Big Swiss A Novel – February 7, 2023 by Jen Beagin (Author)

Greta lives with her friend Sabine in an ancient Dutch farmhouse in Hudson, New York. The house, built in 1737, is unrenovated, uninsulated, and full of bees. Greta spends her days transcribing therapy sessions for a sex coach who calls himself Om. She becomes infatuated with his newest client, a repressed married woman she affectionately refers to as Big Swiss since she's tall, stoic, and originally from Switzerland. 

"Beagin loves weirdos - fully and unironically... [she] seems to... [understand] the myriad ways trauma manifests. This not only allows her to build damaged but resilient and fascinating characters, but it might also be why her books are filled with people who do bad - or extremely questionable - things without being bad guys."  -  Kirkus Reviews

Greta is fascinated by Big Swiss's refreshing attitude toward trauma. They both have dark histories, but Big Swiss chooses to remain unattached to her suffering while Greta continues to be tortured by her past. One day, Greta recognizes Big Swiss's voice at the dog park. In a panic, she introduces herself with a fake name and they quickly become enmeshed. 

"Eccentric and wise... In Beagin’s hands, the entire situation remains clean and pillowy... While Big Swiss is one of the funniest books of the last few years, Beagin can handle darkness... Hilarious, humanistic... Shelve her latest novel alongside those of Richard Russo, Nora Ephron, Armistead Maupin, Jess Walter and other comic novelists whose works are both timely and ultimately transcendent."  -  Bethanne Patrick, The Los Angeles Times

Although Big Swiss is unaware of Greta's true identity, Greta has never been more herself with anyone. Her attraction to Big Swiss overrides her guilt, and she'll do anything to sustain the relationship.