Godin’s latest novel follows the emotional descent—and tentative ascent—of a respected New Orleans plastic surgeon grappling with addiction, divorce, and the unrelenting pressures of perfection. Spiraling through divorce, addiction, and shame, all while keeping up the polished façade his job demands, Dr. Nick Jordan reluctantly enters the world of modern dating, unaware his life is about to take a sudden—and deeply humiliating—turn.
Godin has a sharp eye for psychological insight. As Nick struggles through the routines of a successful cosmetic surgery practice, the story reveals the toll taken by years of emotional suppression. His patients seek physical transformation; he seeks oblivion. Their shared pursuit of surface repair becomes a mirror for Nick’s deeper wounds—ones not so easily stitched or filled. What elevates the novel is its cast of finely etched supporting characters. The women in Nick’s life—his ex-wife Elizabeth, the whip-smart dermatologist Fiona, and patients like Sandra—are rendered with intelligence and autonomy, each one reflecting a different facet of Nick’s fractured identity. Godin resists easy tropes; instead of the redemptive “manic pixie dream woman” trope, Nick is surrounded by women who challenge, confront, and occasionally mock him. Godin’s prose is measured. At times, the writing is clinical—in a way that reflects Nick’s medical training—and elsewhere, deeply lyrical. The narrative balances forward momentum with frequent introspective pauses, allowing readers to breathe deeply into Nick’s world. Lovers of fine literary fiction, taut medical drama, and character studies will find much to admire.
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