by Nancy Thayer
First published 2023
Heather Willette walks away from her comfortable Concord marriage when her husband's business consumes him and their son Ross prepares to graduate college. She rents a cottage on Nantucket, ready to rebuild her identity beyond wife and mother. Her fresh start crashes when Ross announces he won't return home to join his father's company. Instead, he's moving to Nantucket to work for his girlfriend's family construction business. This forces Heather into close proximity with Kailee Essex, the young woman she's battled since their first meeting. Kailee celebrates having Ross in her hometown and her parents finally supporting her career, but dreads dealing with his difficult mother nearby. The two women circle each other warily on the island, their mutual dislike threatening Ross's relationships with both. When unexpected circumstances shake their small world, Heather and Kailee must choose between their stubborn pride and the people they love. Thayer crafts a story about mothers learning to let go and young women finding their voices.
Genres: fiction, romance, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Concord, Nantucket
Period: contemporary
Audio CD · Brilliance Audio