Exquisite writing, and authentic-feeling opening of schizoid mind .. it's all a little free whelling . I didn't know why I was following his monologue with various interruptions from 'real' World until rather far into book .. I kept mentally shrugging my shoulders ..okay the coincidence which leads to denouement is a bit over-done BUT then from looking around, I discovered this is a sequel ..I need to look at first to get a better sense of things, I suspect .. undeniably engaging despite my not having any sense of narrative line .... brilliant writing ..

I'm afraid I wasn't aware Parallel Lines was a sequel to Double Blind so failed to get a more deep and meaningful read on this text, and the pre-existing connections between the characters, but enjoyed it immensely regardless. I must now go back and read Double Blind as there are characters, here, I would like to know more about.

I have been aware of Edward St. Aubyn since seeing Patrick Melrose years ago but have not had the pleasure of reading his books before now. Going into it I had a rough idea of the chaos of thought and action characters may enjoy so leaned well in, even when I wasn't sure what was happening or how the characters related to each other (also the result of not reading the first book, my fault). My overarching feeling is one of levity and understanding. Sebastian is schizophrenic and he seemed to be like the sun around which a number of the characters orbited as planets. Not inferior, in any way, but like connective tissue, of sorts. His therapist, relations, friends all orbited him in a loose way. I appreciated the randomness of his thoughts and speech. So much sense in quite a lot of what he says though disordered. A new, thought provoking perspective. He elevated a book with dark tones making it brighter and more joyful. I've been ground down by a fair bit of dark topics this year and this felt so fresh and free, in comparison.

A wild random ride, this is a world peopled with characters that are intelligent, witty and a joy to hang out with. Each character brings an added level of complexity and heft to the dynamic. My brain feels amply stretched from the exposure to their dialogue. I must confess I started the audio book part way in so I could enjoy it whilst gardening. Benedict Cumberbatch narrates in such an extraordinary fashion. The reader/listener feels as if they are attending a one man show. What a talent! He injected punch and energy to such a level I had to start the book over again to listen to him perform it from the off. So a top tip for you, if you want a good diversion whilst commuting to work or weeding, this is a great book to choose.

I liked this book in part but it felt a bit disjointed. I struggled to get into it and didn’t realise that it was actually a sequel. It makes it difficult then to empathise and relate to the characters. I did find the relationship between the twins interesting and I got into it but it was too clever at times. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

In her review for The Standard (29 April 2025), journalist Melanie McDonagh called this novel “an elegant skewering of the beautiful and the damned” and St Aubin’s novel did indeed strike me as something that perhaps F. Scott Fitzgerald would have written in the twenty-first century. Shakespearean elements are also integrated (first and foremost through the names of the main characters Olivia and Sebastian) but the setting and expert story-telling are resolutely St Aubin’s. His modern-day Olivia is a radio producer whose career is on a downright spiral after her move to a rural area. Like Shakespeare’s heroines, she is riven by personal challenges. Meanwhile, in St Aubyin’s hands, Sebastian is a man in the early stages of recovery from a severe psychological breakdown. How the parallel lines of these two life stories intersect, and what the eventual outcome is for these two memorable, well-written characters, is just one discovery the discerning reader will make through the pages of this novel. Warmly recommended, and I wish to express my gratitude to the publisher and NetGalley for the free ARC that enabled me to read this novel and to produce this book review.

“Compassion is just love in the face of suffering and love does not run out with use – it grows stronger.”

This was a strange and wondrous thing. A heady mix of so many things, psychotherapy, oncology, art, science, capitalism and religion all tangling and untangling. Every time I think I’ve got my finger on it it morphs into something else. At times cerebral, occasionally pretentious, and unexpectedly warm and humorous, its brilliance lies in always staying just out of reach.

A strange but compelling story, very complicated in part due to the complex relationships depicted: fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers, friends and lovers all appear, and it can be dizzying when it also deals with psychotherapy, schizophrenia, loss and complex feelings. While never as compelling as the Patrick Melrose books, this is a strange and compulsive read. I recommend.

I couldn't get on with the book, was very confused by the plot in the first chapters . I have now read that this is book number 2 and it helps to have read the first one. Nevertheless I perservered for a while with the book. The plot started to make more sense, but it was such a chore to read that I gave up. Sorry not for me. DNF 55%
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

This is a sequel to 'Double Blind' and the middle book of a planned trilogy. Although it makes sense as a stand-alone, the characters (or most of them) are introduced in 'Double Blind' and so it makes sense to read that first.

Olivia and Francis now have a son, Noah. Olivia, the adopted daughter of therapist Martin, does not realise that he has been treating a schizophrenic patient, Sebastian, who is her biological twin. Much of this novel revolves around Martin's efforts to balance his roles as a therapist and a father, and he often struggles to do so successfully. For life is messy, and when it emerges that Sebastian is Olivia's twin, it means the characters in the novel have to try to make decisions around Sebastian's involvement in the family, which is easier for some than others.

I recently went to see Edward St. Aubyn talk at the Southbank and it was a privilege to hear him talk about his work while embarking on his new novel. This is an intelligent, thought-provoking work and I enjoyed it greatly. Perfect for book groups or book lovers, but do read the first novel first if you have the opportunity. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for review.

A sequel to ’Double Blind’, this picks up the narrative five years later. Sebastian has recently experienced a breakdown and is schizophrenic. He is undergoing analysis with Dr Carr to deal with his abandonment by his mother. An edgy and humorous novel about the human condition.

Very well written but at times I felt disjointed and the story was hard to engage with.
The characters descriptions were excellent but hugely complicated with their connections and relationships, both professionally and privately. At times I became slightly confused

Due to the mesmerising effect of the Patrick Melrose novels, I was looking forward to this. In many ways, it didn't disappoint, with similar characters and setting. St Aubyn's previous works are so monumental, I don't think any more of his work will match - and that's ok. Well worth reading and may there be many more

This was an elegant, sharply written novel exploring identity, fate, and tangled relationships. At its centre are Sebastian, a troubled patient searching for clarity; Martin, a therapist entangled in the delicate balance between professional duty and human connection; and his daughter Olivia, a sharp and complex figure navigating personal upheaval. It’s a book full of psychological depth and quiet observations.

While the writing is undeniably well done, something about it didn’t fully land for me. The book is thoughtful and intellectually engaging, but at times the writing style seemed to come at the cost of emotional connection. It’s more of an observation than an experience—interesting, but not entirely gripping.

A solid read, just not one that left a lasting impact for me!

I enjoyed this novel which follows Sebastian who is in therapy after a nervous breakdown, his therapist Martin who has his own challenges and his adopted daughter Olivia . throughout the novel the characters meet when their lives collide as they live parallel lives which occasionally intersect.
Having trained in psychiatry at Medical school school I recognised the conversation being described in the first section . It rang very true for somebody with a psychosis it left me as reader feeling slightly mad myself, which is the paradox of the situation

There’s some naturalistic sections in this novel that contrast markedly with the almost sci-fi elements including the development of virtual reality and brain scanning and transcranial stimulation. Personally, I felt that these sections were not as strong as the more naturalistic sections
Since reading the novel, I’ve become aware that this is the second in a series of books written about the same characters. The first novel being Double Blind .
The author uses great skill to describe individual people’s characteristics well and they all feel like three dimensional people.
The offer has a clear easily read writing style. The novel is an enjoyable read. I suspect there are some elements of this book that I didn’t fully understand for example it appears to be a finest for a political fiction novel (the Orwell prize 2025.) fully understand this so I may have missed something in the reading.


I read a copy of the novel on Netgalley UK in return for an unbiased review.
The book was published in the UK on the 1st of May 2025 by Random House UK, vintage This review will appear on NetGalley UK, Goodreads, Storyville, and my book blog bionicSarahS books.wordpress.com also appear on Amazon UK and Waterstones.

The Orwell Prize finalist 2025 for political fiction, Parallel Lines is the second instalment of this yet-unnamed and impressive series by Edward St. Aubyn. From the disjointed narrative of Sebastian's psyche to the Freudian-inspired characters orbiting him, this dense novel flaunts psychoanalysis, environmentalism, genetics, identity, and family ties in a dizzying narrative sprinkled with satire, science, and drama.

Parallel Lines was my second St. Aubyn book (thank you, fellow readers, for alerting me that Double Blind is the first in the series, a detail not noticeable). Although it took me some time to sink into the story, rarely have I come across such an intellectually stimulating narrative. The novel opens with Sebastian’s inner thoughts, narrated in the third person. This is noteworthy, as the third-person narration from other characters uses a different, more neutral tone. Aubyn’s choice of a distinct voice for Sebastian’s narrative is compelling, as it draws the reader into his fractured, inquisitive and easily stimulated mind.

Sebastian is a schizophrenic individual, undergoing analysis with Dr. Carr, who also happens to be Olivia’s father. Olivia, Sebastian’s twin sister, is producing a podcast on natural disasters. They don’t know each other. There’s also Noah, Olivia’s genius son with Francis, an accomplished scientist and entrepreneur. Helio is Sebastian’s nurse, his friend, and also a light-painting artist. There are many other characters, each fully developed and realised, not all likable, but human and real nonetheless. Sometimes I had to retrace who was who and from where, but after a while, the dialogues and parallel storylines began to feel organic and coherent. A few notes about the characters might help tracking them.

The plot itself is relatively simple: two adult twins, separated in childhood, are reconnected by chance through unexpected individuals and circumstances. However simplistic the plot may seem, Aubyn’s genius lies not in what happens, but in how it happens. His writing layered with psychological and emotional intricacies, and fully realised, self-absorbed, deeply flawed, and strangely likeable characters. I enjoyed immensely the process of dissecting their behaviours, motivations, and contradictions. Aubyn blends philosophy, biology, and religion into the narrative seamlessly through rich conversations, subtle observations, always with intention, often using irony and rhetorical narrative to persuade, question, and provoke the reader. His observational and informative style works beautifully with the novel’s concern in science, psychoanalysis, class, family, identity, and belonging. There are moments of poignant reflection that are cathartic and hopeful, peppered with tension and irony.

There are occasional references to Double Blind, and here’s my thoughts on the series' structure: (view spoiler)

Although nominated for the Orwell Prize, I found the political aspect subtle. These characters are privileged, educated, and wealthy. Their problems unfold in sparkling isolation, without the burdens of common folk. Science and psychoanalysis lovers will devour this book, full of interesting information and argumentation. At the end of the novel, the minutiae of correlations the reader can make, along with their perceptions and judgements on the characters, makes Parallel Lines a lush and rewarding reading experience. Political satire and commentaries are sprinkled throughout the story. Besides, it is a touching and poignant story that shies away from unnecessary drama and gives room to deep, meaningful understanding between siblings, parents, and children.

This is a book best enjoyed by those who enjoy character-driven stories, slow-burning plots, and the pleasure of connecting narrative dots. Science and psychoanalysis lovers will especially appreciate the wealth of detail, argument, and intellectual layering. Parallel Lines is not for everyone. But if you’re someone who enjoys dissecting characters, untangling subtle threads, and being swept up in clever prose, this book is absolutely for you.

Recommended.

Rating: 4.0/5

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I was excited to read Parallel Lines, as a huge fan of St Aubyn's earlier books, but this wasn't for me. I found the diversions into treatises that didn't seem connected to the plot to be quite tedious, and while probably interesting in another setting, they bogged down the book for me. I liked Sebastian and Lucy, particularly the former's chaotic internal voice, but I found most of the dialogue didn't clearly dileanate the characters, so they mainly sounded like Hampstead intellectuals across the novel. St Aubyn is obviously a skilled writer, this one just wasn't for me.

I think that like most people I was first introduced to St Aubyn through the Patrick Melrose novels and then this is the first of his books outside that series that I have read.

It’s a departure in the more straightforward narrative style of the Melrose series but after more than 30 years since the novels were first published this is perhaps only fair. Parallel Lines is apparently a sequel to Double Blind but as I’ve never read it I haven’t much sense of how deeply they’re connected. Parallel Lines is most definitely a novel where the philosophy holds importance over the plot so I think you have to go in prepared to work hard when reading this novel. I have to be honest and admit that at times I was a little lost, though that may be through my ignorance rather than a lack of skill on the author’s part!

Parallel Lines focuses mainly on Sebastian and Liv at the centre of a web in which the other characters connect and fly across from. In short Sebastian has schizophrenia and discovers that his therapist is his biological sister Liv’s adoptive father and the novel tendrils out from these two. It’s a novel about seeking connection not just with one another but with the world at large and so topics swing from the environment through to science and medicine and the dinosaurs. It’s perhaps easiest understood as an extinction novel and about capturing a moment at the end of the world. Psychotherapy also comes under discussion and it can at times feel more like a thinly veiled treatise from the author as each character speaks in philosophical profundities.

I’m still not sure how I feel about the novel and it’s perhaps one to read again in a few years and reserve judgement until then. But I did like it for being more about the author reaching towards something and taking the reader along rather than purporting a concrete world view from a place of authorial omnipotence.

I really tried with this book, seduced by the promise of clever word play and literary merit. However I found it really hard work with very little engagement or coherence. It might have helped to have read St Aubyn's earlier book, Double Blind, as there was little background information or context for the characters, but that may have just doubled the pain. It is obviously a highly regarded literary work by many who have already reviewed it, but I am afraid it is not for me.

This is a darkly comical novel about madness, psychiatry and coincidence, shooting off in so many directions it is sometimes hard to keep track – but it is well worth the effort.

At the start of the book, we encounter Sebastian in the midst of a psychotic episode. He has the life history to justify any form of escape!

His therapist, Martin is working with him relatively successfully but it turns out that his adopted daughter, Olivia is actually Sebastian’s long lost twin. That makes continuing to work with Sebastian difficult!

There’s a range of other characters. Lucy who is being treated for a brain tumour, her wild partner Hunter who finds solace in chatting to an Italian monk named Guido, and Francis who is Olivia’s partner.

The book is a sequel to Double Blind and also a cheerful resolution of part of that book’s story. While funny about, and critical of, many aspects of psychiatry and psychoanalysis it describes the possibility of escaping from a terrible past to a place where you can survive as a human being and, in the end, everybody is enriched by the events.

It’s a superb novel, beautifully written and insightful. It’s well worth reading!

**HIGHLY RECOMMEND READING "DOUBLE BLIND" FIRST**

Parallel Lines is the second in what looks to be the next series of books by Edward St Aubyn. Having read the Patrick Melrose novels, I was keen to pick up a new one from Aubyn. I had read a couple PM novels out of synch, so I was expecting I could do the same here too. How wrong I was!

We are immediately introduced to Sebastian and his troubled mental health. The first few pages are a challenge to read, but they certainly reflect his state of mind. The rest of the story revolves around those he is connected to, including Olivia (his "Bio Sis"), his psychotherapist Dr Carr (also Olivia's adopted dad) and a host of others connected to them.

As I have highlighted above, you really need to read the first book in series as no background is provided on these characters, which is quite discombobulating. For a book seemingly so character driven (there's not much of a plot), some back story would have helped, as I kept forgetting who was who and how they related to each other. Some characters don't seem to add much to the (thin) plot, so I assume it is backgrounding for future books (PL is obviously part of an ongoing series, as evidenced by the massive signposting at book's end).

As well as the lack of plot and character back stories, the book seemed far too clever for its own good at times, with Aubyn seemingly wanting to show off what he knows on various esoteric topics. Some lines of dialogue seem somewhat unbelievable. Do the "chattering classes" really talk like that during a family dinner?

All of this meant I nearly stopped reading about four times in the first half of the book. It all seemed like such a slog with nothing much of note really happening. However, it did pick up for me as the book trudged on. I was drawn to Sebastian the most and wanted to see how his character developed. My favourite parts of the story were the gallery show and when Olivia invites Seb to the park and her home (into her life, basically), both towards the end of the book. This provided enough intrigue and affection (for Seb) that I would probably read the next book in series - and likely go back to read the first one!

There were so many diverse characters to discover in this story, but eventually they came together in the end. There was a lot of information about ecological problems and attempts to solve them. Sebastian's struggles with his mental health were harrowing initially, but as his health improved he became quite a character. The story of separated twins is the basis of the story and supports the theory of nature over nurture.