by Sarah Damoff
First published 2026
April and Leo flee their burning house with their two young children, carrying more than just the trauma of flames. They know the fire isn't the only threat to their family. At April's childhood home in Dallas, her spirited parents and siblings offer shelter that comes with its own complications. April struggles under the weight of motherhood and marriage while blaming herself for their situation. Leo, a high school history teacher, carries scars from his fractured childhood. April's mother Deb provides steady support while managing her husband's recent Alzheimer's diagnosis. The fire exposes fractures already spreading through April and Leo's marriage. Their story unfolds through multiple voices, including flashbacks that trace their relationship from early connection to the choices that brought them to this breaking point. As the family navigates grief, guilt, and scorched memories, they must decide what deserves saving and what costs too much to keep.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Dallas, Texas
Period: 21st-century
336 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster
Content warnings: mental-illness