Harmless - by Miranda Shulman (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A twisty novel of sisterhood, friendship, and obsession that asks: Can we ever really outrun what haunts us most?

Two years ago, Bea's life was upended when her beloved twin sister died. Audrey was captivating, an extrovert, their mother's golden child. Bea was "different," too intense, and chronically lonely.

Now, in her late twenties, Bea is back home in Park Slope, Brooklyn, her spirits finally buoyed by her plan to start a dog kennel. Inspired by the childhood dream she once shared with Audrey and old, now-estranged friends Tatum and Layla, she's sure this will be the perfect ode to her sister's memory.

But as they reintegrate into one another's lives, Audrey's absence is keenly felt by all. Soon, simmering tensions and attractions emerge, and a sinister darkness breaks through to the surface. What do they really want? What happens when old secrets come to light? And when is it best to bury a dream, or a cherished friendship?

Review Quotes

"Shulman beautifully captures the nostalgia and dissatisfaction of trying to reconnect with old friends in your 20s... An unsettling story that mourns not only the dead but also the people and places you can never go back to."
--Kirkus

"A Brooklyn woman forges an uneasy bond with her dead twin sister's friends in this mordant and playfully outlandish novel of obsession from debut author Shulman . . . This will keep readers on their toes until the last page."
--Publishers Weekly

"Gripping, haunting, and thought-provoking...[Harmless] examines our responsibilities, for better and for worse, towards one another."
--Booklist

"[A] chilling debut."
--Library Journal

"I can never tire of a group of friends navigating life. Shulman does it with such a keen eye, turning the mundane into the hilarious. The voices of each character are so distinct and original. This is a book with a big heart."
--Debutiful, Most Anticipated Books of 2026

"At once an astute social novel of the Brooklyn bourgeoisie and a twisty tale of obsession, Harmless swept me up and surprised me with every page. This examination of the dark sides of female friendship and sisterly love will keep you guessing until the very end."
--Anna North, author of the New York Times bestseller Outlawed and Bog Queen

"Dark and tender and spot-on about grief, old friendship, and the strange uncertainty of being in your twenties when it's impossible to tell whether you're unraveling or just beginning."
--Jessica Soffer, New York Times bestselling author of This Is a Love Story

"By turns bonkers, blissful, hilarious, and full of sorrow, Harmless drinks at the bar with McCarthy's The Group and Dunham's Girls. A sendup of the Brooklyn rich, a study of the delusion that a group project can be a viable substitute for the work of actually loving other people, and a glittering examination of grief, I cherished this book."
--Emma Copley Eisenberg, nationally bestselling author of Housemates

"Miranda Shulman's glorious, original debut Harmless is a beautifully observed zeitgeist novel set in Park Slope; it's also a hilarious, painful look at young adulthood, sibling rivalry, friendship, competition, love, and loss--with a shocking twist. The young women in Shulman's world are the vivid, messy, unforgettable characters everyone will be talking about. This is a fantastic debut you don't want to miss."
--Karen E. Bender, author of The Words of Dr. L and the National Book Award finalist Refund

"A compulsive, funny, and tender tale of growing up, friendship, and grief that had me hooked until the last page. Shulman's sparkling prose and rich, unforgettable characters herald a new talent in fiction."
--Cecile Pin, author of Celestial Lights

"Harmless is a blistering story of desire, rivalry, and unraveling loyalties. Shulman captures the volatility and magnetism between a group of friends with wit, heat, and razor-sharp insight. I raced through this novel, from its bracingly original opening, all the way to its spine-tingling end."
--Alison Fairbrother, author of The Catch

"A large-hearted and wise debut that captures something special about the way we live now and how we persist in the aftermath of tragedy. Shulman somehow manages to make grief highly readable, humorous, and delightful."
--Stephanie Wambugu, author of Lonely Crowds

"At once a complex study of childhood friendships, and a simmering, deliciously dark work of suspense . . . A completely singular debut you'll want to pass along to all your friends so you can discuss."
--Olivia Muenter, USA Today bestselling author of Such a Bad Influence and Little One

About the Author