First published 2026
Sally lives in San Miguel de Allende with her architect husband, feeling disconnected after a year in Mexico. Outside her children's school, she encounters Louise, an elegant expatriate who captivates her with tales of Beat Generation writers and a sophisticated lifestyle. Louise draws Sally into her orbit, rechristening her "Mia" and introducing her as her daughter to friends around the city. Sally finds herself torn between the thrill of reinvention and unease at Louise's controlling influence. She hides the relationship from her husband as Louise's manipulations intensify. Sally's painful childhood memories surface while Louise spins elaborate myths about herself. The two women push the boundaries of their fictional roles until their deceptions endanger Sally's real family. Sally must choose between the seductive new identity Louise offers and protecting the life she actually built.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, mystery, contemporary
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: deception, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Mexico, San Miguel de Allende
Period: Contemporary
320 pages · Hardcover · Scribner
Content warnings: emotional-abuse