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Wendy's life is going great. She's about to have a baby, she has a fulfilling career in teaching, and her husband Kevin is perfect, or so she thinks. Sanders' novel is about how a seemingly perfect life is an illusion and that it takes courage to rebuild amid lies and pain. It's a sexually transmitted disease diagnosis that literally opens the protagonist's eyes to what is really happening in her life and marriage. Wendy's sister Kim helps her pick up the pieces, though the message isn't just that family is there for you, but also that faith is. Even when not only Wendy but also the other characters waver in their faith, they still find their way back to God.
This isn't just a story about a marriage crumbling with a baby on the way. There are plenty of different layers within this book. One layer includes a serious family drama about a potential murder. The grandmother, Frances, is one of the most complex of characters with her secrets and attitude towards her family, especially poor Kim. The story is told from multiple viewpoints, which adds even more layers to the narrative.
Sanders' characters are vivid, and readers will find it quite easy to picture their conversations (and fights) as if they were in a movie. The author's writing style is crisp and descriptive. Sanders does exceptionally well at describing her main and minor characters and the setting. Her sentence structure and word choices are also clear and concise. The pacing doesn't miss a beat either. Readers will find the payoff well worth their time. Overall, this is a first-rate story with an emotionally charged plot.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review
A 2026 Eric Hoffer Book Award Grand Prize Short List book