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ONE OF BARACK OBAMA’S FAVORITE SUMMER READS “One of the best novels I’ve read in 2021.” – Dwight Garner, The New York Times“A perfect novel—taut and seductive.” —Brandon Taylor, author of Real Life and Filthy Animals“Intimacies is a haunting, precise, and morally astute novel that reads like a psychological thriller…. Katie Kitamura is a wonder.” —Dana Spiotta, author of Wayward and Eat the DocumentA novel from the author of A Separation, an electrifying story about a woman caught between many truths.An interpreter has come to The Hague to escape New York and work at the International Court. A woman of many languages and identities, she is looking for a place to finally call home. She's drawn into simmering personal dramas: her lover, Adriaan, is separated from his wife but still entangled in his marriage. Her friend Jana witnesses a seemingly random act of violence, a crime the interpreter becomes increasingly obsessed with as she befriends the victim's sister. And she's pulled into an explosive political controversy when she’s asked to interpret for a former president accused of war crimes. A woman of quiet passion, she confronts power, love, and violence, both in her personal intimacies and in her work at the Court. She is soon pushed to the precipice, where betrayal and heartbreak threaten to overwhelm her, forcing her to decide what she wants from her life.

Intimacies: A Novel by Katie Kitamura is a profound and evocative exploration of identity, love, and loss set against the backdrop of contemporary Hong Kong. Our unnamed narrator, a young woman working as an interpreter, finds herself entangled in a complex web of relationships and cultural misunderstandings that challenge her sense of self and her place in the world.

As she navigates the vibrant and enigmatic city, the narrator becomes increasingly drawn to Jake, a British photographer whose work explores the intimate and often overlooked aspects of life. Their connection is both magnetic and unsettling, pulling them together and pushing them apart as they grapple with their own vulnerabilities and the ever-shifting boundaries of intimacy.

Kitamura's writing is lyrical and insightful, capturing the subtle nuances of emotion and the intricate dynamics of cross-cultural relationships. She delves into themes of displacement, longing, and the search for connection in a disconnected world. Through her protagonist's journey, she raises questions about the nature of intimacy, the limits of empathy, and the ways in which our experiences shape our understanding of ourselves and others.

Intimacies is a compelling story of personal transformation and self-discovery, set in a city that is both alluring and alienating. Kitamura's novel is a testament to the power of language to illuminate the complexities of human experience, and it is sure to stay with readers long after they finish the final page.