First published 2020
Elisabeth stares at her infant son in their small town house, far from her twenty years in New York City. The accomplished journalist finds herself lost in social media feeds and text chains with distant friends instead of working. She hires Sam, a senior at the nearby women's college, to help with childcare. Sam wrestles with choosing between her planned career path and a romance that could derail her ambitions. Student loans weigh on her mind as graduation approaches. The two women bond quickly despite their different life stages. Elisabeth navigates new motherhood while Sam prepares for an uncertain future. Their friendship deepens until Sam connects with Elisabeth's father-in-law in ways Elisabeth never expected. This unexpected relationship exposes the real gaps between their worlds. What follows changes both women permanently, revealing how privilege shapes relationships and how one year can redirect everything.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: New York City, Small Town
Period: 21st-century
416 pages · Hardcover · Knopf