First published 2024
Sam and Elena live with their mother on an island off the Washington coast, barely scraping by despite working multiple jobs. Sam operates the ferry that brings wealthy vacationers to their summer homes. Elena serves drinks at the golf club. Their combined wages never stretch far enough, feeding their shared dream of escape. One night Sam sees something impossible: a bear swimming through the dark channel waters toward their island. When the animal appears near their house, Sam's fear intensifies her need to flee. But Elena reacts differently to the creature. She feels drawn to the bear's presence. This attraction threatens everything the sisters have planned together. The bear's arrival forces a choice between the life they've imagined elsewhere and something neither sister fully understands. Elena's fascination with the animal creates a rift that challenges their bond and their future. Phillips explores how the wild calls to us in ways we cannot predict or control.
Genres: nature, literary-fiction, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, sibling-relationship
Setting: Washington, Island
320 pages · Paperback · Random House Large Print