The Men's Group: A Novel of Messy Friendships

Failed New York screenwriter Darcy Mattews is already frustrated with life, but it gets worse when his girlfriend breaks up with him and he hangs up the phone on his cancer-stricken father. Out of desperation, he agrees to visit the men's group his best friend, Pat, has been pestering him to join, even though it sounds suspiciously like a cult. What begins as reluctant participation becomes a confrontation with shame, avoidance, and the stories men tell themselves to survive.

As Darcy begins to face the heartbreaking cost of his choices alongside the other men in the group, Pat spirals back toward destructive habits that threaten everything he's built, including his marriage. Soon Darcy is forced to test whether the fragile honesty he has learned can extend beyond himself to Pat and everyone else he has neglected. What follows is a raw, funny, and unexpectedly tender story about men, friendship, and showing up when it matters most.

JACOB FISHBEIN AND NICHOLAOS PAPADOPOULOS have led men's groups for a combined twenty-five years. They are the co-founders of The Arena Men's Group, a nationwide community for men navigating relationships, purpose, and pivotal life changes. Both live in New York City.