UNCONDITIONAL

In Kogon’s novel, a photographer’s carefree life is upended by unexpected responsibility and a second chance at love.

Matthew Russell has made a name for himself as a successful sports photographer for the NFL. When Matthew unexpectedly runs into his ex-girlfriend, Monica, a brilliant, globe-trotting documentarian, he realizes he may want more than casual flings. But just as the two begin to explore rekindling their relationship, Matthew receives a life-altering phone call from a New Mexico police officer: His estranged older brother, Paul, and Paul’s wife have died by suicide, leaving behind a premature newborn daughter and a note asking Matthew to take care of her. Grappling with grief, guilt, and a terrifying lack of experience with babies, Matthew travels to New Mexico to meet his niece, Allie, and prepare for a completely new life. As Matthew navigates single fatherhood and Allie grows into a curious, sensitive child, Monica remains a constant presence in his mind. Matthew shifts careers to become a nature photographer, and a European assignment finally gives him the perfect chance to reconnect with Monica. He brings Allie along for her first international adventure, but she suddenly becomes gravely ill, and the reunion becomes another missed connection. Throughout the years, the core tension of their relationship remains: Monica can’t give up her restless, nomadic lifestyle, and Matthew can’t uproot the stable home he’s built for Allie. Ultimately, Matthew receives another piece of life-changing news that forces all three characters to confront what, and who, is most important to them. In this compelling blend of family drama and slow-burn romance, Kogon deftly explores the ever-present tensions between responsibility and desire, vividly rendering the “yo-yo existence” of two people who can’t stay apart. Each of the characters navigates sacrifices as they try to remain true to their most central beliefs, making the novel an absorbing read about the emotional ties that hold us to one another, and to ourselves.

A moving portrait of love, loss, and chosen family.