The acclaimed author of the “lyrical coming-of-age novel” (Good Morning America) The People We Keep returns with a luminous new story of redemption, breaking generational curses, and the power of family in its truest form.

After an emergency leaves her short on rent, thirty-year-old Freya Arnalds bails on her lackluster life as bartender in Maine and returns to her suburban hometown of Somers, New York, to live in the house she inherited from her estranged parents. Despite attempts to lay low, Freya encounters childhood friends, familial enemies, and old flames—as well as her fifteen-year-old niece, Aubrey, who is secretly living in the derelict home. As they reconnect, Freya and Aubrey lean on each other, working to restore the house and come to terms with the devastating events that pulled them apart years ago.

Set in the birthplace of the American circus, this deeply moving novel is an exploration of broken families, the weight of the past, and the complicated journey of finding home.

I really love a well-written family drama that isn’t afraid to get gritty. Especially the kind that doesn’t lean on overdone tropes or one-dimensional characters. That is this book. It absolutely hit that sweet spot for me. It’s layered, emotionally grounded, and full of characters who felt so real, I had to remind myself that I didn’t actually know them.

The story centers on Freya Arnalds, a thirty-something who’s basically hit rock bottom in her current life. She returns to her hometown of Somers, New York (birthplace of the American circus) after an emergency appendectomy forces her to give up the barebones life she’s built as a bartender. Her plan is to lay low in her parents’ old, rundown house while she heals and decides what she’s going to do with her life. That plan unravels pretty quickly when she discovers her teenage niece, Aubrey, is secretly squatting in the house too.

What unfolds from there is a story of old wounds, messy sibling dynamics, and intergenerational trauma. Freya and her sister (Aubrey’s mother) have a tense, complicated relationship, but Freya doesn’t let that cloud the love she has for Aubrey. In fact, her relationship with her niece becomes this deeply healing force for both of them. Through helping Aubrey navigate her own struggles, Freya starts to confront the pain she’s been carrying from their shared family history.

The novel also dives into the long-lasting scars of a toxic parent. Freya’s mother looms large in the narrative through flashbacks and memories. She treats Freya horribly, and yet, the story never feels hopeless. There’s a lot of sadness, yes, but also flickers of light, especially in the quiet, healing, moments between Freya and Aubrey.

Then there’s Jam, Freya’s childhood friend, who completely stole my heart. His backstory is heartbreaking, and I wanted nothing more than for him to find peace and happiness. Honestly, I wish we got even more of him. He added a grounding presence to the story—someone who’s been hurt too, but still shows up for the people he loves. I absolutely loved, loved, loved him.

The author also does a great job of showing the uncomfortable parts of life in a small town. The bigotry, the gossip, the way trauma festers when everyone knows your business—it’s all here. And having grown up in a town like that, I can say: she nailed it. It felt painfully accurate.

My one gripe? The pacing in the first half of the book. It moves very slowly and is heavy with backstory and setup. There’s a lot of scene-setting and emotional groundwork being laid, which I get—that is necessary—but I definitely found myself waiting for something to happen. Once the story picked up momentum, though, I was all in. The second half flew by and really brought the emotional arcs home.

If you love stories about complicated families, second chances, and the slow process of healing old wounds, this one’s for you. It’s heartfelt without being sentimental, painful without being punishing, and ultimately, hopeful.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Just be prepared to sit with some emotional heaviness (and a side of hope) afterward. And maybe call and check on Jam? I just need to know that he’s ok.

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