Together We Fall Apart (Sophie Matthiesson, Pantera)

Together We Fall Apart is the debut novel from Sophie Matthiesson, who has woven elements of her own career trajectory into the story of her fictional protagonist, Clare. We follow Clare’s coming-of-age as she, like Matthiesson, works through arts and law degrees in early-2000s Melbourne before leaving to make a life in London. These scenes from the past alternate with a present-day storyline in which Clare leaves her partner, Miriam, and their young son in London. She does this to support her parents through her father’s illness and her brother’s long-term drug addiction. The tension between these conflicting loyalties drives the plot, which is emotionally complex and constantly engaging. The theme of family in its many forms runs throughout the novel and even follows Clare into her professional life, where she works on child protection cases. Matthiesson’s characters feel natural and rounded as she deftly captures the nuances of Clare’s relationships with each person in her life. Her writing, too, is beautiful and richly descriptive. She presents a vivid portrait of youth and queer identity as Clare finds her feet in Carlton share-houses and Fitzroy dance bars (fittingly, for a book filled with music references from the era, the novel takes its title from The Strokes lyrics). Together We Fall Apart will appeal to fans of Sophie Cunningham and Sue Miller, or anyone who enjoys literary fiction centred on relationships.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Megan Koch is a writer and bookseller based in Adelaide. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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