First published 2005
Fran Benedetto fell in love with Bobby at nineteen. Their passionate romance turned into marriage, then into something darker. What began as intense attraction became a cycle of violence that trapped Fran for years. She stayed through the fear, through the pain, making excuses and hoping things would change. But one night, everything shifts. Fran makes a decision that will alter her life forever. She takes her ten-year-old son and runs. They disappear into new identities in Florida, where Fran must learn to live without constantly looking over her shoulder. As she builds this new existence, Fran discovers parts of herself she had forgotten. She finds work, makes friends, begins to heal. Her son adapts to their changed circumstances. But the past refuses to stay buried. The complex feelings that once bound her to Bobby still exist, even as she recognizes their destructive power. Freedom brings its own challenges as Fran navigates the delicate balance between safety and the life she wants to create.
Genres: fiction, domestic-fiction, abuse, contemporary, thriller, family-drama
Vibes: dark, emotional, intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, second-chance
Setting: Florida
Audio CD · Random House Audio
Content warnings: abuse, domestic-violence, physical-abuse