The Theory of (Not Quite) Everything

January 6, 2023
Sorrow, warmth, and tension mix in this unique and compelling novel. Since the tragic deaths of their parents when they were teenagers, siblings Mimi and Arthur Brotherton have been living together in London. Now middle aged, they've developed a symbiotic relationship that makes it difficult for them to break out of their ruts. Arthur, an analytical mathematician, chooses his path based on algorithms and facts. His life's purpose is to solve an equation that could destroy the whole world if proven true. But Mimi follows her gut, which tells her to accept a new job as a sound artist while pursuing a romantic relationship. When Mimi falls for another mathematician, Arthur is dismayed that she hasn't followed his rules, and her new love causes a rift in their structured lives. Arthur believes Mimi's boyfriend is not what he seems, and his dogged pursuit of the facts leads him to devastating injury. With Arthur incapacitated, Mimi must face the truth of both their past and future. Gnodde's debut explores the less examined dynamics of sibling closeness, especially when pushed to its limits.

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March 6, 2023
Gnodde examines the blurry lines of unconditional love between siblings in her spirited debut. Mimi and Art Brotherton have lived together since their parents died by suicide 12 years earlier. The arrangement is not without sacrifice: Mimi, 30, feels burdened by taking care of Art, 40, a mathematical genius who is dedicated to deciphering an unsolvable problem. Mimi wants to find love, but Art is protective of her and insists that if she starts dating, she must use a website called Matrix, because he approves of its “elegant algorithm and an intrinsic mathematical logic.” Contrary to Art’s plan, though, Mimi meets Frank, another mathematician, outside of the app. Sparks fly instantly, and Art feels threatened by Frank’s presence and worries Frank will steal his work. By the third act, Mimi learns secrets Frank kept about his past, Art is hurt in a car accident, and Mimi wonders if Art was right about Frank after all. Gnodde takes a while to get going, but once the narrative picks up, it really gets to the heart of Mimi’s quest for the truth about the people in her life. Readers will be rewarded for sticking around. Agent: Charlotte Seymour, Johnson & Alcock.