A luminous, deeply moving novel about friendship, love, and resilience in the face of heartbreak, set against the ever-changing pulse of New York City.
 
Five college friends chase their dreams to New York, a city full of promise and uncertainty. They navigate their twenties together—through careers, relationships, and the chaos of early adulthood—until tragedy strikes, testing the bonds that once seemed unbreakable. Through loss and renewal, they discover what it truly means to build a life, a home, and a family of choice.
 
In Why We Came to the City, Kristopher Jansma, author of The Unchangeable Spots of Leopards, crafts a sweeping and emotionally rich portrait of modern urban life. With elegant prose and profound empathy, he follows a group of friends—idealistic, flawed, and fiercely loyal—as they navigate ambition, grief, and the bittersweet beauty of growing up together.
 
The novel unfolds as both love letter and elegy to New York City, capturing its energy, loneliness, and relentless hope. Jansma’s characters feel achingly real, their struggles universal: how to stay close when life changes, how to endure loss, and how to hold on to joy amid uncertainty.
 
A modern classic in the making, Why We Came to the City is a story of love and friendship as luminous and unpredictable as the city itself.
 
💖 Why You’ll Love It
A gorgeously written novel about friendship, grief, and hope.
Captures the magic and heartbreak of New York City life.
Deeply emotional and reflective without being sentimental.
Perfect balance of literary depth and relatable humanity.
From an award-winning author known for lyrical, elegant prose.
 
🌟 Perfect For
Fans of A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara and The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer.
Readers who love literary fiction about friendship and loss.
Book clubs exploring love, resilience, and growing up.
Anyone drawn to stories that capture the heart of city living.
 
❤️ Fans Also Liked
If you enjoyed Why We Came to the City, you might also like:
The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer — the enduring power of friendship and art.
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara — love, trauma, and deep connection.
Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann — intertwined lives in a changing city.