A father and daughter grapple with unexpected grief in “an emotional journey of love, loss, healing, and redemption. I rooted for every character” (Lisa See, New York Times–bestselling author of Snow Flower and The Secret Fan).
Maddy is a devoted stay-at-home wife and mother, host of excellent parties, giver of thoughtful gifts, and bestower of a searingly perceptive piece of advice or two. She is the cornerstone of her family, a true matriarch . . . until she commits suicide, leaving her husband Brady and teenage daughter Eve heartbroken and reeling, wondering what happened. How could the exuberant, exacting woman they loved disappear so abruptly, seemingly without reason, from their lives? How they can possibly continue without her? As they sift through details of her last days, trying to understand the woman they thought they knew, Brady and Eve are forced to come to terms with unsettling truths.
Maddy, however, isn’t ready to leave her family forever. Watching from beyond, she tries to find the perfect replacement for herself. Along comes Rory: pretty, caring, and spontaneous, with just the right bit of edge . . . but who also harbors a tragedy of her own. Will the mystery of Maddy ever come to rest? And can her family make peace with their history and begin to heal?
“Warm and hopeful, this marvelous debut stands next to novels from Catherine McKenzie and Carolyn Parkhurst.” —Booklist, starred review
“An impossible-to-put-down and impressive debut.” —Associated Press
“Engrossing. . . . a perfect choice for book clubs.” —Library Journal, starred review
“Provocative . . . you will ache for and fear for the main character—but never forget her.” —Jacquelyn Mitchard, New York Times and USA Today–bestselling author of The Deep End of the Ocean
