First published 2022
Natalie Walker caused her siblings to go to prison fifteen years ago. She ran from California that night and never looked back. Now her boyfriend has stolen her dream job, and a lawyer's letter brings worse news. Her mother is dead. The family house in Santa Cruz can only be inherited if all three Walker children return to claim it together. Natalie drives cross country with her stubborn cat, planning a quick visit to sign papers and leave. Her sister Lynn arrives from New York with a surprise teenage son. Her brother Jake, now a celebrated bird scientist, has vanished. While searching for Jake with her nephew, Natalie meets a marine biologist who catches her interest. She must confront the guilt that drove her away and decide whether she can rebuild relationships with her family. The inheritance forces the Walkers to face their shared past and choose their future.
Genres: romance, literary-fiction, contemporary, adult, adult-fiction, family-drama
Vibes: character-driven, emotional, intimate, introspective, redemptive
Tropes: forced-proximity, found-family, homecoming, second-chance-romance
Setting: California, Santa Cruz, New York
416 pages · Paperback · Sourcebooks Landmark
Content warnings: death