First published 2000
Gail Caldwell never expected Caroline Knapp to become her closest friend. The two writers came from different backgrounds, but they discovered shared passions that bound them together. They spent hours discussing books, taking long walks with their dogs, and going out on boats. Both women battled alcohol addiction and supported each other through recovery. Their friendship deepened as they helped each other navigate the temptations of drinking and the challenges of writing life. Caldwell captures their daily routines and conversations, the small moments that built trust between them. When Caroline falls ill and dies, Caldwell must face the loss of someone who understood her completely. The thirteen chapters move from light recollections of their early meetings to the heavy weight of grief and absence. Caldwell writes with honesty about how two people can share everything, and how that sharing continues even after death separates them.
Genres: friendship, grief, contemporary, memoir, biography-memoir
Vibes: emotional, intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, grief
Paperback · Times Publishing Enterprises shares
Content warnings: addiction, alcohol-abuse, depression