Both perspectives of father and daughter are interlaced in this debut novel from 29-year-old German author Dana Vowinckel, offering a compelling look at the modern Jewish (broken) family. Similar to her protagonist, Vowinckel was born in Berlin to American-German Jewish parents and spent her childhood between Chicago and her native city. Originally released in 2023 in Germany, where it won a handful of literary awards, Misophonia has now been translated for an English-speaking audience. The descriptions of the cultural diaspora of the differing cities are beautifully informed, but there are numerous Hebrew, Yiddish, Israeli, German and religious Jewish references that, while doing well not to patronise the reader, require either a similar level of knowledge or patience to translate. Perhaps this is an oversight of the translation? The grammar, too, can be confusing at times, jumping from thought to thought and tripping over commas when a full stop would be simpler.
If you can get over those bumps, however, you’re in for a satisfying read, with characters that are as infuriating as they are endearing. The story is true to life. Every outburst, celebration, apology, fear and longing is as visceral as the title implies. Avi, Margarita and Marsha (the frosty, absent mother) don’t develop how you expect them to. Misophonia is a coming-of-age novel, but not just for the teenage lead, also the parents and grandparents, because, in reality, we never stop learning and growing. This isn’t a Hollywood tale, after all, it’s an authentic snapshot of life.
By Danielle Goldstein
Misophonia by Dana Vowinckel, translation by Adrian Nathan West, is out now in hardback (HarperVia, £20; paperback out June 2026). harpercollins.co.uk
