A mesmerizing debut about a brother and sister haunted by their past, and forced to face what—and who—they’re willing to sacrifice for their art
“What You Make of Me is a stunning novel of art, love, memory and death written with exquisite wit and deep feeling. Sophie Madeline Dess has conjured one of the most unique and heartbreaking family narratives in recent memory, and with her rendering of the dynamic between Ava and Demetri, she’s given us a sibling duo for the ages.” — Sam Lipsyte, New York Times bestselling author of The Ask and No One Left to Come Looking for You
Demetri and his sister, Ava. Ava and her brother, Demetri. As fiercely competitive as they are codependent, the two have long been locked in an emotionally charged relationship. Ava, defiant and impassioned, grew up in the shadow of soft, charming, and intellectual Demetri. But after a sudden and devastating event, it is Demetri who finds himself emotionally ruined, whereas Ava has no time nor patience for grief. As they grow up, following each other from city to city, the siblings are set on parallel paths as artists, thinkers, and lovers. Ava throws herself into her obsession with her art, which gradually leads to fame and financial stability—as well as extreme existential insecurity. But Demetri flounders in his own work, unable to escape the wake of tragedy—until, that is, he decides to make Ava his subject.
After Nati, an Italian gallery owner, arrives in New York, Demetri and Ava orbit her, possessed by their own priorities. But when they both fall for her, Nati refuses to play their game. Once again, and perhaps for the last time, the brother and sister must face what they most want from each other, and what they’re unwilling to give.
Intense, provocative, and edged with dark and wicked wit, this brilliant debut from Sophie Madeline Dess poses questions about love and obsession, and about what it means to sacrifice another’s life for your art.
