First published 2017
Harriet is 78 when Bernhard dies after 55 years of marriage. She discovers he secretly planned an Alaska cruise for her. She boards the ship despite her hesitation. The buffets and ship routines overwhelm her. Her daughter unexpectedly joins the voyage. Together they navigate the cruise experience while Harriet examines her past. She had believed her life was complete with a career, marriage, house, and two children. The journey forces her to confront uncomfortable truths about her existence. The comfortable middle-class facade she maintained begins to crumble. She realizes much of what she told herself about her life was false. The themes of disappointment, betrayal, and forgiveness emerge as Harriet faces her self-deceptions. Her story becomes a reflection of universal human experiences and the lies people tell themselves to maintain stability.
Genres: literary-fiction, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, self-discovery
Setting: Alaska
Period: 21st-century
288 pages · Hardcover · Kiepenheuer & Witsch