First published 1982
Lily arrives at a country house for what should be a relaxing weekend with friends. She has other plans. Her new boyfriend accompanies her, unaware that Lily intends to convince him he is the father of the child she carries. The rural setting becomes a stage for her desperate campaign of persuasion. As the weekend unfolds, Lily maneuvers conversations and moments alone with him, building her case that he must accept responsibility for her pregnancy. The other guests provide both obstacles and opportunities as Lily pursues her goal. Her boyfriend remains skeptical, creating tension that builds throughout their stay. The weekend becomes a battle of wills disguised as a social gathering. Lily's determination clashes with his resistance in a contest where the stakes extend far beyond the weekend itself. Bainbridge captures the anxiety and calculation behind Lily's mission as she fights for a future that depends entirely on convincing one man to believe her claim.
Genres: fiction, drama, literary-fiction, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Country House
Period: Weekend
152 pages · Hardcover · George Braziller