Emma Cline releases new novel Switzy

Emma Cline published her latest novel, Switzy, on Sept. 8. The book tracks the final days of David, a corporate executive who has been diagnosed with dementia. He is fired from his job after the diagnosis. The story unfolds over three long days as David prepares for a planned exit.

David’s journey begins with a trip to London. He visits his daughter, Rebecca, and his grandson, Rainer. These stops serve as grounding points in the narrative. After London, he travels to Switzerland. His goal is to see his high school best friend, Tom, before heading to the assisted suicide facility.

The title of the book refers to a term used by David’s business partner, Stearns. Stearns calls expensive ski trips to Switzerland "Switzy." The word takes on a second meaning in the story. It refers to the location where David will end his life. The procedure costs $13,000. David finds this amount shockingly cheap relative to his usual spending habits.

A central character in the story is David’s assistant, Cody. Cody handles the daily tasks that David forgets. This includes reminding David of his daughter’s name and the purpose of the trip. Cody also manages the verbal abuse and blame that David directs at him. When David cannot find his bearings, Cody points him to his notebook. The notebook contains the answers to his questions.

Cline uses David’s internal monologue to reveal his past. The reader learns about his life through his scattered thoughts rather than exposition from other characters. David’s mind jumps between the present, memories, and songs. Each thought spawns a new question. The narrative structure mirrors the fragmented nature of his dementia. He forgets his choices but watches the resulting chaos with curiosity.

The novel explores the relationship between David and Tom. Tom is revealed to be David’s other half and truest love. They have not spoken since their freshman year of college. During that time, David let Tom be brutally pranked. Their final interaction in the book lasts two minutes. The scene is awkward but serves as a beacon for David. It helps him feel complete before his life ends.

David’s interaction with his grandson, Rainer, offers a different perspective. The scene takes place in Rainer’s room in London. The mood is tense. David forces his way into the space. This interaction blurs the lines between parenthood and childhood. David regresses into a younger version of himself. He confronts the cost of growing up under rigid parental expectations. He realizes he misses this younger version of himself the most.

The plot is simple, but the execution is meditative. Cline spends time in the space between conversations. She details how David parses his physical surroundings and the memories they spark. The reader experiences the frustration of contemplating a life from the perspective of someone with dementia. When David finally speaks to Rebecca, Rainer, and Tom, his internal whirlwind barely surfaces. The reader feels his desperate frustration with his condition and the people around him.

Cline’s previous novel, The Guest, was set in the Hamptons. That book followed a charismatic escort who found cracks in rich families. Switzy flips the perspective. It places the reader inside the mind of the wealthy executive. The story criticizes how the value of wealth diminishes in the face of memory loss. It converts an unlikable man into a canvas for life’s questions.

The book is available now. It is described as a quick read with an easy-to-follow voice. Each chapter builds on the last. The anecdotes and key phrases naturally connect. Readers are encouraged to jump into the story blind. The pieces come together to reveal the portrait of a successful man through the memories he made with those he is leaving behind.