Second Place by Rachel Cusk is thought-provoking and wide-ranging psychological drama, an examination of artistic freedom, relationships, gender roles, and morality. The premise is quiet and simple: a woman who feels lost in her life invites an artist to stay in her guesthouse. She feels that his work speaks to something that has been missing for her, but when he arrives, the reality of his presence in her family’s life becomes murkier. Rachel Cusk is known for her cool, sophisticated style and her ability to mine the depths of gender and identity with her novels.