For fans of nuanced, slow-build narratives, a psychological family drama about a teenager whose entanglement in an intense, complex new relationship exacerbates his obsession over his greatest fear.
Intrigued? Read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from The Unraveling of Michael Galler by Steven M. Rubin, which releases on May 12th 2026.
After observing multiple terminal effects of varying illnesses of those close to him that he perceives as cancer, Michael Galler gains a heightened cognizance of the physical threats that can grow unknowingly inside a person. As a result, he dedicates himself to healthily fortifying his body against any comparable assault.
While growing up with his loving, widowed father and the younger brother he feels compelled to protect, Michael is able to balance the pressures of his young life—academic achievement, high school athletic competition, and even training for the Boston Marathon. But as he moves toward college life, he develops a promising relationship with a girl who too easily fills the gaps of his motherless upbringing—and his long-held fear of what he now thinks of as capital-C Cancer begins to take over. Everything he experiences, he experiences through the filter of trying to outrun a disease he thinks is pursuing him.
A dramatic coming-of-age tale with a dark psychological twist, The Unraveling of Michael Galler explores the motives of a teenage boy so overwhelmed by an obsessive fear that he loses his grip on reality.
EXCERPT: Breakfast
The alarm clock jolted to life at 5:30 a.m. For the first five seconds, the crumpled mass of blankets did not move.
Then a long arm emerged from a hidden breach in the covers, pinpointed the snooze button without any awkward fumbling, pressed it, and scurried back to the warmth of the bed.
Ten minutes later, the alarm sounded again. This time Michael silenced it and threw his legs over the side of the bed, beginning this important day.
He reached down to the outlet and unplugged the clock, extinguishing the numbers to permanent darkness. He wrapped the cord around the unit and crammed it into one of the suitcases on the floor. He had now completely packed everything he was taking to college.
Beside his bed was the flotsam of his life: almost every article of clothing he owned, books, running gear, blankets, pillows, a reading lamp, and posters suitable for a dormitory wall.
He showered, drove ten miles into Boston to pick up Julie, and then returned to the house. By the time his father and brother had exhumed themselves from their beds, Julie had made a complete breakfast of freshly squeezed orange juice, toast, sliced grapefruit, and omelets that concealed diced pepper and onion.
Michael’s father entered the kitchen with a crooked gait and sleep still in his eyes. The sight laid out before him was a portrait long since forgotten for this family. Fresh coffee was partnered with a hot breakfast on a table with full place settings on placemats. His eyes left the table quickly and panned the kitchen in its entirety, absorbing the sterility of the room: pans washed and put away, a spotless stove, and an empty sink. A newspaper was at the head of the table with the sports section moved to the front.
“I didn’t think the paper would have been delivered this early,” he said, taking in the entire scene.
“We stopped on the way back and picked one up,” Michael answered with a nod in deference to Julie’s thoughtfulness.
“This is terrific,” Jack complimented Julie. “You really didn’t have to go to all this trouble.”
“My men deserve a hearty breakfast,” she said. “We have a long day ahead of us.”
My men, Jack thought. That was interesting phrasing. Julie had spent a lot of time with Michael over the summer. She had come out to the house and spent as much time here as Michael had spent going into the city. This gave Jack an opportunity to observe his son’s relationship with his first meaningful girlfriend. He’d witnessed the traditional water fight while washing the car, Michael’s arms around her during a scary television movie, and telepathic eyes exchanged over dinners. She had taken an interest in both Jack and Daniel as well, seemingly because she had observed how important Michael’s family was to him. She was always thoughtful and polite, and it seemed to Jack that she made a purposeful effort of adding a female touch to their lives that was desperately lacking. She seemed to have grown an attachment not only to Michael but also to the whole family. Although he was jealous she provided Michael with the uniquely feminine tenderness he could not, he was glad Michael was receiving it. Maybe it wasn’t such an odd statement after all. On second thought, Jack concluded, it was gratifying that she thought of them in this possessive way.
And they did have a long day ahead of them; they had to pack the car, drive to the college, fight the weekend traffic, unload everything, and deliver it to Michael’s dorm room. All this would have to be accomplished while competing with hundreds of other families for parking spaces, moving carts, and dorm keys.
Jack offered a pleasant smile for her efforts, which Julie promptly returned.
Daniel’s entrance was much less forgiving. He acknowledged that Julie checked so many of the right boxes and appreciated how she treated his brother and the family, but that was the problem: She seemed too perfect and he was envious, if not outright jealous, that someone else had acquired Michael’s affections. He sat at the table and was about to prepare his toast with his usual pat of butter when a new thought entered his mind.
“Is there any jelly?” he asked no one in particular. But it was indirectly intended for Julie. They never kept jelly in the house. The thought of this perfect breakfast irritated him, and he wanted to see the look on her face when she realized something was missing.
“I wasn’t sure if anyone would use it,” Julie said, “but I picked some up anyway.” She went to the refrigerator, removed a small jar of strawberry jelly, opened it, and placed it in front of Daniel with an extra knife. She spared him any confrontation by turning away and busying herself with something else.
His animus had backfired, as he now was obligated to eat his toast with jelly, which did not suit him.
They all partook in packing the car, with Julie directing the order and placement of each item. When they finished, the trunk was fully loaded and half of the back seat was piled to the car’s ceiling.
The trees had started giving up their leaves in preparation for the harshness of the New England winter. Like teardrops, they occasionally floated down out of the high branches, coerced by a brisk wind that gusted every few minutes.
The boys went back into the house to do one final search for left-behind items and Julie took advantage of this moment alone with Michael’s father.
“Mr. Galler, I have something for you. I thought it was the right thing to mark the occasion.”
He was caught off guard when she handed him the envelope. It was long and thin, too flimsy to contain a card. He wondered what could possibly be the “right thing to mark the occasion.” More curious than grateful, he stuck his thumb under the flap and tore open the seal. Out of the envelope, he withdrew what absolutely was the perfect item for this occasion.
Jack looked at Julie. “Thank you, that was thoughtful. How did you get it?”
