Art, ambition and desire collide when a struggling academic becomes entangled in the life and marriage of her literary idol.
By day, Dr Ruth Morgan lectures on ‘AI: the new frontier of storytelling’ at East Toronto University. By night, she toils away at a collection of short stories, fantasising about a literary career to rival that of the iconic Shelby Rayburn, internationally renowned and widely hailed as the voice of Ruth’s generation of women.
When Shelby and her husband, Oscar, make an appearance at an annual faculty party, Ruth can’t believe her luck. The trio immediately hit it off, and an intoxicating intimacy develops between them, underwritten by a simmering sexual tension. Everything changes when Shelby makes Ruth an offer she can’t refuse—one that she can’t tell anyone about, including Oscar. As boundaries blur and secret alliances form, the dynamic becomes riddled with distrust and threatens to implode. Ruth and Shelby need each other, but each has their own agenda when it comes to friendship, love and literary stardom.
Deepening her exploration of female friendships, art and fame, award-winning author Laurie Petrou returns with a campus novel that asks what it means to be a creator in an age where notions of authorship, relationships and notoriety seem dangerously undefinable.
Art, ambition and desire collide when a struggling academic becomes entangled in the life and marriage of her literary idol.
By day, Dr Ruth Morgan lectures on ‘AI: the new frontier of storytelling’ at East Toronto University. By night, she toils away at a collection of short stories, fantasising about a literary career to rival that of the iconic Shelby Rayburn, internationally renowned and widely hailed as the voice of Ruth’s generation of women.
When Shelby and her husband, Oscar, make an appearance at an annual faculty party, Ruth can’t believe her luck. The trio immediately hit it off, and an intoxicating intimacy develops between them, underwritten by a simmering sexual tension. Everything changes when Shelby makes Ruth an offer she can’t refuse—one that she can’t tell anyone about, including Oscar. As boundaries blur and secret alliances form, the dynamic becomes riddled with distrust and threatens to implode. Ruth and Shelby need each other, but each has their own agenda when it comes to friendship, love and literary stardom.
Deepening her exploration of female friendships, art and fame, award-winning author Laurie Petrou returns with a campus novel that asks what it means to be a creator in an age where notions of authorship, relationships and notoriety seem dangerously undefinable.
| Published By | House of Anansi Press Inc — Sep 1, 2026 |
| Specifications | 256 pages | 5.25 in x 8 in |
| Written By |
LAURIE PETROU is an award-winning and internationally published author of young-adult fiction, short stories and commercial literary novels. Her books have twice been on the Globe and Mail Top 100 Books of the Year, among other top book lists. Laurie is an associate professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, where she is a Dean's Teaching Award winner. She lives in Niagara, Ontario. |
| Written By |
|
LAURIE PETROU is an award-winning and internationally published author of young-adult fiction, short stories and commercial literary novels. Her books have twice been on the Globe and Mail Top 100 Books of the Year, among other top book lists. Laurie is an associate professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, where she is a Dean's Teaching Award winner. She lives in Niagara, Ontario. |
“A riveting dive into art and fame.” —People Magazine
“A dark, sexy tale of infatuation, envy, and creative life set within the cloistered walls of an elite university. The Rayburn Affair has richly drawn characters, simmering tension, and a perfect denouement.” —Robyn Harding, internationally bestselling author of Strangers in the Villa
”“Dark, fascinating, and utterly fearless ... This bold novel offers an unflinching look at desire, betrayal, and ambition in the literary world—I was unsettled, enthralled, and completely transfixed.” —Marissa Stapley, New York Times bestselling author of Lucky and The Lightning Bottles
”“Set within the hallowed halls of academia, this extraordinary novel explores how the clawing desire for validation can strip us of all reason, leading us to make desperate choices with devastating consequences. Raw, real, and riveting, The Rayburn Affair should be on everyone's must-read list.” —Samantha M. Bailey, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of Hello, Juliet
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