonight that might break them out of their slump and singer Emma is ready to go full on. Unfortunately Ara is still using and their music leaves much to be desired.
Josie, the non-singing little sister, found her spot as the family caretaker and fixer as their radical lawyer mom abrogated her role, to solve the problems of the downtrodden. While Josie left her university job as a renowned entomologist to work at a private zoo and be close to the twins, Bertie felt that the girls could get along without her and missed their graduations and concerts so she could tend to the needs of those more deserving.
When Ara was arrested for dealing and put in the county jail to await trial, Josie and Emma came up with a great way to make bail-they would write and record a new album, entitled Jailbreak, and raise money online for the future album. They both wanted to spring Ara ASAP, but she finds peace and camaraderie there, and as she goes through detox, she tells them that she'll stay a little while longer. Also her songwriting inspiration is returning and she's making music over the prison phone with Emma again. Then something horrible happens to Ara in jail, and their family is thrown into chaos. But maybe this will begin the healing that they all need.
I really enjoyed this hard hitting novel. It was frustrating and upsetting in places, but the sisters and their mother were portrayed realistically, in an unflinching manner. An extremely original and interesting take on a family dynamic that needs to be addressed.
Josie, the non-singing little sister, found her spot as the family caretaker and fixer as their radical lawyer mom abrogated her role, to solve the problems of the downtrodden. While Josie left her university job as a renowned entomologist to work at a private zoo and be close to the twins, Bertie felt that the girls could get along without her and missed their graduations and concerts so she could tend to the needs of those more deserving.
When Ara was arrested for dealing and put in the county jail to await trial, Josie and Emma came up with a great way to make bail-they would write and record a new album, entitled Jailbreak, and raise money online for the future album. They both wanted to spring Ara ASAP, but she finds peace and camaraderie there, and as she goes through detox, she tells them that she'll stay a little while longer. Also her songwriting inspiration is returning and she's making music over the prison phone with Emma again. Then something horrible happens to Ara in jail, and their family is thrown into chaos. But maybe this will begin the healing that they all need.
I really enjoyed this hard hitting novel. It was frustrating and upsetting in places, but the sisters and their mother were portrayed realistically, in an unflinching manner. An extremely original and interesting take on a family dynamic that needs to be addressed.
May 19, 2025
🌿 The Frequency of Living Things by Nick Fuller Googins
A seismic tremor of sisterhood—where buried wounds and unspoken love crack open under the weight of one desperate rescue mission.
✨ Review
**👯♀️ Sisterhood as Battlefield: Three sisters collide over a family crisis, their bond frayed by decades of resentment and silent sacrifices. Dialogue cuts like shattered glass.
**🌪️ Emotional Archaeology: Unearthing family secrets feels like peeling an onion in a hurricane—each layer burns, but you can’t stop. The eldest sister’s guilt? Heart-stopping.
**🌲 Nature as Character: Maine’s wild coastline mirrors the chaos within—storms inside and out. A scene with a capsized boat will leave you gasping.
**⏳ Pacing Like a Ticking Bomb: Slow-burn tension erupts into third-act chaos. (That midnight confession in the attic? Chef’s kiss.)
**🎭 Imperfect Heroes: No one’s innocent here. Flaws are laid bare—especially the middle sister’s selfishness, which somehow makes her more relatable.
⭐ Star Breakdown (0–5)
Emotional Depth: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) (A masterclass in how grief warps love.)
Character Complexity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5/5) (Youngest sister’s arc needed 10 more pages to soar.)
Setting Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) (You’ll taste salt spray and pine needles.)
Originality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) (Family drama tropes refreshed by raw honesty.)
Thematic Resonance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) (More about scars than healing—bold, but leaves a thirst.)
Overall: 4.5/5 - Like finding your childhood diary—painful, precious, and impossible to put down.
🙏 Thank you to NetGalley and Nick Fuller Googins for the advance copy. This novel is a lighthouse for anyone navigating the stormy seas of family.
(Note: Keep tissues and a stiff drink nearby—Chapter 12 demands both.)
A seismic tremor of sisterhood—where buried wounds and unspoken love crack open under the weight of one desperate rescue mission.
✨ Review
**👯♀️ Sisterhood as Battlefield: Three sisters collide over a family crisis, their bond frayed by decades of resentment and silent sacrifices. Dialogue cuts like shattered glass.
**🌪️ Emotional Archaeology: Unearthing family secrets feels like peeling an onion in a hurricane—each layer burns, but you can’t stop. The eldest sister’s guilt? Heart-stopping.
**🌲 Nature as Character: Maine’s wild coastline mirrors the chaos within—storms inside and out. A scene with a capsized boat will leave you gasping.
**⏳ Pacing Like a Ticking Bomb: Slow-burn tension erupts into third-act chaos. (That midnight confession in the attic? Chef’s kiss.)
**🎭 Imperfect Heroes: No one’s innocent here. Flaws are laid bare—especially the middle sister’s selfishness, which somehow makes her more relatable.
⭐ Star Breakdown (0–5)
Emotional Depth: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) (A masterclass in how grief warps love.)
Character Complexity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5/5) (Youngest sister’s arc needed 10 more pages to soar.)
Setting Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) (You’ll taste salt spray and pine needles.)
Originality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) (Family drama tropes refreshed by raw honesty.)
Thematic Resonance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) (More about scars than healing—bold, but leaves a thirst.)
Overall: 4.5/5 - Like finding your childhood diary—painful, precious, and impossible to put down.
🙏 Thank you to NetGalley and Nick Fuller Googins for the advance copy. This novel is a lighthouse for anyone navigating the stormy seas of family.
(Note: Keep tissues and a stiff drink nearby—Chapter 12 demands both.)
August 4, 2025
This is the story of three sisters, each going throught their own mid-life crisis. The author addresses their codependecies, family life, and obligations interfering with eachs' desire to be independent.
Set in Maine, the novel follows Bertie, a former defense-attorney turned activist, and her three adult daughters: Emma and Ara, identical twins whose 1990s rockstar fame faded decades ago, and Josie, the responsible younger sister and amateur entomologist. When Ara lands in jail after a scheme gone wrong, the family is forced back into close proximity, and to confront long-buried traumas, resentments, and dependencies.
Emma, was the lead singer of the former band 'Jojo and the Twins'. She believes that a jailhouse record featuring Ara could revive their career and perhaps clear Ara’s path to freedom. However, Ava is kinda liking jail, not the experience itself but the ability to distance herself from family drama, and to learn more about herself and what she wants to do next. It's her own form of isolation therapy.
Josie is the younger sister and has always acted as the caretaker and moral center, struggling between loyalty and self‑preservation. Meanwhile, their mom, Bertie must choose whether to step back in and rescue her daughters, or watch to see if their resilience carries them on their own.
The author digs deep into addiction, codependency, and loyalty. There are some tragically sad moments that bring the family together, while also tearing them apart. This will make you think about how your own family might deal with these type of situations, or make you appreciate the fact that you might not have to. The pace was a bit slow at times, but the characters are very well developed and you want to hang in there to find out what happens to them.
Set in Maine, the novel follows Bertie, a former defense-attorney turned activist, and her three adult daughters: Emma and Ara, identical twins whose 1990s rockstar fame faded decades ago, and Josie, the responsible younger sister and amateur entomologist. When Ara lands in jail after a scheme gone wrong, the family is forced back into close proximity, and to confront long-buried traumas, resentments, and dependencies.
Emma, was the lead singer of the former band 'Jojo and the Twins'. She believes that a jailhouse record featuring Ara could revive their career and perhaps clear Ara’s path to freedom. However, Ava is kinda liking jail, not the experience itself but the ability to distance herself from family drama, and to learn more about herself and what she wants to do next. It's her own form of isolation therapy.
Josie is the younger sister and has always acted as the caretaker and moral center, struggling between loyalty and self‑preservation. Meanwhile, their mom, Bertie must choose whether to step back in and rescue her daughters, or watch to see if their resilience carries them on their own.
The author digs deep into addiction, codependency, and loyalty. There are some tragically sad moments that bring the family together, while also tearing them apart. This will make you think about how your own family might deal with these type of situations, or make you appreciate the fact that you might not have to. The pace was a bit slow at times, but the characters are very well developed and you want to hang in there to find out what happens to them.
May 11, 2025
** Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review **
The Frequency of Living Things by Nick Fuller Googins is a poignant exploration of sisterhood, responsibility, and the enduring impact of family bonds. The novel centers on three sisters: twins Ara and Emma, former one-hit-wonder musicians still clinging to their past fame, and their younger sister Josie, a dedicated biologist who has long been the family's anchor. When Ara is arrested, Josie and Emma are compelled to reunite and confront the complexities of their shared history.
Raised by their mother Bertie, a brilliant defense attorney more devoted to her causes than to her daughters, the sisters have navigated their lives with varying degrees of success and turmoil. Josie, having sacrificed her own aspirations to support her sisters, finds herself at a crossroads as she grapples with the weight of her family's expectations and her own desires. The narrative delves deep into the intricacies of their relationships, revealing how past traumas and unspoken tensions continue to shape their present.
Googins' storytelling is both intimate and expansive, weaving together the personal struggles of each sister with broader themes of forgiveness, resilience, and the quest for identity. The characters are richly drawn, their flaws and virtues rendered with empathy and nuance. For readers who appreciate emotionally resonant family sagas that examine the ties that bind and the paths to healing, The Frequency of Living Things offers a compelling and heartfelt journey.
The Frequency of Living Things by Nick Fuller Googins is a poignant exploration of sisterhood, responsibility, and the enduring impact of family bonds. The novel centers on three sisters: twins Ara and Emma, former one-hit-wonder musicians still clinging to their past fame, and their younger sister Josie, a dedicated biologist who has long been the family's anchor. When Ara is arrested, Josie and Emma are compelled to reunite and confront the complexities of their shared history.
Raised by their mother Bertie, a brilliant defense attorney more devoted to her causes than to her daughters, the sisters have navigated their lives with varying degrees of success and turmoil. Josie, having sacrificed her own aspirations to support her sisters, finds herself at a crossroads as she grapples with the weight of her family's expectations and her own desires. The narrative delves deep into the intricacies of their relationships, revealing how past traumas and unspoken tensions continue to shape their present.
Googins' storytelling is both intimate and expansive, weaving together the personal struggles of each sister with broader themes of forgiveness, resilience, and the quest for identity. The characters are richly drawn, their flaws and virtues rendered with empathy and nuance. For readers who appreciate emotionally resonant family sagas that examine the ties that bind and the paths to healing, The Frequency of Living Things offers a compelling and heartfelt journey.
July 24, 2025
Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books for the early copy. I loved The Great Transition and was very excited for this novel; unfortunately it did not work out for me.
The story is about 3 sisters, one is battling an addiction, one is a big helper and the other just exists. Overall, this idea is not new and have been done before but I was willing to give it a chance. I definitely loved the plot and the idea author had, it was fresh enough to stand out amid other family dramas.
As far as characters go I have conflicting feelings. I respected the mom and think author did such an amazing job crafting her complexity. She will be wildly misunderstood but she was the rock and I understood what drove her decisions. Josie however is a different story. We spent a decent amount of time in Josie POV and I felt like author wrote the book in a way where we supposed to like Josie, but I don't think I've ever hated the character more. She is selfish and makes everything about herself, she sacrifices herself for others but does it because she needs that recognition. She doesn't bother to even ask Ara about her feelings, makes decisions for Dean and refuses to even acknowledge her mom's suffering. She kind of had a redemption arc in the last chapter, but also not really. I love unlikable characters, but not when their terrible behavior is seen as the norm by others. Because of this the reading experience was hard for me and I kept going from "this is amazing story" to "I hate this book".
I have deep respect for how author went in a completely different direction after his debut and I will continue reading his future releases, but this just did not work for me personally.
The story is about 3 sisters, one is battling an addiction, one is a big helper and the other just exists. Overall, this idea is not new and have been done before but I was willing to give it a chance. I definitely loved the plot and the idea author had, it was fresh enough to stand out amid other family dramas.
As far as characters go I have conflicting feelings. I respected the mom and think author did such an amazing job crafting her complexity. She will be wildly misunderstood but she was the rock and I understood what drove her decisions. Josie however is a different story. We spent a decent amount of time in Josie POV and I felt like author wrote the book in a way where we supposed to like Josie, but I don't think I've ever hated the character more. She is selfish and makes everything about herself, she sacrifices herself for others but does it because she needs that recognition. She doesn't bother to even ask Ara about her feelings, makes decisions for Dean and refuses to even acknowledge her mom's suffering. She kind of had a redemption arc in the last chapter, but also not really. I love unlikable characters, but not when their terrible behavior is seen as the norm by others. Because of this the reading experience was hard for me and I kept going from "this is amazing story" to "I hate this book".
I have deep respect for how author went in a completely different direction after his debut and I will continue reading his future releases, but this just did not work for me personally.
August 7, 2025
“She nestled her guitar in her lap and experienced a manic lightness, as if the right set of notes, played just so, could make any story come true.”
A novel with themes of addiction and enabling is not something I gravitate to. Add in a sibling structure I’m very well versed on (my younger sisters are identical twins) and I will run for the hills. But my love for this author’s writing and the promise of “oldies” music throughout peaked my interest.
Enter the Tayloe women: twins Emma and Ara, sister Josie and mother Bertie. The twins skyrocketed to rock and roll fame and are now at risk of being classified as one hit wonders. They attempt a comeback under the guidance of sister Josie, a Mensa level scientist with the monumental responsibility of caring for her adult sisters. Their mother Bertie is a global activist helping those who “need love the most” worldwide and the choice between helping her daughters and helping strangers has always been crystal clear.
We flash back to the 1960s through the 1980s to fill in the matriarch backstory and discover the impetus of the rise and subsequent fall of sisters in search of family connection. Would a return to the music save them or put them on a path of destruction? Can science and art coexist without becoming incendiary? Maybe the sister behind bars isn’t the one who is in “prison”.
Googins’s speculative debut The Great Transition and this new sophomore novel based in realism share a common thread; the tug of war between memories of the past and hope for the future, and the true costs of justice.
Many thanks to Atria Books for the early copy in exchange for my honest review!
A novel with themes of addiction and enabling is not something I gravitate to. Add in a sibling structure I’m very well versed on (my younger sisters are identical twins) and I will run for the hills. But my love for this author’s writing and the promise of “oldies” music throughout peaked my interest.
Enter the Tayloe women: twins Emma and Ara, sister Josie and mother Bertie. The twins skyrocketed to rock and roll fame and are now at risk of being classified as one hit wonders. They attempt a comeback under the guidance of sister Josie, a Mensa level scientist with the monumental responsibility of caring for her adult sisters. Their mother Bertie is a global activist helping those who “need love the most” worldwide and the choice between helping her daughters and helping strangers has always been crystal clear.
We flash back to the 1960s through the 1980s to fill in the matriarch backstory and discover the impetus of the rise and subsequent fall of sisters in search of family connection. Would a return to the music save them or put them on a path of destruction? Can science and art coexist without becoming incendiary? Maybe the sister behind bars isn’t the one who is in “prison”.
Googins’s speculative debut The Great Transition and this new sophomore novel based in realism share a common thread; the tug of war between memories of the past and hope for the future, and the true costs of justice.
Many thanks to Atria Books for the early copy in exchange for my honest review!
August 11, 2025
The new novel by Nick Fuller Googins — "The Frequency of Living Things" — opens with a young woman named Josie Tayloe crabwalking between parked cars at a gas station in Maine. She’s carefully checking windshields, side mirrors and radiator grills for insect specimens to advance a long-abandoned research project. She finds one — a rare moth that had once been her Holy Grail of invertebrates — and briefly envisions a glorious return to entomology after her overdue vacation.
And then she gets a call from her sister. Another crisis. Another quick U-turn from her regularly scheduled life.
This sets in motion the story of the Tayloe family — an American epic that explores the sacrifices of sisterhood, the implacable bonds of parent and child, and the challenge of getting past hurt to forgiveness.
Josie Tayloe is the left-brained, hardworking younger sibling of rock star twin older sisters, Emma and Ara. The twins’ first and only album earned a Grammy nomination and diehard fans decades ago. But they’re en route to being one-hit wonders, and when Ara’s substance use hits crisis proportions, the sisters try vastly different strategies in hopes of saving her. And then there’s their absentee mother, Bertie, a radical do-gooder who has always put the world’s needs ahead of her daughters.
Googins’s writing is crisp and authentic, with believable characters and honest nods to dysfunction: “Because family and opioids really aren’t so different,” he writes. “Both can make you feel great until suddenly they don’t.”
There’s lots of sadness here, but also survival, growth and hope.
[My reviews run every Monday on KMUW in Wichita. Find them here: https://www.kmuw.org/podcast/book-review]
And then she gets a call from her sister. Another crisis. Another quick U-turn from her regularly scheduled life.
This sets in motion the story of the Tayloe family — an American epic that explores the sacrifices of sisterhood, the implacable bonds of parent and child, and the challenge of getting past hurt to forgiveness.
Josie Tayloe is the left-brained, hardworking younger sibling of rock star twin older sisters, Emma and Ara. The twins’ first and only album earned a Grammy nomination and diehard fans decades ago. But they’re en route to being one-hit wonders, and when Ara’s substance use hits crisis proportions, the sisters try vastly different strategies in hopes of saving her. And then there’s their absentee mother, Bertie, a radical do-gooder who has always put the world’s needs ahead of her daughters.
Googins’s writing is crisp and authentic, with believable characters and honest nods to dysfunction: “Because family and opioids really aren’t so different,” he writes. “Both can make you feel great until suddenly they don’t.”
There’s lots of sadness here, but also survival, growth and hope.
[My reviews run every Monday on KMUW in Wichita. Find them here: https://www.kmuw.org/podcast/book-review]
February 16, 2025
I was invited by the publisher to review this book. This book is about three sisters, their individualism and their interconnectedness. Josie is the youngest, yet functions as the oldest because she is like a mother hen. She is the responsible sister to her more free-wheeling twin sisters, Emma and Ara. When Ara lands in jail, this is no surprise. But Emma sees monetization in this - for long ago, the twins were a successful musical group, and Emma thinks Ara's creative abilities from within jail would help rejuvenate not just the group, but the sisters themselves. What Emma does not take into account is the mental state of Ara, who is desperately trying to change the trajectory of her life - even if it means removing herself from her family. Finally, we have the matriarch, Bertie, who never put her girls first as she was taking care of others. But seeing the path her children are on, she finally faces her own reckoning.
I enjoyed the exploration of the twins relationship in this book - how they could be so connected on many levels, and then how one would break away and the impact that would have on each of them. I thought the author did a great job of handling deep topics, such as addiction - this did not overpower the overall storyline, but was also real and accessible. This is really a good book if you enjoy the dynamics of family and looking through a different lens for the relationships.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the exploration of the twins relationship in this book - how they could be so connected on many levels, and then how one would break away and the impact that would have on each of them. I thought the author did a great job of handling deep topics, such as addiction - this did not overpower the overall storyline, but was also real and accessible. This is really a good book if you enjoy the dynamics of family and looking through a different lens for the relationships.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2025
4.5
The Frequency of Living Things by Nick Fuller Googins is a family drama about three thirty something sisters, twins Ara and Emma, and their younger sister Josie. The twins were one hit wonders two decades ago and are still living that rock and roll dream. Ara has been in and out of rehab, while Emma tries to hold them together in a state of perfection. Josie is a biologist who loves leaf cutter ants (me too!), who gave up Stanford dreams to keep her sisters afloat. They were raised by their single Mom Bertie who was well known as the smartest lawyer in Massachusetts. But she was always so busy fighting for a cause, that her relationship with her daughters is now severely strained. Early on, Ara finds herself arrested and Emma and Josie work together to raise bail money and get her out. A great serious story unfolds.
I found these women to be such well written real characters, that came alive on the pages. There are also a host of other fantastic supporting characters such as Dean, Josie’s long time boyfriend (how can such a good man exist?),Janice, Dean’s mom who is actually incarcerated where Ara is and takes her under her wing, and Fabio, Josie’s boss who has a heart of gold. I got so enveloped by all of these people and I truly treasured this bittersweet read. Readers who enjoy character driven stories, family dramas or sister relationships will enjoy this. If you liked Hello, Beautiful or Blue Sisters, I would recommend giving this one a try. Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for my ARC.
The Frequency of Living Things by Nick Fuller Googins is a family drama about three thirty something sisters, twins Ara and Emma, and their younger sister Josie. The twins were one hit wonders two decades ago and are still living that rock and roll dream. Ara has been in and out of rehab, while Emma tries to hold them together in a state of perfection. Josie is a biologist who loves leaf cutter ants (me too!), who gave up Stanford dreams to keep her sisters afloat. They were raised by their single Mom Bertie who was well known as the smartest lawyer in Massachusetts. But she was always so busy fighting for a cause, that her relationship with her daughters is now severely strained. Early on, Ara finds herself arrested and Emma and Josie work together to raise bail money and get her out. A great serious story unfolds.
I found these women to be such well written real characters, that came alive on the pages. There are also a host of other fantastic supporting characters such as Dean, Josie’s long time boyfriend (how can such a good man exist?),Janice, Dean’s mom who is actually incarcerated where Ara is and takes her under her wing, and Fabio, Josie’s boss who has a heart of gold. I got so enveloped by all of these people and I truly treasured this bittersweet read. Readers who enjoy character driven stories, family dramas or sister relationships will enjoy this. If you liked Hello, Beautiful or Blue Sisters, I would recommend giving this one a try. Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for my ARC.
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