First published 2026
When the Rubinstein sisters lose their beloved sibling, grief leaves Sylvia and Helen adrift. A simple misunderstanding about apple cake spirals into ten years of bitter silence between them. Their children refuse to take sides. They have divorces to navigate, careers to salvage, college applications to complete, and bat mitzvahs to plan. The grandchildren seem entirely unreachable. As the family splits along generational lines, each member struggles with their own expectations and disappointments. The sisters remain locked in their stubborn standoff while life continues around them. Ballet recitals happen without both aunts present. Dating resumes despite the family tension. Career setbacks pile up alongside personal victories. Through it all, the bonds that connect this complicated American family stretch but refuse to break completely. Goodman weaves together multiple perspectives to reveal how love persists even when family members can barely speak to each other.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, american-fiction, contemporary, 21st-century, family-drama
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
336 pages · Hardcover · The Dial Press