Joe Goldberg is ready for a change. Instead of selling books, he's writing them—and he's off to a good start. Recognized by acclaimed author Glenn Shoddy, Joe is invited to join an exclusive writing fellowship at Harvard. Finally, a place where talent trumps pedigree, where intellect is the great equalizer, and anything seems possible. Even happy endings.

But dreams rarely match reality. Joe's peers are elitist, already-published writers who look down on outsiders like him. Just as disillusionment sets in, Wonder Parish enters his life. No degrees, no pretensions—just a shared love for literature. They have so much in common.

If only Wonder could commit to the writing life, they might become the rare literary soulmates who resist their demons. But Wonder has a tendency to love, to covet. Joe, however, believes in the cardinal rule of fiction: If you want to write a book, you have to kill your darlings.

Determined to make this exclusive world a fairer place, Joe decides to take matters into his own hands. And if a little crimson runs in the streets of Cambridge... who can blame him?

Love doesn't conquer all. Often, it needs a little push.