First published 2013
Liz and David begin their marriage with grand plans. They choose a bare loft in downtown Manhattan over conventional comfort. They want to live as artists, free from material concerns. The couple believes their love and shared values will carry them through anything. Four years pass. Reality wears down their optimism. Small disappointments accumulate. Their relationship shifts as they argue over money, art, and their future. Meanwhile, Elizabeth's widowed mother falls in love with David's widowed father. This unexpected romance forces the young couple to examine their own bond. They watch their parents navigate love with the wisdom that comes from loss. Liz and David must constantly renegotiate their roles. They discover that sustaining a marriage requires more than shared ideals. Calisher tracks the subtle changes in power between them. She shows how couples redefine themselves to survive together. The novel examines what happens when youthful dreams meet adult realities.
Genres: romance, literary-fiction, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Manhattan
Period: 1970s
225 pages · Kindle Edition · Open Road Media