Andromeda romano-Lax
Coming January 6, 2026
A twisty and topical psychological thriller that unravels a mother's worst nightmare—that her child is capable of terrible violence—when her teenage son becomes a suspect in the murder of two classmates, from the author of The Deepest Lake.
ADVANCE PRAISE:
“Timely and terrifyingly real, What Boys Learn is not to be missed. Andromeda Romano-Lax has created an emotional, page-turning mystery that's both chilling and thought-provoking; it will keep you reading late into the night.”
—Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of She’s Not Sorry
“What Boys Learn is wholly original, addictively suspenseful, and beautifully written. Both an exploration of a mother’s unconditional love for her only son and a blazing critique of toxic masculinity, this thriller is nothing short of spellbinding from beginning to end.”
—Caitlin Mullen, author of the Edgar Award-winning novel Please See Us
"A zeitgeisty novel about unreliable memory, complicity, and the difficulty of parenting boys, What Boys Learn is the perfect thriller for our times.”
—Donna Freitas, author of Her One Regret
“At once tender and terrifying, Andromeda Romano-Lax has created a propulsive portrait of a mother and son locked together in an all too believable nightmare of doubt, generational damage, and inescapable love."
—Peter Nichols, nationally bestselling author of The Rocks
"Hypnotizing, terrifying, and so damn smart..."
—Caitlin Wahrer, author of The Damage
"Romano-Lax has spun another thriller not to be missed, with twists aplenty and enough questions about psychopathy and toxic masculinity to keep the chattiest of book clubs discussing long past meeting’s end."––Library Journal, Starred review
"Meticulous characterizations, thoughtful plotting, and unforeseen twists are only part of what make this novel so successful. As it explores the nature of unconditional mother-love and human psychopathy, Romano-Lax’s book also offers a chillingly on-point portrait of masculinity at its most toxic and perverse."––Kirkus Reviews
NOW IN PAPERBACK
Barnes & Noble "Our Monthly Pick"
Amazon Editors' Pick
CrimeReads Best Psychological Thrillers of May 2024
Observer, Top 10 Best Travel Thrillers
In this atmospheric thriller set at a luxury memoir-writing workshop on the shores of Lake Atitlán, Guatemala, a grieving mother goes undercover to investigate her daughter’s mysterious death.
Praise
"Chillingly atmospheric and filled with disturbing twists...."
—Megan Collins, author of The Family Plot
"One of the most suspenseful, thought-provoking novels of the year.”
—Erin Flanagan, Edgar-winning author of Come With Me
"Mesmerizing, twisty... I couldn’t put it down."
—Angie Kim, NYT bestselling author of Happiness Falls and Miracle Creek
“At once a heart-pounding mystery and a profound take on the dangers of our confessional age.”
—Joanna Rakoff, author of My Salinger Year
"Evocating and suspenseful... Hold your breath and dive in.”
—Amy Gentry, bestselling author of Good as Gone
“An incisive critique of our cultural fascination with personal narrative and its concurrent demand that people — and women especially — divulge their deepest secrets for the purpose of voyeuristic entertainment. The plot keeps things moving forward at a brisk clip, but it is the deeper psychological concerns that elevate the novel.”
—Toronto Star
“A piercing look at obsession and grief and a vivid portrayal of the Guatemalan landscape and the sometimes-toxic culture created by charismatic leaders.”
—Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
“All who enjoy writer-focused thrillers will be enthralled by Romano-Lax’s morally and intellectually intricate tale, while her fans will marvel at her versatility as she shifts from complexly imagined literary fiction like Annie and the Wolves (2021), to this psychologically and culturally spiky work of suspense.”
—Booklist