Private Rites by Julia Armfield

From the bestselling author of Our Wives Under the Sea comes a haunting novel about three sisters grappling with queer love and faith amidst an apocalyptic world.

With the relentless rain reshaping the land, Isla, Irene, and Agnes live in a world where old places have vanished and ancient rituals have resurfaced. The death of their estranged father, a renowned architect who had isolated himself from the world, brings the sisters together after years of silence. He was celebrated for designing structures that adapted to the flooded earth, but his death leaves them unsure of how to mourn in a world seemingly on the brink of collapse.

As they gather to clear out the grand glass house, their father’s architectural masterpiece, they start to feel his lingering influence. The house, a symbol of his genius, holds secrets tied to their mother’s mysterious disappearance. The sisters uncover unsettling truths and realize their lives have always attracted unusual attention. The house, with its eerie presence, reveals a sinister unfolding connected to their family history.

As the sisters delve deeper into their father’s legacy and confront their fractured relationships, they discover they have been chosen for a purpose with profound implications. Their journey intertwines with themes of queer love, faith, and survival, challenging them to navigate their grief and the enigmatic forces at play. In this evocative and gripping narrative, the sisters face a transformative reckoning that could alter their family’s fate and their world’s future. ❤️📚❤️