First published 2002
Elizabeth and Jack Shore built what appears to be an ideal life together. They married as teenagers, raised two daughters, and survived the challenges that come with young parenthood. Their family looks perfect from the outside. But once their girls move out, Elizabeth and Jack begin to grow apart without the daily demands of parenting to unite them. When Jack gets offered an exciting new position, Elizabeth sacrifices her own aspirations to move across the country with him. Then an unexpected tragedy strikes, shattering Elizabeth's world completely. The crisis forces her to examine every aspect of her existence. She questions the decisions she has made, the state of her marriage, and the dreams she abandoned long ago. Elizabeth makes a bold choice that surprises Jack, their daughters, and everyone who knows her. She decides to abandon the person she has been and pursue the woman she truly wants to become.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: second-chance, self-discovery
Setting: United States
Period: 21st Century
229 pages · Unbound · Ballantine Books