'Arcadia' by Lauren Groff transports readers to the verdant fields of western New York State in the 1970s, where the dream of an alternative, self-sufficient life gives birth to a commune called Arcadia House. The story unfolds through the eyes of Bit, the first child born into the commune, and we witness his coming-of-age against the backdrop of Arcadia’s rise and fall. Through Bit's experiences—from his deep connections with the land and its inhabitants, including his love for the troubled Helle, to his struggles with the outside world—we explore the complexities of idealism, community, and individual destiny. Groff weaves a narrative that is as much about the longing for a utopian existence as it is about the harsh realities that challenge such dreams.