by Val Emmich
First published 2017
Gavin burns everything in his Los Angeles home that reminds him of his dead partner Sydney, then flees to New Jersey. He arrives at the doorstep of his friend's ten-year-old daughter Joan, who possesses a rare condition that allows her to remember every single day of her life in perfect detail. Gavin desperately wants Joan to share her memories of Sydney's visits over the years so he can preserve what remains of their relationship. Joan agrees to help, but only if Gavin helps her win a local songwriting contest. She believes that becoming a recognized songwriter will make her unforgettable to others. As the unlikely pair works together on songs and memories, Joan recalls something about Sydney that makes Gavin question whether his partner truly loved him. Their partnership becomes a journey through grief, doubt, and the complicated ways people connect across age and loss.
Genres: literary-fiction, grief, contemporary, contemporary-romance, family-drama
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unlikely-allies
Setting: Los Angeles, New Jersey
Period: contemporary
304 pages · Paperback · Back Bay Books