The Need

By Helen Phillips

Book Overview

***LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD IN FICTION***
Named one of Time Magazine's 100 Best Mystery and Thriller Books of All Time

"An extraordinary and dazzlingly original work from one of our most gifted and interesting writers" (Emily St. John Mandel, author of The Glass Hotel). The Need, which finds a mother of two young children grappling with the dualities of motherhood after confronting a masked intruder in her home, is "like nothing you've ever read before...in a good way" (People).

When Molly, home alone with her two young children, hears footsteps in the living room, she tries to convince herself it's the sleep deprivation. She's been hearing things these days. Startling at loud noises. Imagining the worst-case scenario. It's what mothers do, she knows.

But then the footsteps come again, and she catches a glimpse of movement.

Suddenly Molly finds herself face-to-face with an intruder who knows far too much about her and her family. As she attempts to protect those she loves most, Molly must also acknowledge her own frailty. Molly slips down an existential rabbit hole where she must confront the dualities of motherhood: the ecstasy and the dread; the languor and the ferocity; the banality and the transcendence as the book hurtles toward a mind-bending conclusion.

"Brilliant" (Entertainment Weekly), "grotesque and lovely" (The New York Times Book Review, Editor's Choice), and "wildly captivating" (Oprah Daily), The Need is a glorious celebration of the bizarre and beautiful nature of our everyday lives and "showcases an extraordinary writer at her electrifying best" (Publishers Weekly, starred review).

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1982113170
• ISBN13: 9781982113179
• Release Date: July 2020
• Publisher: S&s/ Marysue Rucci Books
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.69 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.4" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Too many unanswered questions

I wasn’t at all a fan of this book. There are so many unexplained elements to the book and so many irrelevant details that are left making you question their significance. Ending was rather confusing and the writing style just isn’t for me.

Wild ride

Wild ride from beginning to end, I couldn't put it down once I started. Easy, but occasionally heavy read. I really enjoyed her style of writing.