First published 2009
The protagonist faces the reality of an empty nest as her last child prepares to leave home. She confronts the question that haunts many women at this crossroads: what comes next when the role that defined her for decades suddenly ends? Gifford places her character at the kitchen table on an ordinary morning, but the weight of impending change makes everything feel different. The woman must navigate the shifting dynamics with her husband, rediscover forgotten dreams, and figure out who she is beyond being a mother. Friends offer advice that ranges from helpful to ridiculous. Career opportunities emerge that she never considered before. The story follows her journey through doubt, fear, and eventual self-discovery as she learns that endings can also be beginnings. At its heart, this is about finding purpose and identity when life forces you to reinvent yourself.
Genres: fiction, family-life, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, self-discovery
304 pages · Hardcover · Ballantine Books