The Lighthouse at the Edge of the World

Greek myth, Jewish tradition, and slow-burning queer romance gracefully intertwine in this melancholy treasure from Dawson (The First Bright Thing). Nera’s whole life has been spent in the lighthouse at the edge of Chicago that guides her father as he ferries dead souls across Lake Michigan to the underworld. When grieving Chicagoan Charlie, who has been able to see ghosts since the death of her sister, Samantha, six months ago, hears a fragment of a song Samantha wrote, it leads her to this liminal spot between worlds and the women’s lives collide. Nera stops Charlie from venturing into the underworld and promises to help her find a safer way to ensure that Samantha crossed over and is not lingering among the city’s ghosts, who face threats from a dark force. The women forge a sweet relationship that leads them to some emotional moments of self-discovery—and a high-stakes conflict with a demon. Incorporating historical events like the Great Chicago Fire and contemporary concerns like mass shootings and toxic familial expectations, the carefully crafted story doubles as an emotional love letter to Chicago and to life itself. The result is immersive, bittersweet, and wonderfully original. Agent: Stevie Finegan, Zeno Literary. (July)