First published 2017
Russell finds himself standing in his kitchen, staring at his young daughter who needs breakfast and someone to braid her hair for school. His wife has died without warning, leaving him to navigate a world of bedtime stories and playground politics he never mastered. Simple meals become daily puzzles. When nightmares strike, he struggles to provide comfort he was never taught to give. Each school pickup forces him to confront his transformed life. His daughter observes as he stumbles through responsibilities that once seemed effortless when divided between two parents. She challenges his patience during emotional breakdowns, then surprises him with spontaneous embraces that melt his defenses. Russell awakens physical and emotional strength he had forgotten existed. Rest becomes scarce and valuable. Each dawn brings both tears and small triumphs. Over many months of mistakes and learning, this father and daughter build something unexpected together, crafting new patterns from the wreckage of their loss.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, grief, single-parent
Setting: North Carolina, Venice, Venecia
528 pages · Paperback · Grand Central Publishing
Content warnings: death