A contemporary novel about polyamory, full of endearing and refreshing characters navigating love, life, and desire among their chosen family.
Description
Critically acclaimed in the original French, The Fifth offers a refreshing take on sexuality and desire. Alice, Gayle, Camille and Simon live together in a polyamorous relationship, affectionately referred to as the Family. Camille, a trans woman, and Gayle are lovers; Simon is in a relationship with Alice; and Alice is in a relationship with everyone. But when Alice invites her seemingly straight ex-boyfriend Eloy to move into their Sherbrooke, Quebec apartment—albeit temporarily—the Family's dynamic begins to change in unexpected ways.
Narrated by each Family member along with script-like interludes, the daily lives of Alice, Gayle, Camille, Simon, and Eloy show a loving and satisfying non-traditional relationship. Infused with Quebecois culture, The Fifth is a story rarely represented in Canadian literature. Not about infidelity or possessiveness, rather, it is about the individuals as they navigate love and desire, and punch stereotypes and stigma in the face. Now available for the first time in English from translator and award-winning author Monica Meneghetti, The Fifth is honest, delightfully unconventional, breaks down barriers and challenges norms in our society.
Reviews
“A unique take on polyamory in a Quebecois setting. MP Boisvert—as translated by Monica Meneghetti—beautifully captures how an unknown roommate can turn into an intimate ally, how our insecurities can overwhelm us and that love can be heartbreakingly complex, no matter the number of partners. The Fifth gives us a fly-on-the-wall view of the struggles and depth of what it takes to choose your family and stand by those relationships.”
—Jenny Yuen, author of Polyamorous: Living and Loving More
"The vignettes of The Fifth emanate wit, warmth, and charm—a celebration of queer, polyamorous community and the joyful mess of ordinary life. It's easy to love these characters as much as they love each other."
—Kim Fu, author of The Lost Girls of Camp Forevermore