Totally Booked with Zibby – "The Harvard You Didn’t Know"

Episode Date: April 1, 2026
Host: Zibby Owens
Guest: JR Thornton, author of Lucien

Episode Overview

In this insightful episode, Zibby Owens sits down with author and former tennis player JR Thornton to discuss his latest novel, Lucien. Rooted in the elite and often opaque world of Harvard, the novel is a campus thriller about art forgery, ambition, and identity. Zibby and JR explore themes of reinvention, social dynamics, and personal integrity, while also delving into JR’s own background, inspirations, and writing process.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction & Book Background

• Book Summary: Lucien is described as “a campus thriller about two students at Harvard who get mixed up in a scheme to sell fake art.”

  • Protagonist Atlas is a talented artist from a less privileged background on scholarship, while Lucien, his roommate, is the quintessential “golden boy”—wealthy, charming, and unencumbered by consequences.
  • “It’s a novel about identity, ambition, reinvention, but hopefully a fun read.”
    – JR Thornton (05:22)

• Cover Art Switch: The novel’s cover changed pre-release due to a copyright issue.

  • “At first, Harper Collins wanted to use the same [Chinese] one and then they ran into a copyright issue ... but I actually love them both.”
    – JR Thornton (04:46)

Themes: Reinvention & Power Dynamics

• Reinventing Identity: Zibby highlights how Atlas changes his name at Lucien's suggestion, underscoring the social and psychological reinvention many face in college.

  • “University is a chance to start over, to become someone new and to kind of shed the identity you had in high school.”
    – JR Thornton (07:12)

• Class Contrasts & Belonging:

  • Atlas, burdened by his background, collides with Lucien's entitlement, sparking questions of power and influence.
  • “He has so much riding on this college experience and can’t imagine ... anything jeopardizing that. And then you have this counterbalance at Harvard. The guy who’s like, it feels like he’s owed this experience.”
    – Zibby Owens (06:11)

• Complex Choices & Manipulation:

  • “Atlas really tries to stick to his principles ... yet he also wants to be a loyal friend ... So, what do you do?” – Zibby Owens (09:22)
  • “It’s taking advantage of grey areas and where you don’t quite have enough information to call the other person out ... they tap into guilt or loyalty ... I tried to capture that dynamic.”
    – JR Thornton (10:25)

Craft, Character, and Inspiration

• Character Inspiration: JR discusses his fascination with imposters and a real-life Harvard controversy involving a Rhodes Scholar finalist who forged his entire background.

  • “He almost graduated and had he not gone for this final sort of ultimate accolade ... everything was invented. That story really stuck with me.”
    – JR Thornton (17:05)

• Writing Process:

  • “I wrote the first draft of this book in like three weeks, but it was very skeletal ... From that point on, the rewriting process was years and years.”
    – JR Thornton (19:22)
  • JR focused especially on “the first and last sentences of every chapter,” using other books for inspiration and revision guides.

• Detail and Visual World-Building:

  • Zibby notes the vivid fashion and class details, while JR acknowledges the research and intention behind constructing the physical aspects of characters’ identities.
  • "I think one aspect is changing the name ... but then there’s also the physical aspect ... because it helps tell the story of this identity you’re trying to present.”
    – JR Thornton (12:09)

Personal Background & Career Trajectory

• Academic & Athletic Journey:

  • Born in London, moved to the US at 12, spent a year training tennis in Beijing at 14.
  • Wrote his first novel as a high school independent study. Attended Harvard, played NCAA tennis, later became a Schwarzman Scholar at Tsinghua University.

• Transition from Tennis to Writing:

  • “Played two years at Harvard and then quit at that point to focus on writing basically.”
    – JR Thornton (15:28)

Hollywood, Sequels, and the Future

• Casting Dream for Lucien:

  • “I thought about it for a while. Had Saltburn not come out, I would have said Jacob Elordi ... but I don’t think you want to do the same character twice.”
    – JR Thornton (11:01)

• Sequel Possibilities & Life in Italy:

  • “I have a good plot outline for a sequel to Lucien ... but right now, it’s tricky to find time. But I miss it, so I think it’s not too long before I’m back at it.”
    – JR Thornton (22:16)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “This is like the Great Gatsby meets the Thomas Crown Affair ... I just loved it.”
  – Zibby Owens (03:58)
• “Did you know that’s my dad? (about the Schwarzman Scholars program)”
  – Zibby Owens (13:08)
• “You do it all. So why not get all the electrolytes ... hydrate better than water with new Gatorade lower sugar...”
  – Humor break by JR Thornton (16:46), referencing a Gatorade ad in jest

Important Timestamps

• [03:57] – JR introduces Lucien and responds to Zibby's initial praise
• [05:22] – JR summarizes the novel’s premise and themes
• [07:12] – Conversation about reinvention in college and identity
• [10:25] – Discussion on being torn between friends and personal principles
• [13:42] – JR shares his upbringing, influences, and path to Harvard
• [17:05] – The real-life inspiration behind the imposter storyline
• [19:22] – Deep dive into JR’s writing process and chapter construction
• [22:16] – Talk of sequel potential and current life in Italy

Tone & Atmosphere

Zibby’s signature warmth and curiosity infuse the discussion, balancing admiration for JR’s literary craft with playful banter (e.g., comparing notes on reinvention and even joking about their mutual ties to the Schwarzman Scholarship program). JR responds with humility, articulate insights on storytelling, and a deep sense of authenticity about his experiences.

Summary Takeaways

This episode offers a compelling window into both the story behind Lucien and the mind of its author. JR Thornton and Zibby Owens explore not only the fictional world of campus intrigue and art forgery but also the emotional truths of young adulthood—reinvention, peer dynamics, and the seduction of prestige. Aspiring writers will also glean practical tips on revision, researching, and the importance of strong story openings, while anyone curious about the real Harvard will enjoy JR’s reflections on its hidden dramas.

Want more?
Check out Lucien and follow Zibby for further daily author interviews and book recommendations at zibbymedia.com and on Instagram @totallybookedwithzibby.