The Theory of (Not Quite) Everything

by Kara Gnodde

Overview

With the offbeat charm of The Rosie Project and generous warmth of The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot, a wry, moving debut novel about a pair of unforgettable siblings and a love triangle of sorts—one with math as its beating heart.

One of Cosmopolitan's Best Books of 2023

Meet Art and Mimi Brotherton. Devoted siblings and housemates, they’re bound together by the tragic death of their parents. Mathematical genius Art relies on logic, while Mimi prefers to follow her heart.

When Mimi decides she needs more from life than dutifully tending to her brilliant brother, she asks for his help to find love. Art agrees, but on one condition: that she find her soulmate using a strict mathematical principle. Things seem promising, until Mimi meets Frank: a romantic, spontaneous stargazer who’s also a mathematician. Despite Mimi’s obvious affection for the quirky Frank, Art is wary of him from their very first encounter.

As Art's mistrust of Frank grows, so do Mimi's feelings, and the siblings' relationship is brought to a breaking point. Something about Frank doesn't quite add up, and only Art can see it . . .

The Theory of (Not Quite) Everything is a tender, intelligent and uplifting novel about brothers and sisters, true love in all its forms, and how the answers to life’s biggest questions follow a logic of their own.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063266018
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	02/28/2023
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	241,887
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Kara Gnodde was born in Johannesburg and raised on a diet of Dr. Seuss and no TV. After graduating from the University of Cape Town, she joined Saatchi & Saatchi in London as a strategic planner — work that required head and heart, her favorite kind. She lived in Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore before settling back in the UK with her husband and three children. A discussion on the radio about a math problem that could change the world, or perhaps just help keep her desk tidy, gave her a place to start The Theory of (Not Quite) Everything, her debut novel. 

Editorial Reviews

03/06/2023

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. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

If this novel about mathematicians were a math problem, and Kara Gnodde set out to prove that love is varied, unpredictable, and infinite in its capacity to expand, then she's done it. I adored this quirky, big-hearted book.”  — Mary Beth Keane, New York Times bestselling author of Ask Again, Yes

“The Theory of (Not Quite) Everything is (quite) wonderful. Happily, no math is required to find Kara Gnodde’s writing—rich with metaphor and passion—totally absorbing. A delight.” — Katherine Heiny, author of Games and Rituals

"Gorgeous." — Rosie Walsh, New York Times bestselling author of The Love of My Life and Ghosted

"The Theory of (Not Quite) Everything is a moving exploration of the bond between siblings and the long shadow of tragic events on the way they navigate relationships. It's also a compelling novel about the many ways that we protect the people we love."
— Balli Kaur Jaswal, author of Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows and Now You See Us

“A delightfully clever tale of first love, loss and an unforgettable sibling relationship.” — Marianne Cronin, author of The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot

"The Theory of (Not Quite) Everything is such a special novel. Tender, unique and uplifting, it explores sibling love, romantic love and the love between friends. Such an accomplished debut." — Beth O'Leary, internationally bestselling author of The Flatshare and The No-Show

“Kara Gnodde’s debut novel is an exquisite piece of writing that is as intricate and beautiful as mathematics itself. Do not miss this one.” — Annabel Monaghan, author of Nora Goes Off Script 

“A perfectly balanced equation of head and heart. I fell in love with Mimi and Art, and the smart, funny, tender world that Gnodde creates. My book of the year.” — Kate Weinberg, author of The Truants

“Sorrow, warmth, and tension mix in this unique and compelling novel.” — Booklist

"A spirited debut. . . . Readers will be rewarded." — Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher