by Emily Giffin
First published 2016
Josie Garland stands in her first grade classroom, watching her ex-boyfriend's daughter color at a tiny desk. The sight intensifies her longing for motherhood, even as dating feels hopeless. At thirty-eight, she decides to pursue pregnancy on her own terms. Meanwhile, her sister Meredith appears to have everything: a successful law career, devoted husband, and four-year-old daughter. Yet Meredith questions whether she built the life others expected rather than what she truly wanted. The sisters have barely spoken since a family tragedy fifteen years ago split them apart. Josie's impulsive, outgoing nature clashed with Meredith's careful, reserved approach to grief. Now, as the anniversary approaches, buried secrets surface and force both women to examine their choices. Josie pursues motherhood while Meredith confronts her restlessness. Their separate journeys eventually converge as they realize their bond matters more than their differences. The sisters must forgive the past and support each other's authentic desires for happiness.
Genres: fiction, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, second-chance
384 pages · Hardcover · Ballantine Books