by Ann Patchett
First published 2016
A chance meeting at a christening party in 1964 permanently alters the lives of two families. Over the next fifty years, their children and grandchildren grapple with the fallout, their lives intertwining in unexpected ways. As they come of age, the kids navigate the complexities of love, loss, and forgiveness, all while the specter of that fateful day looms. Patchett's intimate portrait examines how a single decision can ripple through generations, shaping identities and driving people apart—and back together.
Genres: literary-fiction, contemporary, 21st-century, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, multigenerational
336 pages · Paperback · Harper Perennial