Geoffrey Zukor is an obese, bungling, middle-aged man with a grand sense of humor. He is married to Victoria, a cruel, egotistical woman he can never please. They are the parents of Charlotte, a beautiful but shy girl who also never pleases Victoria. Even though she constantly belittles Geoffrey and their daughter, Geoffrey still loves his wife. In fact, he loves her to the point of doing anything for her, even to the detriment of himself and Charlotte. However, things are about to change for Geoffrey. The Governors of the Given, a collective of the most brilliant minds in the universe, are taxed with calculating and identifying "every possible future" and implementing the one that provides "for the maximum greater good." In the case of the Governors of the Given's re-tailored future for Geoffrey, the repercussions will last for generations.

Cohen's debut novel is, in a word, brilliant. He weaves a tale of life and love so mesmerizing one finds it hard to put the book down. Protagonist Geoffrey's penchant for witty one-liners is laugh-out-loud funny. Both humor and tragedy blend together in this tale filled with unexpected plot twists that will likely cause the reader to gasp. The writing is crisp, the plot is imaginative, and the characters are memorable. The novel's three parts—"The Art of Coincidence," "Season of the Witch," and "The Silver Shoes"—are contained in 465 pages of pure, must-read genius. Cohen is an author to watch. His work is certain to stand the test of time. And if the Governors of the Given have a say, it will become a classic.

A 2022 Eric Hoffer Book Award Category Finalist

RECOMMENDED by the US Review

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