Welcome to Jen’s Jewels, where each week I highlight a story I loved and the author behind the words. Today’s gem is LUCIEN by J.R. Thornton. Let’s kick things off with a quick Lightning Round before digging deeper into the story.
LIGHTNING ROUND
• In three words, describe the vibe of your book. Fun, captivating, dark.
• What’s your ideal writing fuel: coffee, tea, wine, or chaos? Definitely coffee. I like writing early in the morning. In my experience, wine is (unfortunately) not particularly conducive to (good) writing
• Plotter, pantser, or organized mess? Somewhere in the middle. I usually start with 3-5 plot points and then let the characters figure out how we get from one to the next.
THE DEEP DIVE
• Tell me about a scene you rewrote multiple times. What made it so tricky, and how did you finally crack it? I probably rewrote the ending of the novel at least a hundred times. Endings are difficult because you have to make some major decisions: What final message do I want to leave with the reader? How much closure – or ambiguity – should there be? How do the characters feel about the events of the story? How do I want the reader to feel? I recently went back and read a very early draft of the novel and was surprised by how it originally ended. It was completely different from the final version, and I’d entirely forgotten that I’d written it that way.
• Your protagonist: Did they arrive fully formed, or did you uncover them layer by layer? What surprised you most as you wrote? Mostly fully formed, to be honest. The underlying dynamic between Lucien and Atlas is the same in the early drafts as it is in the final manuscript. Some aspects of their personalities evolved during revisions, but their core traits remained consistent throughout the process.
• Setting can be a character unto itself. How did your location shape the story’s mood, and what personal connection, if any, do you have to that place? The setting – Harvard’s campus – is a core component of the story. If you placed the novel somewhere else, it would become a completely different book. University campuses are unique environments: they’re part of society but also separate and self-contained, with their own vernacular, social hierarchies, traditions, peculiarities, and even moral codes. That’s especially true for a university with as much history as Harvard. It’s also a place I knew very well, having spent four years there as a student. At the same time, universities change quickly. I don’t think I’d feel comfortable setting a novel at Harvard in 2026, because it’s probably already quite different from the version I experienced – and I wouldn’t be able to write it with the same authenticity.
THE PERSONAL TOUCH
• Share a behind-the-scenes detail readers might never guess. This could be a research rabbit hole, an unexpected inspiration, or a moment pulled from real life. There’s a scene in the novel where someone unconnected to the university commits suicide on the steps of the central campus church. That actually happened during my time at Harvard. It was a strange and kind of unsettling story. The man was in his mid-thirties and lived in the Cambridge area. Before his death, he had written a 2,000-page philosophical manuscript titled Suicide Note and published it online.
• If you could have dinner with one of your characters, or remove one entirely, who would it be and why? I would pick dinner with Lucien. For all his flaws I think he would be great company.
LOOKING AHEAD
• Without spoiling anything, can you give readers a small peek at what you’re working on next? Even just the vibe or question you’re exploring. I’d like to write a sequel that follows what happens to Lucien after the events of this book.
• What’s the best way for readers to stay in touch and follow your literary adventures? Website, social media, newsletter, or carrier pigeon welcome. You can find me on Instagram, or reach out via my website.
LUCIEN by J.R. Thornton
Narrator: Andrew J. Andersen
A gifted yet financially disadvantaged artist falls victim to the manipulative control of his wealthy, enigmatic Harvard roommate in this incendiary novel from the author of Beautiful Country—a piercing exploration of class, ambition, identity, and the perilous cost of reinvention in the tradition of Patricia Highsmith and Donna Tartt.
The son of working-class Czech immigrants, Christopher “Atlas” Novotny is a talented painter who arrives at Harvard on a full scholarship. Raised amid hardship, he is unprepared for the privileged world introduced to him by his freshman roommate, Lucien Orsini-Conti.
Born to wealthy European diplomats, Lucien plays the part of the confident, sophisticated bon vivant. Where Lucien is bold and brash, Atlas is timid and introverted. Growing up a lonely outsider, Atlas is insecure, impressionable, and in awe of his brilliant roommate. But is Lucien all that he seems?
Sensing a willing disciple, Lucien introduces Atlas to a glittering new world of lavish parties and elite social clubs. When Atlas struggles to afford his new lifestyle, Lucien offers a solution, convincing the naïve artist to become a forger, passing off fakes to galleries and dealers.
But Lucien’s charismatic facade conceals something darker and more sinister. As Lucien’s behavior grows increasingly unstable, Atlas is forced into escalating risks with devastating consequences.
Drawing inspiration from the true crime stories of Christian Gerhartsreiter (a.k.a. “Clark Rockefeller”) and Adam Wheeler, Lucien is as darkly seductive and addictively readable as The Secret History, The Incendiaries, Creation Lake, and The Talented Mr. Ripley.
Coming of Age | Thriller Psychological [ Harper Perennial, On Sale: March 17, 2026, Paperback / e-Book / audiobook, ISBN: 9780063458437 / eISBN: 9780063458451 ]
Buy LUCIEN: Amazon.com | Kindle | BN.com | Apple Books | Kobo | Google Play | Books-A-Million | Indie BookShops | Ripped Bodice | Libro.fm | Audible | Walmart.com | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR
About J.R. Thornton
Born in London, J. R. Thornton graduated from Harvard College in 2014 where he studied history, English, and Chinese. An internationally ranked junior tennis player, he competed for Harvard and on the professional circuit. He was a member of the inaugural class of Schwarzman Scholars, obtaining an M.A. from Tsinghua University in Beijing. His debut novel Beautiful Country(2016), which was loosely inspired by experiences he had living in Beijing as a teenager,was reviewed by literary luminaries such as Gary Shteyngart, Mo Yan, and Fareed Zakaria. The novel became a best-seller in China, and the film rights were subsequently purchased by WME/IMG.His second novel LUCIEN was first published in China in 2024 and ranked among the top 25 bestselling new novels of the year. He now lives in Italy, working for AC Milan.
WEBSITE |
About Jennifer Vido
Jennifer Vido is the author of The Gull Island Series, sweet Lowcountry romances inspired by her love of coastal living and small-town charm. Serendipity by the Sea won Best First Book from the New Jersey Romance Writers Golden Leaf Contest, and Baltimore Magazine readers named her Best Local Author in 2024 and 2025.
A Vanderbilt graduate, Jennifer traded in teaching French to follow her dream of becoming an author. She loves discovering and sharing literary gems through her Jen’s Jewels column, celebrating the books that make her heart happy.
Jennifer lives in Maryland with her husband and is mom to two grown sons. Her rescue dog, Fripp, is her constant companion, though he’s better at napping than editing. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her at the beach with her toes in the sand, dreaming about her next romance.
No Comments
Comments are closed.