First published 2021
Emmeline spends her childhood on a secluded island with her father, who teaches her to understand the natural world through her senses. Their cottage walls hold mysterious drawers filled with fragrant papers, connected to a machine her father operates. The island becomes Emmeline's entire universe until an unexpected event shatters this isolated existence. She finds herself thrust into the wider world, where she encounters love, betrayal, ambition, and revenge for the first time. To uncover the mysteries surrounding her past, Emmeline must gather clues about her true identity. This journey demands more from her than she ever imagined, testing both her emotions and her understanding of reality. Her quest for answers becomes a challenge that stretches beyond the boundaries of her sheltered upbringing.
Genres: literary-fiction, family-life, mystery, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Island
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
416 pages · Mass Market Paperback · St. Martin's Paperbacks