YET WE WERE ALWAYS SO CLOSE

  • How do you find your way back into a friendship that has grown up?
  • A sharp, deeply honest debut novel tracking three unforgettable women navigating the messy realities of motherhood, career choices, and relationship crossroads.
  • An empathetic, relatable look at the universal struggle to find your own path in life.

Friends forever. But what happens when life gets in the way?

During their university days, Merle, Katharina, and Henri spent their afternoons lounging in the park and crashing on Henri’s sleeper sofa after long, wild nights out. They were free, and the future lay ahead of them-  blurry and full of promise. It was one of those friendships that felt effortless, light, and carefree. The kind you never had to work for.

But now, the three of them are grown. Their meetings have become rare, the demands of life much heavier. Merle has a baby and is struggling to navigate her new role, Henri is wrestling with the death of her grandmother, and Katharina is questioning whether she still wants to be with her partner after ten years together.

All of a sudden, the things pulling them apart seem vastly bigger than the common ground that once bound them together. As each woman fights her own battles against reality, the longing for their old closeness and intimacy deepens. But how do you hold onto a friendship whose pieces are drifting apart like ice floes?

Contact Foreign Rights
  • Publisher: Rowohlt Kindler
  • Release: 17.07.2026
  • ISBN: 978-3-463-00089-3
  • 240 Pages
  • Author: Jette Kötschau

Our covers may only be used free of charge for press, event and promotional purposes in connection with the title or author. In particular, it is not permitted to use the covers in connection with other products, goods or services. The covers may only be reproduced faithfully in their original, unaltered form and must not be edited.

Buchcover von YET WE WERE ALWAYS SO CLOSE
Jette Kötschau YET WE WERE ALWAYS SO CLOSE
Portrait von Jette Kötschau
© Yvonne Schmedemann
Jette Kötschau

Jette Kötschau was born in 1992 and grew up in the Siebengebirge region. After studying German Language and Literature, as well as the Theories and Practices of Professional Writing, she worked in the editorial departments of various publishing houses. She lives with her family in Cologne. Dabei waren wir uns immer so nah is her debut novel.