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David Ebershoff's shockingly original debut novel, The Danish Girl, which explored the boundaries of love and gender, was hailed by critics around the world. The Boston Globe called it "heartbreaking and unforgettable . . . a complete triumph" and the Chicago Tribune praised it for its "startling refinement and beauty". His first collection, The Rose City combines a bouquet of vivid characters with Ebershoff's trademark emotional insight and lush prose in seven stories about young men and boys making their way in a chaotic world. Often tragic but lacking in despair, The Rose City delves into the tribulations of everyday life, identity, and sexuality. Each story is about someone from or moving to Pasadena, a part of California, as the character in the title story says, "Where the real history is". In "Chuck Paa" a young man in flight from his misdemeanant mother seeks and finds employment in an upscale world which can never quite become his own. In the title story, "The Rose City", remembrance and a shared lost love bring together ex-lovers who reunite to reflect on their past, their present, and what lies ahead. What they discover is that relationships rarely turn out the way you want them to-especially when your ex has moved on to a house and home life and you're left alone, foot tapping, waiting around for Mr. Right. With the same insight and daring of The Danish Girl, The Rose City secures David Ebershoff's reputation as a writer of rare talent and sensitivity.

• January 2012 Indie Next List
• December 2011 Indie Next List
• November 2011 Indie Next List