Vulture, A Most Anticipated Book of the YearLGBTQReads, A Most Anticipated Book of the Year "Mirabella writes about the strange land between fable and reality, and this novel deftly explores the surreal undertones of familiar themes like love and loyalty. Part fantastical horror, part road trip narrative,
Brother & Sister Enter the Forest is an uncanny portrait of the lengths we go to protect the people we love." –Isle McEroy,
Vulture, A Most Anticipated Book of the Year
"A strange, beautiful, and memorable book." –Adam Vitcavage,
Debutiful "[B]y turns contentious and tender . . . A gripping [...] meditation on the difficulties of youth and the salvation that can be found in family." –
Publishers Weekly "There are so many things to love about Richard Mirabella's outstanding
Brother & Sister Enter the Forest but what I love best is its meticulous attention to atmosphere, by which I mean the music of the book, the soul of it, expressed in its incisive descriptions, its cadence, its dark and tender heart. It's what revives me every time I pick it up, and it will keep me coming back again and again." –Paul Lisicky, author of
Later: My Life at the Edge of the World "This is a gorgeous novel–full of mystery, dread and a deep, melancholy understanding of what it means to love someone who is mentally ill. I was completely captivated." –Dan Chaon, author of
Sleepwalk "Richard Mirabella's debut novel
Brother & Sister Enter the Forest doesn't so much seek understanding as it does carve indelible and brave circles into the depths of desire, violence, loss, and belonging that keep us alive, connected, heartbroken and in love, despite logic or consequence. This novel makes the world bigger." –Madeline Ffitch, author of
Stay and Fight "Riveting, relentless, a novel of calm and chilling reserve and accomplishment." –Joy Williams, author of
Harrow "A unique, evocative novel that doesn't shy away from awkwardness and pain. Mirabella's debut delves into the stubborn, haunted connections between his characters and those they've known and loved. A wry, original, new voice in fiction!" –Rachel B. Glaser, author of
Paulina & Fran "Befitting its fairy-tale title,
Brother & Sister Enter the Forest sits in a mist of unease, haunted by the restless ghosts of childhood violence and abuse. But what lingers most in Richard Mirabella's masterful novel are the brilliant moments of tenderness between siblings, between lovers, between friends, between parents and children–all of them grasping for one another's hands in the face of so much pain, all of them fighting to meet life's messiness with compassion and love. This is brave, beautiful storytelling." –Zak Salih, author of
Let's Get Back to the Party
