First published 2017
Seventeen-year-old Nora Holmes has painted since she could hold a brush. Her grandfather Robert nurtures her talent and offers her the perfect gift: a summer in Europe studying famous artists. Nora must create original artwork at each stop and mail it back to Robert. She jumps at the chance. Her mother Alice feels differently. Alice worries about Nora's artistic future and makes her disapproval clear. The tension between mother and daughter reaches a breaking point before the trip. At the airport terminal, Nora says goodbye to Alice, ready to escape alone. Then Alice shouts that she's coming too. The European adventure becomes a journey for both women. Nora must navigate foreign cities while managing her complicated relationship with her mother. The trip forces them to confront their differences about art, dreams, and what makes life worthwhile.
Genres: fiction, art, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Europe
Period: 21st-century
Audio CD · Listening Library