by Tayari Jones
First published 2026
Vernice and Annie grow up as inseparable neighbors in Honeysuckle, Louisiana, both missing their mothers but heading toward completely different futures. Vernice lives with her determined aunt who builds her a secure foundation after her mother's death. At eighteen, she moves from Atlanta to attend Spelman College, where she connects with influential Black women and eventually marries into wealth. Annie faces a harder reality. Her mother abandoned her as a child, leaving behind an emptiness that consumes her thoughts. While Vernice builds stability, Annie becomes obsessed with tracking down her missing mother. This search pulls her into dangerous territory filled with both threats and unexpected connections. Her quest for answers about her past becomes a fight for survival. The two friends' bond stretches across the distance between their choices. Jones explores how women navigate the American South, examining the ties between mothers and daughters and the power of female friendship when life pulls people in opposite directions.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary, family-drama, african-american-historical-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, friends-to-lovers
Setting: Atlanta, Honeysuckle, Louisiana, Spelman College
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
368 pages · Paperback · Penguin