by Ivy Pochoda
First published 2025
Lena's wealthy husband is dead, but freedom remains elusive. Her son Drew now controls her life with the same iron grip, demanding she attend the opening of his luxury resort project on the Greek island of Naxos. Years among the elite have crushed Lena's spirit beneath cocktail dresses and endless small talk. She remembers the dancer she once was, the woman who loved parties and lived boldly. On Naxos, Drew keeps her trapped inside the Agape Villas while mysterious women camp on the beach below. Their drums pulse through the night. Their leader calls to Lena, beckoning her to dance. An ancient god awakens on the shores, stirring forbidden desires in women across the island. Lena faces a choice that will determine whether she reclaims her true self or remains forever bound by others' expectations.
Genres: fiction, drama, romance, literary-fiction, contemporary
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, reclaiming-identity, second-chance
Setting: Greece, Naxos
Period: Contemporary
224 pages · Hardcover · G.P. Putnam's Sons
Content warnings: emotional-abuse, mental-illness