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Book Review: ‘Down Time,’ by Andrew Martin

Andrew Martin’s new novel Down Time follows a group of thirty‑something East Coast professionals as they grapple with post‑pandemic life, love, and creative burnout. Set against a backdrop of societal instability after Covid, the story weaves sexual entanglements and environmental anxieties into a satirical yet earnest narrative. Martin structures the book like Schnitzler’s La Ronde, shifting to first‑person for Malcolm while the rest remain third‑person. Critics praise its timely themes but warn the homogenous, introverted cast may limit broader appeal.