Stephen Kogon’s Unconditional is a deeply moving exploration of unexpected parenthood, unconditional love, and the profound ways relationships shape us. This coming-of-age literary fiction masterpiece follows Matthew Russell, a thirty-five-year-old sports photographer whose life takes an unexpected turn when tragedy strikes his estranged brother’s family, leaving him to make an impossible choice about a newborn’s future.
The novel opens with Matthew living a comfortable, predictable life in Arizona, working as a photographer for the Cardinals football team alongside his best friends Kenny and Sherry Mitchell. Kogon immediately establishes Matthew as someone who struggles with decision-making—a character trait that becomes central to the story’s emotional core. When Matthew receives a devastating phone call about his brother Paul’s death, he’s thrust into a situation that will challenge everything he thought he knew about himself.
The Art of Character Development
What makes Unconditional truly exceptional is Stephen Kogon’s masterful character development. Matthew’s transformation from an indecisive bachelor to a devoted father unfolds with remarkable authenticity. The author doesn’t rush this evolution; instead, he allows readers to witness every stumble, every small victory, and every moment of doubt that shapes Matthew’s journey into fatherhood.
Allie, despite being an infant when the story begins, emerges as a fully realized character as she grows throughout the narrative. Kogon skillfully portrays her development from a vulnerable newborn with health complications to a thoughtful, creative teenager finding her own path. Her struggles with anxiety and social situations feel genuine and relatable, showcasing the author’s deep understanding of adolescent psychology.
The supporting characters, particularly Sherry and Kenny Mitchell, provide crucial emotional anchors throughout the story. Sherry serves as both Matthew’s voice of reason and Allie’s surrogate maternal figure, while Kenny’s journey through retirement challenges adds layers of complexity to their friendship dynamic. Their relationship with Matthew and Allie feels lived-in and authentic, demonstrating how chosen family can be just as powerful as biological bonds.
Emotional Depth and Authentic Relationships
Kogon excels at capturing the small, intimate moments that define parent-child relationships. From Matthew’s early panic about changing diapers to his pride watching Allie take her first photographs, the novel is filled with scenes that will resonate with anyone who has experienced the joys and challenges of parenting. Stephen Kogon skillfully portrays the learning curve of single parenthood while highlighting the profound rewards that come with unconditional love.
The evolution of Matthew and Allie’s relationship forms the emotional backbone of the novel. Their shared love of photography becomes a beautiful metaphor for how they see and capture life together. The scenes where they embark on photo expeditions—from Arizona’s wildflower fields to the dramatic landscapes of Denmark—are some of the novel’s most poignant moments, showcasing their growing bond and mutual understanding.
Themes That Resonate
The Nature of Family
Unconditional by Stephen Kogon beautifully illustrates how family transcends traditional definitions. Matthew’s decision to adopt Allie creates a family unit that proves to be extraordinarily strong and loving. The novel explores how family can be found in unexpected places, as evidenced by the crucial role that Sherry and Kenny play in both Matthew and Allie’s lives.
Growing Up at Any Age
While Allie’s coming-of-age story runs parallel to the main narrative, Matthew’s own growth is equally compelling. His journey from someone who struggles with decisions to a man who can make life-altering choices about a child’s future demonstrates that personal growth continues throughout our lives.
The Power of Unconditional Love
The title perfectly encapsulates the novel’s central theme. Stephen Kogon explores how unconditional love—between parent and child, between friends, and even between former romantic partners—can sustain people through life’s most challenging moments. This love is portrayed as both a gift and a choice that characters make repeatedly, creating lasting bonds that endure through decades.
Writing Style and Narrative Structure
Kogon’s prose is accessible yet emotionally sophisticated, striking a perfect balance between literary depth and readability. His background in screenwriting brings strength to the novel’s dialogue and visual storytelling. The author has a particular gift for capturing authentic conversations, whether between Matthew and his friends or between father and daughter as Allie grows older.
The narrative structure, spanning eighteen years, allows Kogon to explore how relationships evolve over time. Rather than simply hitting major milestones, he focuses on the quiet moments that often prove most significant in shaping lives. The pacing feels natural and thoughtful, giving readers time to fully invest in the characters’ journeys.
A Fresh Voice in Literary Fiction
This novel represents Kogon’s venture into literary fiction following his previous works, which include the young adult comedy “Max Mooth—Cyber Sleuth and the Case of the Zombie Virus” and children’s books featuring “Squiglet the Rhyming Piglet.” The transition demonstrates his versatility as a storyteller and his ability to tackle complex emotional terrain while maintaining his engaging narrative voice.
The author’s experience as a filmmaker (his 2018 film “Dance Baby Dance”) brings a cinematic quality to the novel’s visual descriptions, particularly in the photography scenes. Readers can easily envision the landscapes Matthew and Allie capture together, from Arizona’s desert beauty to Denmark’s dramatic coastlines.
The Photography Connection
One of the novel’s most beautiful elements is how photography serves as both plot device and metaphor. Kogon uses the craft to explore themes of perspective, capturing moments in time, and seeing beauty in unexpected places. The father-daughter photography expeditions become opportunities for both characters to grow and connect, while also providing readers with vivid, almost tactile descriptions of various landscapes and natural wonders.
Emotional Intelligence and Growth
Kogon demonstrates remarkable emotional intelligence in his portrayal of both Matthew and Allie’s psychological development. Matthew’s anxiety about raising a daughter alone feels authentic and touching, while Allie’s struggles with social situations and self-confidence are portrayed with sensitivity and understanding. The author shows how both characters learn to lean on each other and their chosen family for support.
Books for Further Reading
Readers who connect with Unconditional by Stephen Kogon might enjoy:
- “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman – Another story about unexpected relationships and the transformative power of love
- “The Light We Lost” by Jill Santopolo – Explores complex relationships and life-changing choices
- “Little Fires Everywhere” by Celeste Ng – Examines family dynamics and the nature of parenthood
- “Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine” by Gail Honeyman – A story about personal growth and finding family in unexpected places
The Supporting Cast
Kenny and Sherry Mitchell deserve special recognition as some of the most well-developed supporting characters in contemporary fiction. Their own marriage dynamics, career challenges, and parenting experiences provide rich subplots that enhance rather than distract from the main narrative. Monica, Matthew’s on-and-off romantic interest, is portrayed with complexity and understanding, avoiding common tropes about the woman who “gets away.”
Final Thoughts
Unconditional by Stephen Kogon succeeds brilliantly as both an engaging family drama and a thoughtful exploration of what it means to love without reservation. Kogon has crafted a novel that celebrates the beautiful, sometimes overwhelming experience of opening your heart completely to another person. The story reminds us that the most profound relationships often begin with a single moment of choice—and that choosing love, again and again, can transform not just individual lives but entire legacies.
This novel will particularly resonate with readers who appreciate character-driven narratives, stories about non-traditional families, and explorations of how love shapes us across decades. Kogon has delivered a genuinely moving story that lingers long after the final page, reminding us that sometimes the most important decisions we make happen in an instant, but their effects ripple through entire lifetimes. The novel stands as a testament to the enduring power of family bonds and the extraordinary capacity of the human heart to grow and love unconditionally.
