by Lisa Genova
First published 2011
Sarah Nickerson juggles her role as vice president of human resources at Berkley Consulting with raising three children in affluent Welmont. She schedules every moment like an air traffic controller, racing between Lucy and Charlie's activities while caring for baby Linus. Her Harvard-trained mind manages conference calls, soccer practices, and piano lessons with military precision. One morning, Sarah glances away from the road to make a phone call. The split second of distraction ends in a devastating car accident. The traumatic brain injury wipes out the left side of her vision and awareness. Sarah can no longer brush her teeth or recognize half her world. Her absent mother returns to help as Sarah faces complete dependence on others. The woman who once controlled every detail now struggles to understand her past and imagine her future. Recovery forces Sarah to question whether her former life of spreadsheets and meetings held real meaning. She must discover if true contentment exists beyond professional achievement.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, family-life, contemporary
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: disability, family-drama, recovery
Setting: Berkley Consulting, Welmont
Period: 21st-century
324 pages · Hardcover · Gallery Books
Content warnings: medical-trauma