First published 1978
The narrative follows characters navigating the complexities of family relationships and personal identity in 1970s America. Howard examines the tensions between public facades and private truths as her protagonist confronts long-held family secrets and social expectations. The story moves between past and present, revealing how childhood experiences shape adult choices. Personal relationships strain under the weight of unspoken truths and changing social norms. The characters struggle to reconcile their inherited values with their own desires for authenticity and connection. Howard captures the particular moment when traditional family structures began shifting in American society. The novel ultimately concerns itself with the courage required to live honestly despite the comfort of familiar lies.
Genres: literary-fiction, american-fiction, 20th-century, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unreliable-narrator
Setting: America
Period: 1970s
182 pages · Hardcover · Little, Brown