An emotionally rich novel that delivers a heartfelt exploration of grief, renewal, and late-in-life love with authenticity.
An aging woman gets a second chance at love in Brehony’s novel.
At the age of 65, Shannon O’Connell is weathering a storm of personal losses, including the death of her best friend, Linda; the painful departure of her longtime partner, Kim; and the slow erosion of her mother’s mind due to Alzheimer’s. Most of the life she’s known over the past several decades is slipping away, but the arrival of her group of close-knit, longtime friends (called “The Tribe” amongst themselves) just might herald the start of a new chapter as they celebrate Linda’s life at Shannon’s family’s beachside property. During this reunion, Shannon reconnects with Elizabeth Matthews, who has secretly carried a torch for Shannon before and after the passionate night they shared together 30 years ago (“that night—even through the haze of Tequila—was extraordinary and not just because it was passionate but because I let her all the way into my heart,” Elizabeth reflects). After decades of unsaid words and unresolved emotions, their tender, complicated courtship unfolds slowly but surely. Through chapters alternating first-person perspectives, the novel offers a balanced, nuanced view of Shannon and Elizabeth’s rekindled connection. Shannon’s reluctance to move on after her unexpected breakup contrasts effectively with Elizabeth’s steady determination and her own reservations about opening up to love. Their chemistry feels grounded and believable within the flow of the novel’s events. The individual personal growth of the characters proves to be as compelling as the romance itself, and the rest of the cast isn’t sidelined—everyone is a fully realized person in their own right. Brehony explores a wide spectrum of life’s complexities, from issues of aging, regret, and identity to the loss of friends and family with honesty and grace. The coastal setting also plays a meaningful role, mirroring the novel’s emotional terrain—sometimes turbulent, sometimes calm, but always capable of reflecting beauty. Unexpected moments of humor and warmth bring levity to the emotional depth of the story, highlighting the enduring bond of lifelong friendship.
An emotionally rich novel that delivers a heartfelt exploration of grief, renewal, and late-in-life love with authenticity.Pub Date: Sept. 4, 2024
ISBN: 9798330398607
Page Count: 238
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: June 4, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
An extremely fun, fast-paced, and unusual addition to the marriage-in-trouble romance canon.
A marriage on the rocks gets a second chance—with a science-fiction twist.
Dr. Emery Martín is happily married to her husband Luca…mostly. She’s been madly in love with him since the moment they met, but in the three years they’ve been wed, she hasn’t been able to focus much on him. To the world—including Luca—Emery’s job involves developing medical-grade lasers. In reality, she works at a supersecret San Diego lab that’s engineering a compound to bring mammals back from the dead. Although Emery doesn’t want to admit it, she can tell that Luca feels pushed aside, but she believes so deeply in her work that she has a hard time leaving the lab. When Emery is late for dinner—yet again—on their anniversary, she rushes home only to see Luca get hit by a car. She has the secret compound in her car, and she knows she could get in major trouble if she uses it—but what’s she supposed to do, not save her husband’s life? The compound has only been tested on animals so far, and there’s no guarantee it will even work for humans. It does, though, and Luca comes back to life—with one small caveat. He can’t remember most things, including his marriage to Emery. After almost losing Luca, Emery is now grateful for what she has, and she’s determined to show him that she can be a better, more attentive partner. While Luca may not remember her, their magnetic chemistry is still there. This may be the do-over they needed to save their marriage—that is, if Emery can keep the life-reviving measures she took hidden from everyone around them, including nosy neighbors and her own company. Lauren—the pen name of the duo behind rom-coms like The Paradise Problem (2024)—has created a unique hook that feels genuinely refreshing. Emery and Luca’s unconventional second chance is emotionally compelling, and the slight thriller edge as Emery tries to cover up her actions keeps the pages turning.
An extremely fun, fast-paced, and unusual addition to the marriage-in-trouble romance canon.Pub Date: July 14, 2026
ISBN: 9781668017753
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: April 6, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
A deliciously dramatic look at how one woman’s past influences her future.
A happily engaged woman is pulled back to her hometown—and her first love—when tragedy strikes.
Billie Wright is living her dream, running a thriving fertility clinic in New York City and engaged to a wonderful trauma surgeon named Dean. Her happily-ever-after meant giving up her life in Wisconsin, where she left behind many friends as well as her high school sweetheart, Mick. Although they’d been deeply in love, when Billie’s ambition pulled her away from home and toward the city, Mick couldn’t handle either the distance or her busy schedule. Billie has finally moved on from that heartbreak—but then she receives a phone call from Mick, the first communication between them in years. Her best friend, Erin, died in a car accident, leaving behind an 11-year-old daughter, Phoebe. Now Billie must return home to help sort Erin’s affairs and provide some kind of comfort to Phoebe while grieving the loss of her best friend. Of course, being back home also means being in close contact with Mick. Their feelings for each other may not have ever gone away, and their proximity leads to big decisions for Billie. Can she ever reconcile her current life in Manhattan with her past in Wisconsin? And which one will be her future? Giffin knows how to do drama, and she ratchets up the stakes with every page as she continues to reveal new obstacles for Billie. The ending wraps up quite neatly, but the nostalgia-filled ride is full of twists and turns that will keep readers flipping the pages.
A deliciously dramatic look at how one woman’s past influences her future.Pub Date: July 7, 2026
ISBN: 9780593600320
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Ballantine
Review Posted Online: April 6, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
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