HOME FOR GOOD

In Cantarutti’s novel, a woman is forced to confront her past when she returns to her small hometown of Clarksville, South Carolina.

After years of building an independent life in San Francisco, Louise “Lou” DuPree finds herself back in the place she once fled. Her return is spurred by the death of her father, a revered but complicated figure in her life, whose legacy—both personal and financial—casts a long shadow. “Your daddy was a good man, a ‘man’s man’ who lived to work the land, hunt, fish, take care of his family, and those beholden to him,” says a woman who loved him deeply, and Lou can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to his story. Evelyn, her manipulative mother, tries to exert control with judgments and guilt trips. Their interactions hum with tension, as when Evelyn offhandedly criticizes Lou’s appearance: “You got those long shapely legs from me, Louise. Your square chin came from the DuPree side, but there’s no mistaking the legs.” Meanwhile, Lou’s estranged brother, Will, Jr., now heir to the family land, becomes entangled in local politics, aligning himself with a shady development project promising to bring prosperity to Clarksville. Lou also faces an unexpected personal challenge when her former high school sweetheart, Charlie Cooper, reaches out to her. Their reunion stirs long-dormant emotions as Lou tries to reconcile her past with the person she’s become. Over the course of the novel, Cantarutti’s prose is richly atmospheric, capturing the heavy, humid air of the South and the weight of generational ties. As Lou navigates these emotional minefields, the town itself effectively becomes a character—its old diner, boarded-up storefronts, and whispered secrets painting a portrait of a place clinging to its identity, even as it’s forced to evolve. Throughout, the novel excels in its deeply felt exploration of the concept of home—not just as a physical place, but as an emotional milieu where love and resentment intertwine.

A rich Southern story that deftly addresses themes of identity and reconciliation.