I’m the Undertow

A haunting and tender debut about guilt, grief, and the unexpected places we go to find redemption.

 

When thirty-year-old Conner Robbins hits and kills a cyclist, no one blames him—a freak accident, they say. But he can’t stop blaming himself. Conner is consumed by guilt, and begins to shut himself off from the people who care about him, risking his closest relationships and a career he no longer feels he deserves.

 

In the weeks following the accident, Conner finds an unexpected sense of solace in an unlikely place: a budding friendship with Lauren, the mother of the young man he killed. But as their connection deepens, they begin to neglect the people and responsibilities in their own lives. Now, both Conner and Lauren must confront the truth about their relationship: is it a path toward healing, or are they simply prolonging the pain?

 

Tender, intimate, and emotionally resonant, I’m the Undertow is a stunning debut about guilt, grace, and the complicated ways we try to move forward after loss.

Additional information

Classification

Fiction

Genre

Book Club, Contemporary, General Fiction, Literary Fiction, Upmarket

Age

Adult

Publisher

Independent

Imprint

Central Avenue

Language(s)

English

Format(s)

Hardcover

Author

Eric Scot Tryon

Release Date

5-May-26

Release Month

May Releases

About the Author

Eric Scot Tryon is a writer and editor from San Francisco. His debut novel I’m the Undertow is forthcoming from Central Avenue (May 2026). His short work has appeared in over 50 literary magazines, including Mid-American Review, Indiana Review, Ninth Letter, Florida Review, Glimmer Train, The Los Angeles Review, and others. Eric is represented by Carleen Geisler at P.S. Literary Agency. He is also the Founding Editor of the literary journal Flash Frog. Find more information at www.ericscottryon.com.

 

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