The Rich People Have Gone Away: A Novel Authored By Regina Porter

In this electric novel of secrets, connection, and community, a diverse group of New Yorkers is drawn together by the search for a missing woman.

“Cinematic, preternaturally humane, and absolutely unputdownable—I just loved it.” —Claire Lombardo, People

“Riveting.” —Charmaine Wilkerson, New York Times bestselling author of Black Cake

In Brooklyn, 2020, Theo Harper and his pregnant wife, Darla, retreat to their summer cottage upstate to escape the lockdown. But not everyone in their upscale Park Slope building shares this privilege. Xavier, a teenager in a Cardi B T-shirt, and Darla’s best friend, Ruby, along with her partner, Katsumi, remain behind, grappling with their own challenges, including keeping Ruby's Michelin-starred restaurant afloat.

While hiking on the aptly named Devil’s Path, Theo reveals a long-held secret, sparking an argument with Darla. When Darla subsequently goes missing, Theo is thrust into the role of prime suspect. As Darla’s and Theo’s families and friends converge to search for her, Ruby and Katsumi take on the difficult task of mending rifts and bridging divides. Their search forces them to confront their own pasts and present challenges, bringing to light the complexities of their intertwined lives.

Set against the backdrop of a city in flux, The Rich People Have Gone Away weaves a powerful narrative of hope, love, and inequity. It explores how the lives of ordinary New Yorkers intersect in profound ways, revealing that the past is never truly left behind and the search for truth can unite even the most disparate of lives. 📚❤️