Seventy-four-year-old Ivan is at the airport, ready to take a trip to Paris with his daughter, Nina. For Ivan, it’s the realization of a lifelong dream. For Nina, it’s merely assuaging this thing her father wants to do. 

Ivan has arrived at LAX far in advance of their flight, well aware that Nina won’t be there for at least another hour or two. As he is waiting, he allows himself to reminisce about the years he lived in Paris, all while his excitement burgeons about the days ahead when he will show the beautiful city to his daughter. 

"I will admit that I found it quite disturbing, and the effects lingered for days after closing it for the final time. There is no question that Alexander Maksik has an incredible talent for creating fully realized characters..."

Finally they meet up in the concourse and begin talking about the trip. Nina exhibits her usual impatience around Ivan. For inexplicable reasons, she doesn’t call him father. Even though Nina is somewhat lukewarm about their excursion, Ivan is beyond anxious to get on the plane. But their departure time gets delayed. And not just once, but again and again, until eventually the message board at the gate simply quits giving any information at all. 
 
Trying to make the best of their situation, Ivan and Nina go in search of a bar where they at least can get a drink or something to eat. They find Turbulence Grill, where bartender Sadie pours tequila shots for them and observes their odd relationship. She sees that father and daughter come across as a fun family unit, in sync and engaging in clever banter --- until they hit a sore subject and fall apart. 

When they leave, Sadie is astonished at the tip Ivan left, having sized him up for a very penurious man but thinking the two of them are perplexing at best. However, the whole day seems to be off kilter. I mean, there’s that sky. Something is wrong with it. She’s never seen it that color.
 
Once Ivan and Nina leave Turbulence Grill, they wander around the airport in search of answers, which they discover are maddeningly elusive. As they walk, they continue to talk, covering a lifetime of the good and the bad but ultimately exposing the fact that neither ever quite understood the other. When they hit upon the topic of Nina’s mother, Nora, who walked out on them because she couldn’t do what she wanted with her life unless she left them behind, they seem more mystified than angry. Was it their failing? Did they simply not have enough to keep Nora satisfied?
 
After what feels like them going around in circles the entire day, Nina begins to wonder if someone is gassing the concourses. Ivan has grown alarmingly weak, and her thoughts are scrambled. Are they prisoners in some weird experiment? Even time has warped to where it no longer has meaning. Getting out of there becomes paramount.
 
Hailed as a beautiful yet unsettling novel about love, PASSENGERS is also about family and the complicated dynamics that keep them together or tear them apart, as well as the anguish that people put each other through, whether intentional or not. 

One reviewer suggested that the book, while totally amazing, may not be for everyone. I will admit that I found it quite disturbing, and the effects lingered for days after closing it for the final time. There is no question that Alexander Maksik has an incredible talent for creating fully realized characters, and his writing is superb. I am eager to see what he has in store for readers next.