Is love enough when doubt sets in? Ruth-Maria Thomas’s new novel tells the story of Michelle and Henry, of their love amidst subtle differences, and of the social divides that sometimes seem surmountable but more often than not appear far too vast.

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Michelle is in her early thirties when her life in the eastern part of the country falls apart. She leaves everything behind and starts over: As a hotel receptionist, she encounters luxury, West German wealth, and—Henry. A man who had entirely different opportunities in life than she did, who has never lacked for anything. They fall in love, despite all their differences. For the first time, a carefree life seems possible to Michelle. But it wouldn’t be a book by Ruth-Maria Thomas if all those beautiful certainties didn’t eventually begin to crumble... 

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With great pull and enchanting lightness, the novel tells of aspirations for upward mobility, fears of downward mobility, and the question of what price freedom and carefreeness come at.

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Ruth-Maria Thomas, born in 1993 and raised in Cottbus, worked as a social worker in youth welfare services. She studied at the German Literature Institute in Leipzig. Her debut, Die schönste Version (2024), was nominated for the German Book Prize, the aspekte Literature Prize, the Buddenbrookhaus Prize, and the German Business Prize, and was awarded the Ulla Hahn Prize. In 2025, the rbb podcast Der Bruch – Frauen zwischen Ost und jetzt was released, with Thomas as the host. Die zweitgrößte Liebe is her second novel.

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Laura Larsson, born in Parchim in 1989, is a comedian, host, and podcaster. After stints at KissFM, Radio Energy, Fritz, and 1Live, she became known for her podcasts Herrengedeck and Zum Scheitern Verurteilt, with which she has significantly shaped the German podcast landscape. She has already won the German Podcast Award and the German Comedy Award for “Best Podcaster.”

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An event presented by Literatur LIVE in cooperation with dtv Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, Thalia Bookstore, and Kino International.