This Is Not About Us

This Is Not About Us by Allergra Goodman Pre-Order February 10th 2026

From Allegra Goodman, the acclaimed author of Isola and The Family Markowitz, comes This Is Not About Us—a luminous, deeply funny, and tender portrait of an American family at odds and inextricably bound by love.

When a beloved sister dies, the Rubinstein family begins to unravel. A small misunderstanding—over something as simple as apple cake—ignites a rift between Sylvia and Helen that lasts for years. Their children, juggling divorces, careers, and college applications, refuse to take sides, while their grandchildren can hardly keep track of who’s speaking to whom.

As time passes, life’s milestones—bat mitzvahs, ballet recitals, new beginnings—keep pulling them together despite their best efforts to stay apart. Goodman captures the heartbreak and humor of family life with her signature wit and emotional clarity, exploring the grudges we inherit, the grace we extend, and the love that endures in spite of it all.

Perfect for fans of Ann Patchett, Elizabeth Strout, and Meg Wolitzer, This Is Not About Us is a moving, sharply observed novel about forgiveness, aging, and what it means to belong to one another.