Mad Eden

Ro and Liam live in a ramshackle cabin in a secluded stretch of Florida. Neither their home nor their sometimes tumultuous relationship is what the world would call perfect, but to Ro―newly diagnosed with autism and working as a patient navigator for people seeking gender-affirming care―their life, despite the deeply hostile political climate, is a kind of paradise. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what shatters their peace. There’s Quentin, the unpredictable teenager to whom Liam and Ro are quasi-parents, who visits on his way to college, where he plans to finally start T. There’s the appearance of *Mad Eden*, an online fantasy serial about heroic dragon riders that increasingly becomes Ro’s obsession. And then there’s a seemingly innocuous patient video call that results in consequences both unexpected and grave. This myriad of circumstances sends Liam and Ro’s world spinning toward disaster―unless Ro can become the real-life hero their situation demands without betraying who they are and who they love.

Prize history

• National Book Award for Fiction 2026 Longlist