First published 2010
Kelly Corrigan has built a good life in San Francisco. She writes a weekly newspaper column, raises two daughters, and draws strength from her father George, whose daily "HELLO WORLD" greeting and relentless optimism have shaped her worldview. At thirty-something, Kelly occupies what she calls the middle place, simultaneously caring for her children while still being someone's daughter. Then she discovers a lump in her breast. The diagnosis upends everything she thought she knew about her role in the family. As if her own cancer battle weren't enough, Kelly learns that George, her hero and model for facing adversity, also has cancer. The roles reverse suddenly and completely. The daughter who always counted on her father's unwavering support must now become his caregiver. Kelly navigates treatment while watching the strongest person she knows confront his own mortality. This reversal forces her to find reserves of strength she didn't know she possessed.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, family-life, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: reversal-of-roles
Setting: San Francisco
336 pages · Paperback · Vintage Espanol
Content warnings: terminal-illness