Disappoint Me

In the sharp and insightful latest from Dinan (Bellies), a British trans woman from Hong Kong searches for love and fulfillment in London. Max Murphy, a 30-year-old poet and legal adviser at a tech company, is struggling with writer’s block following a recent breakup. After deciding to date again, she meets Vincent Chan, a cis corporate lawyer and son of Chinese immigrants. Despite their genuine connection, not just as Asians in the London business world but as kindred spirits, their relationship is tested by Vincent’s occasional thoughtless remarks about Max’s trans identity and her emerging health concerns resulting from her gender-affirming care. Complicating matters further are revelations from Vincent’s gap year in Thailand in 2012, where he and his best friend Fred formed a love triangle with a beautiful young woman named Alex that led to harrowing results. During a trip to France with Max, the old friends nearly come to blows, and the truth about the way they treated Alex threatens to tear Max and Vincent apart, just when Max needs Vincent the most. Dinan portrays her characters with staggering depth and sharp nuance as they grapple with each other’s complexities and frailties. With this striking work, Dinan establishes herself as an invaluable voice in contemporary fiction. Agent: Kent Wolf, Neon Literary. (May)