First published 2013
Lily Samson cringes as her mother invites another elderly client home for dinner. Her family mortifies her at every turn. Her grandmother chats with an invisible companion. Her grandfather makes comments she finds racist. Her older brother drifts in and out of college without direction. Lily dreams of one ordinary day when her relatives might behave like everyone else's family. She gets her wish through unexpected encounters that transform each family member. Her grandmother finds new purpose. Her grandfather confronts his prejudices. Her brother discovers his path. Her mother learns boundaries. As each person changes, Lily realizes that normal families don't exist. The day she wanted becomes perfect not because her family acts conventional, but because they finally understand each other.
Genres: literary-fiction, coming-of-age, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-driven, found-family
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
248 pages · Paperback · Boyds Mills Press