First published 1980
Michael Tolliver has his sights set on his gynaecologist, pursuing the medical professional with characteristic determination. Meanwhile, Mona Ramsey digs into her family history and makes a startling discovery about her origins in a remote desert brothel. The revelation forces her to confront truths about her past she never suspected. As these personal dramas unfold, Mary Ann Singleton embarks on a sea voyage that changes everything. She meets a man suffering from amnesia, and their shipboard romance blossoms into something deeper. Each character navigates their own complications while remaining connected to the others through their shared San Francisco community. The three storylines weave together as Michael deals with romantic pursuit, Mona processes family secrets, and Mary Ann explores new love with someone whose forgotten past adds mystery to their relationship.
Genres: fiction, romance, literary-fiction, contemporary, lgbt, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unreliable-narrator
Setting: San Francisco
Period: Contemporary
246 pages · Paperback · Harper & Row