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April 10, 2026
Go Gentle by Maria Semple review
A Stoic philosopher navigates midlife in this madcap comedy from the author of Where’d You Go, Bernadette
TL;DR
- The novel centers on Adora Hazzard, a Stoic philosopher tutoring wealthy twins in New York City.
- Adora's settled life is upended by the arrival of a handsome stranger, disrupting her Stoic principles.
- The book is difficult to categorize, incorporating elements of comedy, art heist, thriller, and romcom.
- Semple makes Stoicism feel fresh and exciting, with Adora's enthusiasm for the philosophy being contagious.
- The narrative features witty dialogue and a madcap energy, though at times it becomes disjointed.
- A section detailing the deterioration of Adora's marriage is cluttered with time-stamped political events.
- The novel's main plot is ingeniously resolved at the end, despite moments of perceived disarray.