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Release date: November 21, 2017

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Blurb:

From the author of The Good Neighbor and The Glass Wives comes an enchanting story of returning home and discovering what truly matters after loss.

No one knows why Teddi Lerner left her hometown, but everyone knows why she’s back.

Twelve-year-old Shayna— talented, persistent, and adorable—persuaded “Aunt Tee” to return to Chance, Ohio, to photograph her father’s wedding. Even though it’s been six years since Shay’s mother, Celia, died, Teddi can hardly bear the thought of her best friend’s husband marrying someone else. But Teddi’s bond with Shay is stronger than the hurt.

Teddi knows it’s time to face the consequences of her hasty retreat from family, friends, and, her old flame, but when she looks through her viewfinder, nothing in her small town looks the same. That’s when she truly sees the hurt she’s caused and—maybe—how to fix it.

After the man she once loved accuses Teddi of forgetting Celia, Teddi finally admits why she ran away, and the guilt she’s carried with her. As Teddi relinquishes the distance that kept her safe, she’ll discover surprising truths about the people she left behind, and herself. And she’ll finally see what she overlooked all along.

Review:

This was my first book by Nathan but I enjoyed it so much that I’ll be adding her earlier work to my TBR. There was something so natural and authentic about her writing, I was almost immediately invested in Teddi’s life and that of the residents of Chance, Ohio. This was full of poignant moments and plenty of life lessons that stick with you long after you turn the final page.

Teddi doesn’t want to go back home but there’s no way she can say no to Shay. When I say she left six years ago I actually mean she fled, leaving everyone she knew and loved because she was in so much pain and had no idea how to face it. Running away was easier. Her homecoming is awkward to say the least, the only person who seems truly happy to see her is Shay. I loved that Teddi’s life was far from perfect, it was totally messy but she was finally willing to face her issues head on. She was brave, honest and she had a terrific sense of humor.

This book had it all, a fantastic small town setting, characters that felt like friends or people that you would want as friends, and wonderful, touching lessons about friendship, loss, love and life. It all had so much warmth, tenderness and heart behind it and I throughly enjoyed every second I spent getting to know these lovely characters.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.