When college senior Alan Agnalini has an unexpected (and somewhat disastrous) sexual encounter with his close friend Brooke, he dismisses the idea that a pregnancy might follow. Five years later he spots Brooke from a distance on a Manhattan street, but now he becomes obsessed with the question of a possible pregnancy. Eventually, he tracks Brooke down and gets his answer. Why, though, doesn't he quite believe what she's telling him? . . . Fast forward a year-plus. Alan meets Marissa-a Jersey girl who, to her credit, made it through high school. Although Alan's impulse is to run in the opposite direction, his attraction to Marissa is both intense and reciprocated, and soon the two are involved in a torrid love affair. What he doesn't know is that an unlikely connection between Marissa and Brooke will ultimately change the trajectory of his life-and not in a good way.
"At the heart of Lalli's novel lies a deeply introspective journey, where the protagonist . . . grapples with the unpredictable tides of life, love, and loss, embodying the essence of contemporary fiction. . . [An] emotionally charged . . . tale ... that promises to resonate long after the last page is turned." -- Literary Titan
"With excellent execution, a believable cast, and relatable conflicts, Swimming Across the Hudson is a dark-horse standout of contemporary fiction." -- SPR