Family life fiction / Stories about family

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisIn this compelling, heartwarming novel from New York Times bestselling author Marie Bostwick, one woman finds new purpose in a new phase of life . . .   “Whatever comes your way, find the happiness in it.” Hope Carpenter received that advice from her mother decades ago. Now, with their four children grown, Hope and her husband, Rick, are suddenly facing an uncertain future, after a forced retirement strains both their savings and their marriage. Seeking inspiration and a financial boost, Hope gets a job teaching crafts to inmates at a local women’s prison.   At first, Hope feels foolish and irrelevant, struggling to relate to women whose choices seem so different from her own. But with time, and the encouragement of the prison chaplain, she begins to discover common ground with the inmates, in their worries about their children and families, their fear of having failed those who need them. Just like her, they want to make something of themselves, but believe it might be impossible.   Embarking on an ambitious quilting project, Hope and her students begin to bond. Together, piece by piece, they learn to defy expectations—their own and others’—and to see that it’s never too late to stitch together a life that, even in its imperfections, is both surprising and beautiful.   Praise for Marie Bostwick and Her Novels   “Reading Marie Bostwick is like wrapping yourself up in a warm, hand-crafted quilt.”—Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author    “It takes great skill to write a heartwarming story about grief, and Bostwick proves she is up to the task. . . . A great addition to any women’s-fiction collection.” —Booklist   “Beautiful, thought-provoking, tragic and redeeming, The Second Sister is a feel-good goldmine.”  —USAToday.com

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Book SynopsisSynopsis coming soon.......Trade Review“Struggling post college, Sasha takes a job as a matchmaker. So what if she lacks expertise? But when she falls for a client, she’s thrown into it’s complicated limbo. Hannah Orenstein’s debut is a hilarious look at dating – and swiping.” —Us Weekly"Funny, sexy, and absurdly entertaining." —MarieClaire.com"Millennials looking for their perfect beach read this summer need look no further than this delicious romp through the madness of dating in your twenties." —Jo Piazza, co-author of The Knockoff"A smart, feel-good rom com . . . . Reading Playing With Matches will give you butterflies of your own." —Buzzfeed "The perfect Summer read — smart, funny, escapist, and bursting with charm." —PopSugar"The best rom-com of the season . . . . overflowing with charm and heart." —Bustle"Playing With Matches is a fun, drama-filled, behind-the-scenes look at the life and love of an elite New York matchmaker—from a former insider who’s lived to tell the burning tale." —Camille Perri, author of The Assistants and When Katie Met Cassidy“It only makes sense for apps like Tinder to be part of romantic comedies . . . . “Playing with Matches” can appeal to people who have yet to swipe right, too.” —The Boston Globe"This rom-com is sure to brighten your summer." —Bustle "Playing with Matches is the fun, fast-paced summer read you’ll devour regardless of your relationship status." —Hello Giggles"Delightful. A fun and relatable rom-com for the Tinder age. Get ready to swipe right!" —Georgia Clark, author of The Regulars“Hannah Orenstein is one of this generation’s most essential voices on love. Everything her characters go through will stay with you for your twenties and beyond.” —Dana Schwartz, author of Choose Your Own Disaster"If you grew up with Gossip Girl and you obsessed over Devil Wears Prada, this is the book for your life now! It’s smart, fun, sexy, and deeply relateable for every Badass Babe!" —Ann Shoket, author of The Big Life and former editor-in-chief of Seventeen“Sasha, a likable heroine with a quick wit and a self-destructive streak, will appeal to fans of Marian Keyes, Helen Fielding, and Sloane Crosley . . . . a realistic yet romantic portrait of modern dating.” —Booklist"Love in the age of Tinder is confusing, weird, and often hilarious—at least it is when told by. . . Hannah Orenstein. . . . [A]n addicting story of love lost and found on the dating scene’s latest frontier: the Internet." —Boston Magazine"A laugh-out-loud work that singles, marrieds, suburbanites, and urbanites all will clamor for . . . . With an ending twist that will hit readers like a splash of vodka and tonic in the face of their blind date, this novel is one to pack in your beach bag.” —Library Journal"Charming, funny, and probably all too relatable if you're facing the modern dating scene. Don't swipe left on this story." —Elite Daily"A breezy story that will go perfectly with a margarita on the beach . . . . satisfyingly realistic." —Jewish Exponent"An engaging tale . . . . you won't be ready to say goodbye." —DC Refined"Addictive and zinging, this novel will have your Tinder matches languishing as you rush to the end." —Read It Forward"Engaging . . . . A fun, fast read about dating in the city." —Kirkus Reviews"Playing with Matches is pretty much a novel about what you think your life is like . . . . Hate to break it to you, but ghostwriting your best friend’s text to her boyfriend does not qualify you as a relationship expert, and this novel will help you understand why." —Betches

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Book SynopsisIn this Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestseller, a devastating secret is revealed, and a family must finally come to terms with the past. Single mother Maisey Addington has always fallen short of her own mother’s expectations—never married, a bit adrift, wasting her high IQ on dead-end jobs. The only thing Maisey’s sure she’s gotten right is her relationship with her twelve-year-old daughter, Elle…until a phone call blows apart the precarious balance of their lives. Maisey’s mother is in a coma, and her aging father faces charges of abuse and neglect. Back at her childhood home, Maisey must make a heartrending life-or-death decision. Her confused father has destroyed family records, including her mother’s final wishes. Searching for answers, Maisey uncovers one unspeakable secret after another when she stumbles upon a shattering truth: a twin sister named Marley. Maisey’s obsession with solving the mystery of her sister forces her to examine her darkest memories and triggers a custody battle with Elle’s father. Will Maisey’s love for her daughter be strong enough to break a cycle of abuse and create a new beginning for them all?Trade Review“Rich in emotions and characters, Whisper Me This is a stunning tale of dark secrets, broken memories, and the resilience of the human spirit. The novel quickly pulls the reader onto a roller-coaster ride through grief, mystery, and cryptic journal entries. At the heart of the story is an unforgettable twelve-year-old, who has more sense than most adults, and her mother, Maisey, who is about to discover not only her courage, but the power of her voice. A book club must-read!” —Barbara Claypole White, bestselling author of The Perfect Son “Moving and emotionally taut, Whisper Me This is a gut-wrenching story of a family fractured by abuse and lies…and the ultimate sacrifice of a mother’s love. King once again proves herself an expert with family drama. A triumph of a book.” —Emily Carpenter, author of The Weight of Lies and Burying the Honeysuckle Girls “Kerry Anne King writes with such insight and compassion for human nature, and her latest novel, Whisper Me This, is no exception. The families on which the story centers have secrets they’ve kept through the years out of concern for the damage that might be done if they were exposed. But in the end as the families’ lives become intertwined and their secrets come inevitably to light, what is revealed to be the most riveting heart of this book are the gut-wrenching choices that were made in terrifying circumstances. One such choice haunted a mother throughout her lifetime and left behind a legacy of mistrust and confusion and a near unsolvable mystery. Following the clues is an act of faith that sometimes wavers. There’s no guarantee the end will tie up in a neat bow, but the courage of the human spirit, its ability to heal, is persistent and luminous throughout the pages of this very real and emotive story. I loved it.” —Barbara Taylor Sissel, bestselling author of Crooked Little Lies

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of What Remains True comes an emotionally captivating novel about a woman who wishes away her troubles but doesn’t anticipate the cost. I wish… It starts with a simple wish, and Emma Davies hardly notices when it comes true. She’s too preoccupied with a life she isn’t happy in—the spark in her marriage has fizzled, her career is headed nowhere and her boss is a misogynist. Her teenage daughter has grown distant, and her heart breaks daily for her teenage son with cerebral palsy. But soon Emma discovers her wishes are coming true, and she realizes that she has been given the power to change her life. Either that, or she’s going insane. Emma begins testing her newfound gift, making calculated wishes and learning one important rule—once granted, they cannot be undone. Over time, she grows bolder as she builds up to the one wish she both fears and desperately longs to make. But when Emma finally gets everything she’s asked for, will it be worth the price?Trade Review“‘Be careful what you wish for’ has never rang truer than in Janis Thomas’s latest. Shocking, disturbing, and heart-wrenching, All That’s Left of Me is as real as it is magical. Thomas deftly weaves a tale of one woman desperate for a better life that made me laugh, and made me cry. It made me think: What would I wish for? All That’s Left of Me will captivate readers from page one and keep them guessing until the end.” —Kerry Lonsdale, Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author “All That’s Left of Me draws the reader in via the author’s hypnotic prose, and when ‘what-if’ becomes ‘I wish,’ the reader is left stunned and breathless by the consequences. This is a novel about love, regret, heartache, and appreciation for a perfectly imperfect life.” —Grace Greene, bestselling author of The Memory of Butterflies “A compelling and poignant family drama, All That’s Left of Me is the story of a woman who feels trapped by circumstance in what she views as an unhappy life. And then one day, she makes a wish. No one could be more shocked than she when it comes true. And then—she makes several more wishes, until, magically, she has altered the very fabric of her existence beyond recognition. But there is a price that must be paid—and consequences she could never have anticipated. You know what they say…be careful what you wish for. All That’s Left of Me is a cautionary tale, one that will make you think and keep you guessing to the final page.” —Barbara Taylor Sissel, bestselling author of The Truth We Bury

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Book SynopsisA former love makes a lasting impression in a warm and sexy romance from Nancy Herkness. Kyra Dixon, a blue-collar girl from the boondocks, is dedicated to her job at a community center that matches underprivileged kids with rescue dogs. When she runs into Will Chase—Connecticut blue blood, billionaire CEO, and her old college crush—she’s surprised that he asks a favor from her: to be his date for his uptight family’s dreaded annual garden party. If his parents don’t approve, all the better. Kyra’s not about to say no. It’ll give her a chance to be oh-so-close to her unrequited love. What begins as a little fling turns so mad hot, so fast, that Kyra finds herself falling all over again for a fantasy that won’t come true. How can it? She doesn’t belong in Will’s world. She doesn’t want to. But Will does want to belong in hers. All he has to do now is prove it. Will is prepared to give up whatever is necessary to get what his heart most desires.Trade Review“Layered storytelling, elegant writing, and deep sensitivity to a varied cast of characters raises this lovely book beyond genre and trope…Compelling, warmly satisfying romantic fiction from a writer—and a series—you’ll want to revisit.” —Kirkus Reviews “Herkness has created believable and endearing characters with depth, and readers will be primed for the next installment.” —Booklist

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Book SynopsisA Wall Street Journal bestseller. From the author of Everything We Keep comes the final novel in the Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling Everything Series. Brimming with suspense, mystery, and romance, Everything We Give brings to a powerful close the gripping series of love, lies, and the secrets families keep. Award-winning photographer Ian Collins made only one mistake in life, but it cost his mother her freedom and destroyed their family, leaving Ian to practically raise himself. For years he’s been estranged from his father, and his mother has lived off the grid. For just as long, he has searched for her. Now, Ian seemingly has it all—national recognition for his photographs; his loving wife, Aimee; and their adoring daughter, Caty. Only two things elude him: a feature in National Geographic and finding his mother. When the prized magazine offers him his dream project on the same day that Aimee’s ex-fiancé, James, returns bearing a message for Ian but putting a strain on his marriage, Ian must make a choice: chase after a coveted assignment or reconnect with a mysterious woman who might hold the key to putting his past to rest. But the stakes are high, because Ian could lose the one thing he holds most dear: his family.Trade Review“Fans will not be disappointed in this stunning conclusion to the Everything Series. With Lonsdale’s signature twists and turns, nothing is a given until the last, satisfying page. I cried, I bit my nails, and I lost myself in images of wild horses galloping across rural Spain as I journeyed through Ian’s past and present. A page-turner about the devastating impact of mental illness and dark secrets on a family, Everything We Give is also a story filled with the enduring power of love.” —Barbara Claypole White, bestselling author of The Perfect Son and The Promise Between Us “Kerry Lonsdale gives everything away in this final book in the Everything Series, Everything We Give. Questions involving an enigmatic woman, the mystery of her name and her identity, and her connection to Ian kick off what is a fast-paced and sensual story of suspense. Like Everything We Keep and Everything We Left Behind, books one and two in this delectable and layered series, Everything We Give is the frosting on the cake, delivering more than one surprise and a total knock-out punch of an ending.” —Barbara Taylor Sissel, bestselling author of The Truth We Bury and What Lies Below “Kerry Lonsdale brings the conclusion to the Everything Series to a magnificent ending. Ian’s journey through past and present is a trip to remember. A fast-paced thriller with romance and intrigue. Bravo Kerry!” —Kaira Rouda, USA Today bestselling author of Best Day Ever “Everything We Give is a satisfying conclusion to this series, which began with a funeral when there should have been a wedding, and ends with the final fallout from the mysterious woman who warned the almost-widow that all was not as it seemed. Lonsdale has woven together a tapestry of characters—Aimee, Ian, James—whose lives are intertwined in ways even they don’t entirely know. [It’s] both a romance and a mystery, [and] readers will turn these engrossing pages quickly to find out what their final fates would be. Fans of this series will not be disappointed.” —Catherine McKenzie, bestselling author of Hidden and The Good Liar

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Book SynopsisWhat do you do when you’ve lost the love of your life? Seb Fowler has arrived in Paris to research his literary idol, Henri Fournier. It begins with an interview granted by a woman whose affair with the celebrated writer trails back to World War I. The enchanting Pauline is fragile, but her memories are alive—those of an illicit passion, of the chances she took and never regretted, and of the twists of fate that defined her unforgettable love story. Through Pauline’s love letters, her secrets, and a lost Fournier manuscript, Seb will come to learn so much more—about Pauline, Henri, and himself. For Seb, every moment of Pauline’s past proves to be more inspiring than he could have imagined. She’s given him the courage to grab hold of whatever life offers, to cherish each risk, and to pursue love in his life. Intimately epic, The Lost Love Letters of Henri Fournier spans generations to explore every beautiful mystery of falling in love, being in love, and losing a love—and, most important, daring to love again and discovering just how resilient the human heart can be.

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Book Synopsis“Miquel Reina’s Lights on the Sea is an absolutely lovely, beautiful debut novel with a dreamy, fable-like quality that will appeal to readers. Fans of Life of Pi will love this novel.” —Kristin Hannah, New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone On the highest point of an island, in a house clinging to the edge of a cliff, live Mary Rose and Harold Grapes, a retired couple still mourning the death of their son thirty-five years before. Weighed down by decades of grief and memories, the Grapeses have never moved past the tragedy. Then, on the eve of eviction from the most beautiful and dangerously unstable perch in the area, they’re uprooted by a violent storm. The disbelieving Grapeses and their home take a free-fall slide into the white-capped sea and float away. As the past that once moored them recedes and disappears, Mary Rose and Harold are delivered from decades of sorrow by the ebb and flow of the waves. Ahead of them, a light shimmers on the horizon, guiding them toward a revelatory and cathartic new engagement with life, and all its wonder. Wildly imaginative, deeply poignant, and entirely unexpected, Lights on the Sea sweeps readers away on a journey of fate, acceptance, redemption, and survival against the most rewarding of odds.Trade Review“This beautiful, unusual tale explores the healing power of love and the magic that exists in our everyday lives, even when we don’t know how to find it.” —Jill Santopolo, New York Times bestselling author of The Light We Lost “Miquel Reina’s Lights on the Sea is an absolutely lovely, beautiful debut novel with a dreamy, fable-like quality that will appeal to readers. Fans of Life of Pi will love this novel.” —Kristin Hannah, New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone

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Book SynopsisShe can’t change what’s come before. But letting go could bring healing—and the rare love that comes once in a lifetime. When Ohio pastry chef Jada Brooks and her two best friends restored the glorious Wayfair Inn, it was a boon to Sweet Lake—and to their own lives. Now Linnie and Cat are focused on private matters: one engaged, the other swept up in newlywed bliss. Jada has also begun looking to the future by dating widower Philip Kettering and forging a sudden, sweet bond with his six-year-old daughter. But the past isn’t finished with Jada. When a curious guest checks into the Wayfair, her delving questions stir Jada’s guilt about the heartbreaking events that scarred the town seven years ago. The risks Jada must take by revealing the truth will test every assumption she’s made about the meaning of family and the magic of enduring love.Trade ReviewRoyal Dragonfly Book Award honorable mention, Fiction: Novel American Book Fest’s Best Book Award finalist, Fiction: Chick Lit/Women’s Lit Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal award winner, Women’s Fiction International Book Award finalist, Fiction: Cross Genre Royal Palm Literary Award winner (Second Place), Women’s Fiction “Welcome back to the Wayfair Inn, where discovering secrets and overcoming human frailty are the ingredients for finding love and happiness. Reading Nolfi’s The Comfort of Secrets feels like coming home.” —Kay Bratt, bestselling author of Wish Me Home “A cast of endearing, delightful, and sometimes hilarious characters, and the cozy setting of small-town Sweet Lake, Ohio, in The Comfort of Secrets, buffets a darker and poignant thread of suspense as unresolved past heartbreak reappears, testing friendships and family relationships alike. Toward the end, when the shocking truth is revealed, and lives are endangered, you will find yourself racing through the pages to the thoughtful and ultimately satisfying end.” —Barbara Taylor Sissel, author of The Truth We Bury “Poignant, honest, and filled with heart, The Comfort of Secrets has it all. With a natural talent for lyrical prose, Christine Nolfi sweeps you away. I adored traveling to the Wayfair Inn and visiting with its many colorful characters. The plot is rife with conflict including one woman’s journey, a dose of romance, and a smoldering suspense sure to keep you devouring pages. Love, love, love this book!” —Heather Burch, bestselling author of One Lavender Ribbon and In the Light of the Garden “In The Comfort of Secrets author Christine Nolfi returns us to many of the characters we loved in Sweet Lake, before her storytelling skills take us into new territory. Suspense and fear mix with hope and love as the reader is drawn deeper into the challenges Cat faces as secrets unfold. This is a surprise-filled page turner, right to the end. Brilliant!” —Patricia Sands, author of the Love in Provence series “In this return to Sweet Lake’s Wayfair Inn we revisit characters we know, learn more about them, and meet new ones. You will hurt and you will rejoice with Cat and all of the characters as they struggle with past trouble and present choices—sometimes making choices that defy expected common sense, yet resonate with heart and truth. A core truth is that living well is about who you choose to share your life with. By the end of The Comfort of Secrets you will feel part of a warm, triumphant hug celebrating life and love, including the scars that are part of what makes us who we are.” —Grace Greene, author of The Happiness In Between and The Memory of Butterflies

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Book SynopsisWhen Steffi Lockwood returns to Sanctuary Sound to start over, she has no idea she’ll also get a second chance with her first love. Steffi Lockwood has survived more than most. Recovering from an assault, she returns to her coastal Connecticut hometown to rebuild her life the best way she knows how: with her hands. But starting a remodeling business with one longtime friend puts her in the middle of a rift with another. Worse, being hired by her ex-boyfriend’s mother forces her to confront old regrets. Public defender Ryan Quinn wasn’t shocked when his wife left him, but he was floored when she abandoned their daughter. With his finances up in the air, the newly single dad returns to his childhood home in Sanctuary Sound. The last person he expects, or wants, to see working on his family house is Steffi Lockwood—his first love who shattered his heart. Although Steffi and Ryan are different people now, dormant feelings rekindle. But when Steffi’s secrets begins to surface, will it bring them together…or tear them apart for good?

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Book SynopsisAn Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestseller. New York Times bestselling author Catherine Bybee continues her sassy series with another of the First Wives finding that love and secrets are a dangerous combination. Trina Petrov’s marriage-by-contract was only meant to be temporary. But when tragedy strikes, Trina is left one of the wealthiest women in the world. To recover from the shock, she takes some time off in Italy, swearing not to fall for any men while there. But that doesn’t mean she can’t fall for anyone on the trip home… Country-music superstar Wade Thomas is lying low in a hotel bar when he gets the cold shoulder from the woman next to him. He’s used to fans fawning at his boots, and Trina is a refreshing change—so is the fact that she has no idea who he is. As things begin to heat up, Trina discovers that the circumstances of her late husband’s death are not what they seemed. Now she’s in trouble, and Wade isn’t about to let her out of his sight. Getting close to love and danger could get them killed…or it could sweep them both off their feet.

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Book SynopsisA brilliant, twisty novel about a missing woman, an unfaithful husband, and the dark secrets that will destroy two perfect families. A scandalous revelation is about to devastate a picturesque town where the houses are immaculate and the neighborhoods are tightly knit. Devoted mother Cora O’Connell has found the journal of her friend Laurel’s daughter—a beautiful college student who lives next door—revealing an illicit encounter. Hours later, Laurel makes a shattering discovery of her own: her daughter has vanished without a trace. Over the course of one weekend, the crises of two close families are about to trigger a chain reaction that will expose a far more disturbing web of secrets. Now everything is at stake as they’re forced to confront the lies they have told in order to survive.Trade ReviewAmazon Charts Most Sold “Sise offers an astute glimpse into tragic loss, the innermost lives of women, and the highs and lows and societal expectations of motherhood…This compelling character study will resonate.” —Kirkus Reviews “Propulsive…compelling.” —Booklist “Sise displays a sly sense of pacing; nearly every chapter unveils a new plot twist, keeping readers hooked. Fans of Liane Moriarty will eat this title up with a spoon.” —Library Journal “Taut and suspenseful, We Were Mothers will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.” —Bustle “Katie Sise’s We Were Mothers expertly snaps readers to attention with its grandiose opening…Timing, inner discourse and believable fiascos blend together producing fantastic scenes…Her observations and vulnerability carry the read.” —Associated Press “If you can't resist a sharp, suspenseful novel, then We Were Mothers by Katie Sise deserves a spot on your reading list.” —POPSUGAR “A close-knit community in a seemingly idyllic town is torn apart when a pretty college student goes missing and the first of many dark secrets is uncovered. We Were Mothers is a twisting tale of small-town complicity and deceit with some astute insights into marriage and motherhood. The escalating tension and the many surprises will keep readers urgently turning pages. An engrossing read!” —Mary McCluskey, author of Intrusion and The Long Deception

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Book SynopsisAn Amazon Charts bestseller. A gripping novel about family secrets…and coming home for the first time. Still grieving the loss of her wandering, free-spirited mother, Lucy Kincaid leaves Nashville for the faded town of Cape Hudson, Virginia. She goes to see the house she’s inherited—one she never knew existed, bequeathed to her by a woman she’s never even met. At the heart of this mystery is the hope that maybe—just maybe—this “Winter Cottage” will answer the endless questions about her mother’s past…including the identity of her birth father. Rather than the quaint Virginian bungalow Lucy expected, Winter Cottage is a grand old estate of many shadows—big enough to hold a century of secrets, passions, and betrayals. It also comes with a handsome and enigmatic stranger, a man next in line to claim Lucy’s inheritance. Now, as Lucy sifts through the past, uncovering the legacy of secrets that Winter Cottage holds, she’ll come to discover as much about her family history as she does about herself. In searching, she could finally find the one thing she’s never really had: a home.Trade Review“There is mystery and intrigue as the author weaves a tale that pulls you in…This is a story of strong women, who persevere…It’s a love story, the truest, deepest kind…And it’s the story of a woman who years later was able to right a wrong and give a home to the people who really needed it. It’s layered brilliantly, hints are revealed subtly, allowing the reader to form conclusions and fall in love…” —Smexy Books “Offering a look into bygone days of the gentrified from the early 1900s up until the present time, mystery and romance are included along with a multifaceted tale that is sure to please.” —The New York Journal of Books

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Book SynopsisAll the love she ever gave. Every secret she never told. Catherine was the love of Sean’s life. But now she is gone. All that’s left is a box full of envelopes, each containing a snapshot and a cassette tape. Through a series of recordings, Catherine shares their long love story, but will Sean recognise the story she tells? Catherine’s words have been chosen with love, but are painfully honest—and sometimes simply painful. She reveals every unspoken thought and every secret she kept from her husband—revelations that will shake everything Sean thought he knew about their life together. But as disconcerting as the tapes turn out to be, Sean prays that they will ultimately confirm the one thing he never dared question. Does destiny exist? And were his and Catherine’s love and life together always meant to be? Revised edition: This edition of Things We Never Said includes editorial revisions.

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Book SynopsisAn Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestseller. From USA Today bestselling author Julianne MacLean comes a suspenseful, emotionally charged novel that explores the secrets and hidden truths within a seemingly perfect marriage. Abbie MacIntyre is living the dream in the picturesque Nova Scotia town she calls home. She is a successful surgeon, is married to a handsome cardiologist, and has a model teenage son who is only months away from going off to college. But then one fateful night, everything changes. When a drunk driver hits her car, Abbie is rushed to the hospital. She survives, but the accident forces unimaginable secrets out into the open and plagues Abbie with nightmares so vivid that she starts to question her grip on reality. Her perfect life begins to crack, and those cracks threaten to shatter her world completely. The search for answers will test her strength in every way—as a wife, a career woman, and a mother—but it may also open the door for Abbie to move forward, beyond anger and heartbreak, to find out what she is truly made of. In learning to heal and trust again, she may just find new hope in the spaces left behind. Book club discussion questions are included in the book.Trade Review“A Curve in the Road keeps you turning the pages—and reaching for the Kleenex. It’s a tragic but ultimately hopeful story of second chances, and a deftly woven tale that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit.” —Susan Wiggs, #1 New York Times bestselling author “Julianne MacLean takes us on a compelling journey through loss and grief to new beginnings. A gripping, emotional read.” —Emilie Richards, USA Today bestselling author of The Swallow’s Nest “A Curve in the Road is stunningly emotional…the kind of book that breaks your heart into pieces, and then mends it back together in the end.” —Donna Alward, New York Times bestselling author “A Curve in the Road follows a path of tragedy, secrets, and redemption where all roads lead to forgiveness.” —Mary Campisi, bestselling author of A Family Affair “There is nothing I love more than a book about secrets and, man, does A Curve in the Road have secrets! Julianne MacLean has crafted an intricate and emotional story that pulled me in and didn’t let go. Clear your schedule. Bring a snack. This one will keep you reading late into the night.” —Emily Bleeker, Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author “Once again Julianne MacLean has created a story that will stay with you long after you have finished the book. It is a tale of betrayal, love, soul-searching, and forgiveness. There are twists and turns around every corner and through it all you will find yourself rooting for Abbie MacIntyre, a wife, mother, a woman betrayed, and truly likable protagonist.” —Bette Lee Crosby, USA Today bestselling author “A Curve in the Road is a fast-paced, tightly plotted page-turner; an intricate tale of family secrets, unexpected twists, the resilience of the human spirit, and the coolest dog since Enzo.” —Barbara Claypole White, bestselling author of The Perfect Son and The Promise Between Us

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of Yellow Crocus comes a heart-wrenching story about finding strength in a new world. Southern China, 1923. Desperate to secure her future, Mei Ling’s parents arrange a marriage to a widower in California. To enter the country, she must pretend to be her husband’s first wife—a paper wife. On the perilous voyage, Mei Ling takes an orphan girl named Siew under her wing. Dreams of a better life in America give Mei Ling the strength to endure the treacherous journey and detainment on Angel Island. But when she finally reaches San Francisco, she’s met with a surprise. Her husband, Chinn Kai Li, is a houseboy, not the successful merchant he led her to believe. Mei Ling is penniless, pregnant, and bound to a man she doesn’t know. Her fragile marriage is tested further when she discovers that Siew will likely be forced into prostitution. Desperate to rescue Siew, she must convince her husband that an orphan’s life is worth fighting for. Can Mei Ling find a way to make a real family—even if it’s built on a paper foundation?

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Book SynopsisAn emotional exploration of the frayed bond between a father and daughter…and what it takes to mend it. After Sara’s father, famous sculptor Thomas “TR” Harlow, is badly injured in a fire, she’s suddenly forced to care for a man who is more of a stranger than a parent. Once known as his muse, Sara long ago lost her father to his desire to live the celebrity life. Now TR’s abrasive and unpredictable presence in her home is reopening old wounds—and causing the rift in her already-strained marriage to deepen. As her young son begins bonding with the grandfather he never knew, Sara must decide if she can find it within herself to forgive the man who broke her heart all those years ago. Will she walk away from a chance to rebuild what was lost, or will she find, by bringing her father back to health, that healing can come in many forms?Trade Review“An emotionally resonant exploration of second chances and the cost of healing of old wounds, The Girl Made of Clay examines how easily the people we love can become strangers to us, as well as those particular desires—for connection, fulfillment, intimacy—that we shuffle to the background. An engaging and thoroughly satisfying read.” —Emily Carpenter, author of Every Single Secret “With luminous prose and an artfully crafted storyline, Nicole Meier’s new novel is not to be missed. The Girl Made of Clay is a moving examination of the limits of familial obligations—and the unexpected rewards of opening up your heart to someone who may not deserve it.” —Camille Pagán, bestselling author of Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties “With Girl Made of Clay, Nicole Meier has created a moving story of a woman’s journey from anger to forgiveness, as she is forced to confront the mysterious father who abandoned her when she was a child and the husband who is spending far too much time away from home. Filled with characters you won’t be able to forget, this is an inspiring tale of a woman facing the past and learning what it means to love.” —Maddie Dawson, author of Matchmaking for Beginners “Rich and vibrant, The Girl Made of Clay is a heartfelt story about family, forgiveness, and second chances. Meier’s emotionally charged writing, vivid settings, and crisp dialogue weave a powerful tale that brings her characters to life and draws in the reader. I thoroughly enjoyed it!” —Kerry Lonsdale, Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author

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Book SynopsisFrom USA Today bestselling author Bette Lee Crosby comes a heartwarming novel about letting go of the past to make way for a brighter future. Tracy Briggs has finally gotten her act together. She’s focusing on her own life and helping her hearing-impaired son learn to talk. With her sister married and exploring a new career, Tracy has begun to run the family’s magazine business and feels her life is pretty much perfect. That is, until her son’s deadbeat dad shows up in Magnolia Grove asking for a second chance. Now that her son is getting the help he needs and a promising new romance with his teacher is in bloom, Tracy wants to keep her life just as it is. But her ex isn’t taking no for an answer. And when a spirited elderly woman enters Tracy’s life in an unexpected way, she’ll have to work harder than ever to keep her new life on track. Torn between the past she knows and the uncertain future, Tracy must decide what is best for both her and her son, learning along the way that ordinary choices can bring extraordinary possibilities. Winner of the Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal for Chick Lit; the FAPA President’s Book Award Gold Medal for Romance; and the Royal Palm Literary Award Silver Medal for Blended Genre (Women’s Fiction/Romance).Trade Review2019 Reader’s Favorite Gold Medal for Chick Lit FAPA 2019 President’s Book Award Gold Medal for Romance “A sweet novel that aims to remind readers that the best moments in life may sometimes be the most ordinary.” —Kirkus Reviews “A Year of Extraordinary Moments is an intricate tale which weaves a grandmother’s dying wish with the harsher realities of abandonment, alcoholism, and lost love. Each story so heartrending and complete, I felt like I’d read five books in one.” —Rebecca Rosenberg, The Secret Life of Mrs. London “Bette Lee Crosby has a magical way of guiding readers to see ordinary moments in life as extraordinary. The title for this heartwarming story could not be better. Despite loss, pain, disappointment, and other challenges, Crosby assures there is always forgiveness, love, and hope. All of that is skillfully crafted on these pages.” —Patricia Sands, bestselling author of the Love in Provence series “Bravo. Crosby is truly a story whisperer; she tells a tender tale as though she is in a cafe sharing something that happened to people you know and care about. The women in A Year of Extraordinary Moments are the kind of characters who live on long after the last page is turned.” —Marilyn Simon Rothstein, author of Lift and Separate “A Year of Extraordinary Moments is that rare book that makes you believe in the power of love. Filled with memorable characters and important life lessons, Betty Lee Crosby’s latest is a Southern treat to the last page.” —Anita Hughes, author of California Summer “Engrossing and warm, the Magnolia Grove series has it all. Southern charm, heartfelt characters and a family-driven storyline that quite magically blurs the line between fiction and reality. Add to that more than a few surprises and A Year of Extraordinary Moments is my favorite Magnolia Grove story to date!” —Heather Burch, bestselling author of Something Like Family

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Book SynopsisFrom bestselling author Camille Pagán comes a hilarious and hopeful story about a woman on the verge of a nervous breakthrough. At fifty-three, Maggie Harris has a good marriage and two mostly happy children. Perpetually anxious, she’s also accumulated a list of semi-reasonable fears: falling air conditioners, the IRS, identity theft, skydiving, and airbag recalls. But never once did Maggie worry that her husband of nearly thirty years would leave her. On the day Adam walks out the door, everything that makes Maggie secure goes with him. Only then does she realize that while she’s been busy caring for everyone else, she’s become invisible to the world—and to herself. Maggie cautiously begins to rebuild her life with a trip to Rome, a new career, and even a rebound romance. But when a fresh crisis strikes and an uncertain future looms, she must decide: How much will she risk to remain the woman she’s just become?Trade Review“[Pagán’s] writing is fun and engaging. Maggie is a wonderful character, and readers will identify with her struggles and successes in rebuilding her life.” —Booklist “Pagán (Forever Is the Worst Long Time) has created a winning character in Maggie. Watching her wake up to the world around her and realize that there’s more to life than a dull marriage is exciting and relatable. Women’s fiction readers will find a lot to like in this book.” —Library Journal “Pagán does a wonderful job of bringing us a character that is so believable you feel like you know her…If you enjoy family drama and stories of growth you will find this a terrific addition to your library. Tie in drama and romance and this will also intrigue those more interested in finding a silver lining.” —Seattle PI “The way the whole book unfolded was so true to real life…It’s an extremely well-written and accurate portrayal of what a woman would do after her life is shattered.” —Novelgossip “Both entertaining and filled with life’s wisdoms…Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties is an empowering story for women of all ages with a wise reminder not to lose our authentic selves.” —Bookreporter “With her characteristic wit and elevated writing style, Camille Pagán gives us a candid glimpse into a tale as old as time: woman marries man; man leaves woman; woman sees her solo image in the mirror and wonders, ‘Who on earth is that?’. Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties is a life-affirming story about what it takes to find yourself after decades of marriage and mothering have made you fade into the wallpaper.” —Julie Lawson Timmer, bestselling author of Mrs. Saint and the Defectives “Camille Pagán does it again! In her new novel, Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties, she takes readers on a journey from heartbreak to hope, all the while making us feel like we are hanging out with our best friend. I could not put this book down!” —Elizabeth LaBan, author of The Restaurant Critic’s Wife and Pretty Little World “Camille Pagán knows women, relationships, and the complexity of the push-pull involved when a love is both old and new. In Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties, Pagán writes with the kind of confidence and warmth that makes you feel like you are in very good hands all the way to the final word. Do yourself a favor: take a deep breath and dive into her world. You won’t regret it.” —Ann Garvin, author of the USA Today bestselling novel I Like You Just Fine When You’re Not Around “Her husband is looking for something better. But so is Maggie and she won’t stop until she finds it. Camille Pagán shines a light on the girl Maggie Halfmoon left behind and her memorable journey to move forward. Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties is a page-turning and engaging tale that I read in one sitting.” —Marilyn Simon Rothstein, author of Lift and Separate “Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties is a beautiful, heartrending portrayal of involuntarily exchanging a life you loved for one that feels foreign and adrift. Maggie's journey of self-discovery postdivorce is completely relatable and totally realistic—how do we find ourselves again after we’ve devoted our prime years to the care and upkeep of others? She’s equal parts vulnerable and brave; Maggie is the woman we all want to be after life kicks us in the shins. Loved every minute.” —Eliza Gordon, author of Dear Dwayne with Love

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Book SynopsisA powerful novel of addiction, hope, and renewal from Sarah Price, the bestselling author of Heavenly Blues. In any upscale suburban town, silence and shame blanket the hard truths. But college professor Kelly Martin can no longer deny the reality she lives every day: substance abuse is tearing her family apart. First, her ex-husband’s drinking destroyed their marriage. Now their seventeen-year-old son, Zach, is caught in the grip of drug addiction, fueled by a known drug dealer walking the halls of his high school. Kelly has two choices: watch helplessly and simply try to bear it or fight to save her son, who’s at the edge of suicidal depression. When she encounters shocking disinterest, even hostility, from her ex-husband, her sister, her mother, and her former social circle, Kelly quickly realizes that she’s alone on this painful and frightening journey. But the race to rescue her child becomes an awakening for Kelly as she comes to understand the keys to her own heart and happiness.

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Book SynopsisFrom USA Today bestselling author Rochelle B. Weinstein comes an emotional novel for mothers, daughters, and anyone who has ever felt imperfect. Emma and Bobby Ross enjoy a charmed life on the shores of Miami Beach. They are a model family with a successful business, an uncomplicated marriage, and two blessedly typical twin daughters, Zoe and Lily. They are established members of a tight-knit community. Then, on the night of the girls’ fifteenth birthday party, they learn of Zoe’s heartbreaking mistake—a private and humiliating indiscretion that goes viral and thrusts her and her family into the center of a shocking public scandal. As the family’s core is shattered by disgrace, judgment, and retribution, the fallout takes its toll. But for Emma, the shame runs deeper. Her daughter’s reckless behavior has stirred memories of her own secrets that could break a marriage, a family, and friendships forever.

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Book SynopsisEveryone has nightmares. One woman is living hers… Gilly O’Connell’s nightmares aren’t just bad dreams; they’re glimpses of terrifying realities to come. Gilly has spent her entire life trying to suppress the foreboding visions. So when a dismissed premonition leads to her husband’s murder, she buries the guilt and pain of the unsolved crime in the only way she knows how—she runs from it. Three years later, after overcoming a battle with addiction and starting over in a small Texas town, Gilly dares to believe the worst is over. That is, until another crime rips her heart open: the abduction of a three-year-old girl. Gilly knows more about it than anyone… She’s dreaming again. Gilly is convinced that if she tells the police she dreamed of the kidnapping before it happened, there’s no way they’ll believe her. But when she finally gets the courage to come forward with what she saw, people don’t see her as crazy—they see her as a suspect. Now, in order to help a desperate single father save his child, Gilly must first clear her own name. But as the nightmares of the past catch up to her, Gilly’s only chance for salvation might be the dreams she’s spent so long trying to ignore.Trade Review“Infused with heart-stopping suspense, emotional resonance, and startling imagery, What Lies Below swept me along a river of urgency and dread. Barbara Taylor Sissel effortlessly weaves together prescience, regret, grief, love, and revenge—all wrapped in the mystery of a young girl’s abduction. Beneath the breathless immediacy of the story lie deeper questions: How do we forgive ourselves—and others—for remembered transgressions, and can we ever break free of the past?” —A. J. Banner, #1 Amazon and USA Today bestselling author of The Good Neighbor and The Twilight Wife “Barbara Taylor Sissel’s What Lies Below is suspense at its finest—heartrending, compelling, and beautifully written. If you’re looking for your next up-all-night read, look no further.” —Jessica Strawser, author of Almost Missed You and Not That I Could Tell “What Lies Below is a fast-paced thriller with a touch of the paranormal and a broken, brave heroine who stole my heart. Struggling with sobriety, grief, and dark premonitions, Gilly seeks anonymity, but as she becomes entangled in a child abduction, lines blur between dreams and reality, secrets and memories, truth and lies. The result is a wild ride with an adrenaline-pumping plot twist. I could not put this book down!” —Barbara Claypole White, bestselling author of The Perfect Son and The Promise Between Us “Take a deep breath and hold on! What Lies Below takes the reader from the opening paragraph to the last satisfying page at breakneck speed. With jaw-dropping reveals and unexpected twists, I found myself rapidly turning the pages, as desperate to learn the outcome as were Sissel’s characters. A fast-paced thriller—Sissel’s stories just keep getting better and better.” —Kerry Lonsdale, Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author “A beautifully written story that kept me on the edge of my seat, What Lies Below explores the boundaries of grief, guilt, and forgiveness, along with its dark flip side, revenge.” —Colleen Thompson, author of The Off Season “In What Lies Below, a little girl goes missing, but it’s the story—and the impending emotional unraveling—of the woman who’s having dreams about the kidnapping that is the beating heart of this compelling mystery. Readers will revel in the small-town Texas setting and root for Sissel’s damaged, yet sympathetic, characters as they race to learn how the puzzle pieces fit together in the most satisfying way.” —Emily Carpenter, author of Every Single Secret “I cannot emphasize this enough: you must read What Lies Below. Barbara Taylor Sissel manages to combine an unreliable narrator, twisting plot, and well imagined characters to create a world where nothing is as it seems and secrets abound. I had intended to savor the novel’s lovely prose, but wound up devouring the book in a day. Simply fantastic.” —Karen McQuestion, bestselling author of Hello Love “In this story about a deeply broken woman forced to employ her psychic ability—a dark gift directly connected to the tragedy that destroyed her own life three years previously—in order to try to save an abducted child, Sissel creates a heart-wrenching page-turner full of unexpected revelations. Clear time from your schedule—you won't want to put this one down.” —Kerry Anne King, bestselling author of Closer Home

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Book SynopsisA spellbinding novel about an unspeakable secret that could destroy a family, from the New York Times bestselling author of Finding Emma. Elle is a survivor. She’s managed to piece together a solid life from a childhood of broken memories and fairy tales her mom told her to explain away bad dreams. But weekly visits to her mother still fill Elle with a paralyzing fear she can’t explain. It’s just another of so many unanswered questions she grew up with in a family estranged by silence and secrets. Elle’s world turns upside down when she receives a deathbed request from her grandfather, a man she was told had died years ago. Racked by grief, regrets, and a haunted conscience, he has a tale of his own to tell Elle: about her mother, an imaginary friend, and two strangers who came to the house one night and never left. As Elle’s past unfolds, so does the truth—if she can believe it. She must face the reasons for her inexplicable dread. As dark as they are, Elle must listen—before her grandfather’s death buries the family’s secrets forever.Trade Review“Steena Holmes has delivered a thought-provoking thriller that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat.” —The Valley Voice News “This is fine writing that deserves all the accolades bestowed on this fine artist. Steena Holmes knows her craft. Highly recommended.” —The San Francisco Review of Books “Buried secrets, a family mystery…The Forgotten Ones is a haunting tale of loyalty in the face of mental illness and the name of love. Heartbreaking, utterly compelling, the kind of book that grips you and will not let you go far beyond the last page.” —Tosca Lee, bestselling author of the Descendants of the House of Bathory Series

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Book SynopsisA teenager follows along as her mother moves from town to town—and man to man—in this coming-of-age novel: “Both hilarious and tragic . . . a radiant debut.” —The New York Times Book Review The inspiration for the cult-classic film starring Winona Ryder, Christina Ricci, and Cher, this novel is narrated by Charlotte Flax, a fourteen-year-old helplessly dragged by her mother from place to place, brief affair to brief affair. When they settle into a quiet New England town in 1963, the teenager yearns to stay put for once. With a convent just steps away from their home, this could be Charlotte’s chance to fulfill her dream of becoming a martyred Catholic saint—despite the fact that she’s Jewish. At the same time, the young caretaker at the convent is inspiring some unsaintly thoughts . . . “Patty Dann gives us a magnificent voice in the young Charlotte . . . Compelling and tender, touching and alive in her search to find some order in the chaos of her life.” —The New York Times Book Review “This is a really funny book about people trying to find something to hang onto in a world that keeps shifting under their feet. Patty Dann guides us through the guerilla war between mother and daughter, through the minefields that lie between being a child and being an adult, in a voice not like any we’ve heard before.” —John Sayles, director and novelist “Moments of pure gold . . . An energetic talent.” —Kirkus Reviews “Both of [the sisters’] characters are sharply etched and recognizable.” —Publishers Weekly “Poignant . . . a quirky charm.” —Booklist

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Book SynopsisThree generations of Irish American women seek better lives in Boston, in this historical saga of hope, hardship, and love by the author of Lace Curtain. Mary Boland suffered aboard a coffin ship to escape famine and make her way to America. Her daughter, Nellie, was born in South Boston—a beautiful girl, smart enough to graduate from college when few women, let alone women of her background, could. But her glowing future as a teacher is ruined when she becomes pregnant—and she is forced to cope on her own as the baby’s father disappears after returning to Ireland to fight for his nation’s liberation. Her subsequent rushed marriage to an ambitious politician will throw Nellie’s life far off course—and reverberate in her mother’s and daughter’s lives as well. Nothing will ever be the same in this gripping conclusion to the Daughters of Ireland saga—a tale of poverty and wealth, opportunity and danger, and family and forbidden love set against the tumultuous backdrop of the late nineteenth-century Gilded Age.Praise for Shanty Gold, the first in the Daughters of Ireland trilogy “Charters interweaves many important topics—immigration, civil rights, women’s rights—into her exciting novel . . . An evocative portrait of South Boston . . . Gripping.” —Kirkus Reviews “The story of a young Irish girl’s struggles told with an authentic, historically accurate voice.” —Sallie Bissell, author of the Mary Crow series “A wild ride of discovery, romance, and the search for a new way of life . . . with twists and turns along the way.” —Susan Blexrud, author of the Fang series

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Book SynopsisA dangerous secret. A suspicious death. A mother determined to find answers.A gripping story of a mother's courage and devotion by the number one bestselling author of The Girlfriend Michelle Francis.Getting pregnant as a teenager was never part of Kate's plan, but when it happens she's determined to do right by her daughter, showing her the love she never had as a child. Life as a single mother is hard, sometimes impossible, but it only brings Kate and Becky closer together. By the time Becky is making her own way in the world as a tenacious trainee journalist, Kate couldn't be prouder. But when the unthinkable happens, Kate's life is changed forever. Desperately trying to understand, Kate stumbles across a story Becky was researching. Is it possible that this cruel twist of fate wasn't an accident? Praise for Michelle Frances: ‘I was blown away . . . Marvellous’ - Jilly Cooper ‘Sharp, sinister and addictive’ - Sunday Mirror ‘Taut and suspenseful’ - Heat ‘Abounding with mysteries, revelations and lies’ - Library JournalTrade ReviewFans of BBC drama The Replacement will lap up this taut and suspenseful tale [The Temp] * Heat *I was blown away. The Girlfriend is the most marvellous psychological thriller . . . I couldn’t put it down and kept sneaking upstairs to read another few pages . . . Michelle Frances is a writer we’re going to hear a great deal about. Please read this genuinely exciting novel -- Jilly CooperImpressively compelling debut; the tension positively oozes from the pages . . . Keeps the reader on a knife-edge throughout [The Girlfriend] * The Press Association *Brilliantly twisty, a sharp, sinister and addictive read [The Girlfriend] * Sunday Mirror *

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Book SynopsisAN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NATIONAL BOOK AWARD “5 UNDER 35” NOMINEE • NEW YORK’S “ONE BOOK, ONE NEW YORK” PICK Named One of the Best Books of the Year: Washington Post • NPR • People • Refinery29 • Parade • BuzzFeed “Mirza writes with a mercy that encompasses all things.”—Ron Charles, Washington Post Hailed as “a book for our times” (Christiane Amanpour), A Place for Us is a deeply moving and resonant story of love, identity, and belonging.As an Indian wedding gathers a family back together, parents Rafiq and Layla must reckon with the choices their children have made. There is Hadia: their headstrong, eldest daughter, whose marriage is a match of love and not tradition. Huda, the middle child, determined to follow in her sister’s footsteps. And lastly, their estranged son, Amar, who returns to the family fold for the first time in three years to take his place as brother of the bride. What secrets and betrayals have caused this close-knit family to fracture? Can Amar find his way back to the people who know and love him best? A Place for Us takes us back to the beginning of this family’s life: from the bonds that bring them together, to the differences that pull them apart. All the joy and struggle of family life is here, from Rafiq and Layla’s own arrival in America from India, to the years in which their children—each in their own way—tread between two cultures, seeking to find their place in the world, as well as a path home. A Place for Us is a book for our times: an astonishingly tender-hearted novel of identity and belonging, and a resonant portrait of what it means to be an American family today. It announces Fatima Farheen Mirza as a major new literary talent.

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