I was initially confused until I realized that the story features look-alike characters with different names across alternate worlds. Once I figured this out, I couldn't put the book down.
It's 2031, and the United States has collapsed. Areas are now republics run by militias. In Los Angeles, when the curfew is finally lifted, Kareem Fayed throws a party to celebrate. Gloria, accompanied by her roommate Ari, decides to attend only to have the host disappear, and doppelgangers of Gloria and another friend show up.
In a parallel universe, the United States is a surveillance state run by the Service. Citizens are encouraged to report individuals who criticize the State or otherwise act in an unharmonious manner. When a physics experiment goes awry, it sets off a chain of events that affect both worlds.
I am amazed at how deftly St. John Mandel builds both worlds and how each character is identifiable in each situation. It's a story about human resilience in the face of the unimaginable. As with all of her books, Exit Party is an elegantly written novel with memorable characters and settings. I have read most of her books, and this one ranks up there with my favorite, Station Eleven.
4.5/5 stars.
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