The Second Greatest Love
Falling in love across the fault lines of class
When her life in eastern Germany falls apart, Michelle leaves everything behind and starts over. Working at an upscale hotel, she suddenly finds herself in a world of luxury and privilege. Then she meets Henry: charming, wealthy and born into opportunities she never had. Falling in love with him feels like stepping into a different future, one free from scarcity, fear and constant struggle. But the promises of social mobility come at a price.
A novel tackling the two great narratives of our time: the idea that everyone is the architect of their own fortune on the one hand, and the widespread experience of being at the mercy of circumstance on the other.
»One of the most terribly beautiful love stories right now.« – NDR Buch des Monats
»It’s a novel which draws you in with wild intensity, right up to its spectacular ending.« – DIE ZEIT
- A modern love story that shows how big and how small the divides in our society can be
- For readers of Coco Mellors, Emma Cline and David Szalay
- Instant #3 SPIEGEL bestseller
Ruth-Maria Thomas
Ruth-Maria Thomas, born in 1993 and raised in Cottbus, worked as a social worker in youth welfare. She studied at the German Literature Institute in Leipzig. Her bestselling debut novel was nominated for the German Book Prize and won the Ulla Hahn Prize. ‘The Second Greatest Love’ is her second novel.
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