First published 2021
Sofia Colicchio and Antonia Russo live next door to each other in Brooklyn, their fathers both members of the Italian mafia. Sofia bursts with wild energy while Antonia watches the world with quiet intensity. The girls share everything until Antonia's father vanishes after attempting to leave the criminal life behind. His disappearance creates tension between the friends as they marry, raise children, and take on leadership roles within their community. Both women struggle against the rigid expectations that confine them while remaining tied to each other and to the Family. Weekly Sunday dinners bring everyone together to eat, conduct business, and strengthen bonds of blood and loyalty. As Red Hook changes around them, Sofia and Antonia must navigate the competing demands of friendship, family obligation, and personal freedom. Their relationship grows more complex with each passing year until one night forces them to choose between protecting each other and protecting the Family.
Genres: family, literary-fiction, historical-fiction, contemporary
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Brooklyn, Red Hook
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
368 pages · Hardcover · G.P. Putnam's Sons
Content warnings: violence