• The protagonist, Corey Goltz, is a teenager growing up in working-class suburbs of Boston with his single mother, Gloria. At age 15, Gloria is diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), and Corey steps into the role of primary caregiver while facing emotional, financial, and existential challenges Serpent's Tail +7 PenguinRandomhouse.com +7 Barnes & Noble +7 .
• Corey’s estranged father, Leonard Agoglia, re-enters their lives. Charismatic and self-proclaimed physics genius, Leonard becomes a troubling force—Corey is drawn to him yet repulsed by his moral failings. Corey navigates his loyalty to his mother while wrestling with his father’s influence PenguinRandomhouse.com +6 PublishersWeekly.com +6 Southern Review of Books +6 .

🧠 Themes & Tone

Caregiving & Illness

The novel unflinchingly depicts ALS—from Gloria’s decline to the logistical nightmare of medical care. Corey’s responsibility affects every aspect of his adolescence Reddit +13 The Guardian +13 Buzz Magazine +13 .

Masculinity & Role Models

Lish explores modern masculinity through toxic dynamics. Corey is influenced by various flawed father figures—Leonard, street mentors, an MMA coach, and a peer named Adrian—juxtaposing violence and ambition with fragility and moral ambiguity Barnes & Noble +13 PublishersWeekly.com +13 The Guardian +13 .

Coming-of-Age & Identity

Corey experiments with street-fighting, MMA, drugs, and various jobs, each attempt to define himself collapsing under the weight of Gloria’s illness. His trajectory is tragic rather than triumphant—a bildungsroman that rejects the “Great Man” narrative .

Power and Control

Leonard symbolizes authoritarian, self-centered intelligence. As Corey becomes exposed to Leonard's worldview, the tension builds between admiration and horror, culminating in violence in the novel’s final act Buzz Magazine +12 Kirkus Reviews +12 The Independent +12 .

✍️ Writing Style & Reception

• Critics praise Lish’s economical, visceral prose—lean, intense, and emotionally raw. The narrative moves relentlessly forward, driven by Gloria’s deteriorating health and Corey’s unraveling life Wikipedia +15 The Guardian +15 The Independent +15 .
• The tone gradually shifts—from a deeply personal family drama to a crime-thriller-like conclusion involving violence and legal entanglements. Some reviewers view the tonal turn as abrupt or underdeveloped, though many feel it suits the novel’s emotional stakes .

✅ In Essence

The War for Gloria is a haunting, unrelenting portrait of love, illness, and identity. Corey’s seamless transition from adolescence to caretaking exposes how illness reshapes family, masculinity, and fate. It’s a novel that refuses easy redemption but resonates deeply.

If you’d like, I can explore:

• A deeper dive into specific character arcs (Corey, Gloria, Leonard)
• Themes of violence, grief, or masculinity
• Comparisons with Lish’s earlier work, Preparation for the Next Life

What interests you most about the book?