Adams Morgan Fugue

Description

“. . . powerful, thoughtful, and tender . . . An impressive literary novel.” – Kirkus Reviews

A retired lawyer, an unlicensed contractor, and an ex-ballplayer walk into a bar . . . and transform their neighborhood.

With a dark secret weighing heavily on his conscience, former government lawyer Oliver Bartholomew teams with two buddies to perform random acts of kindness in their Adams Morgan, DC, neighborhood. Sid is a brash but tender-hearted contractor who recently lost all but his shorts in a comically botched remodel. PJ is a former pro baseball player pining for the magic he once felt at the plate. The Squad meets nightly at Gary’s Bar & Grill and grapples with everything from mistreated dogs to broken school windows.

But when a ruthless investor fund threatens to drive the neighborhood’s beloved pizzeria from business, the men are utterly stumped by their new mission-that is, until Oliver’s old college flame, Rose, arrives for what was supposed to be a day visit. Now, bolstered by Rose’s bighearted spirit and real-world savvy, the Squad must rally their neighbors to action.

And Rose and Oliver must discover if, despite the tragedy that drove them apart long ago, they are meant to be together after all.

For fans of Fredrik Backman, Kent Haruf, and Virginia Evans, Adams Morgan Fugue is a neighborhood love story, an uplifting and often funny novel of friendship, community, and second chance romance that celebrates the revolutionary power of showing up for the people around you.

To save the world, begin at home.

Awarded the B.R.A.G. Medallion

“An impressive literary novel filled with both searing regret and stirring hope.” – Kirkus Reviews

“[D]eeply intimate and remarkably life-affirming . . . skillfully weaves together touching moments with sharp, witty humor.” I.S., Goodreads Review

Binding Type: Paperback
Author: Alex Fardon
Published: 06/23/2026
Publisher: Alex Fardon
ISBN: 9798994325421
Pages: 318
Weight: 0.81lbs
Size: 0.71″ H x 8.50″ L x 5.50″ W

About the Author
Fardon, Alex: – A graduate of Duke University and Yale Law School, Alex Fardon is a nationally recognized trial lawyer, a law school professor, and a classical musician. He and his wife, Terry, formerly lived in Adams Morgan and now live in Richmond, Virginia. This is his debut novel.