Her Fearful Symmetry is the 4th novel by Audrey Niffenegger, who also wrote The Time Traveler’s Wife.
This one is about twins named Julia and Valentina. They inherit an apartment in England when their aunt Elspeth dies. Elspeth is their mom Edie’s estranged twin.
Before she died, Elspeth amended her will to ensure the twins cannot receive their inheritance unless they do follow two important rules: live in the apartment for one year before selling it, and never allow their parents to set foot in it.
Julia and Valentina spend their first year in the England apartment, and become friends with their odd and eccentric neighbors, who are also intrigued by Elspeth’s seemingly odd rules. One of the neighbors has OCD, and the other is a cemetery tour guide. That’s basically the gist of the story.
Her Fearful Symmetry was difficult for me to understand. I’m still not sure I get the meaning of this story. It’s beautifully written, but totally bizarre.
Julia and Valentina are intriguing and mysterious at first, but as you get to know them, they seem to become more selfish, immature, and pathetic. Their characters seem simple-minded and idiotic, yet, the author describes them as having annoying bird-like behaviors that for some reason bewilder and intrigue the people around them.
I got the impression from reading the synopsis of Her Fearful Symmetry that the girls would be haunted by the characters in the cemetery next door—including George Eliot
Even the ending of Her Fearful Symmetry
Other books by Audrey Niffenegger include:
- The Time Traveler’s Wife (2003)
- The Three Incestuous Sisters (2005)
What did you think about Her Fearful Symmetry?
Last Updated on January 27, 2026 by Sarah Ann
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