The Morningside


The Morningside is the third novel by American writer Téa Obreht. It was published on March 19, 2024 by Penguin Random House.

Premise

The novel centers on Silvia, a young girl in the near future who lives with her mother and aunt in The Morningside, a deteriorating high rise in a semi-abandoned city. She endeavors to learn more about the building, the city, and the past.

Summary

Background

In 2020, a short story by Obreht called "The Morningside" was published by The New York Times Magazine.
The full novel was released in Spring 2024. It is her first since Inland in 2019.

Release

The novel was released in the United States on March 19, 2024 in hardcover format along with a large print paperback edition. The cover art was produced by Nana An.
An ebook and electronic audiobook were published on the same day. A physical CD version was published March 26, 2024 as well. The novel is narrated by Carlotta Brentan.
An international edition was published in paperback, while Weidenfeld & Nicolson released a paperback and kindle version in UK.
Released dateCountryLanguagePublisherFormatISBN/ASINPages
March 19, 2024USISBN|9781984855503

Reception

The novel garnered mostly positive reception.
Writing in The New York Times, author Jessamine Chan noted the "subtle beauty and precision of Obreht’s prose" and praised the novel for "forcing us to reckon with the ruined world that future generations will inherit". In a starred review, Kirkus Reviews called the novel, "a captivating blend of science fiction and magical realism with a wonderfully engaging protagonist."

Awards