By: Barbara Delinsky
ISBN: 9781250119490
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: 6/26/2018
Format: Hardcover
My Rating: 5 Stars From the New York Times bestselling author of Blueprints and Sweet Salt Air, a brand-new novel about a woman in hiding finding the courage to face the world again. Mackenzie Cooper took her eyes off the road for just a moment but the resulting collision was enough to rob her not only of her beloved daughter but ultimately of her marriage, family, and friends—and thanks to the nonstop media coverage, even her privacy. Now she lives in Vermont under the name Maggie Reid, in a small house with her cats and dog. She’s thankful for the new friends she’s made—though she can’t risk telling them too much. And she takes satisfaction in working as a makeup artist at the luxurious local spa, helping clients hide the visible outward signs of their weariness, illnesses, and injuries. Covering up scars is a skill she has mastered.
Her only goal is to stay under the radar and make it through her remaining probation. But she isn’t the only one in this peaceful town with secrets. When a friend’s teenage son is thrust into the national spotlight, accused of hacking a powerful man’s Twitter account, Maggie is torn between pulling away and protecting herself—or stepping into the glare to be at their side. As the stunning truth behind their case is slowly revealed, Maggie’s own carefully constructed story begins to unravel as well. She knows all too well that what we need from each other in this difficult world is comfort. But to provide it, sometimes we need to travel far outside our comfort zones.
From a multimillion-selling master of women’s fiction, Before and Again is a story of the relationships we find ourselves in—mothers and daughters, spouses and siblings, true companions and fair-weather friends—and what kind of sacrifices we are or aren’t willing to make to sustain them through good times and bad.
A special thank you to St. Martins Press and #NetGalley for an early reading copy. Review to follow. Also purchased the audiobook - Currently listening.
Praise
Mackenzie Cooper does not want to be who she was — the one who was driving with her eyes on her phone just long enough to cause a deadly accident that cost her everything. In order to survive, she becomes someone new, someone better — until the past returns.
“Delinsky’s novel expertly explores the depths of Maggie’s guilt and redemption, as she learns not only how to find closure from the tragedies of the past but to forge a future in which she can forgive herself. This is a rewarding, emotionally intense novel.” —Publishers Weekly
"About the complicated dynamics of a family, the novelty of love no matter when in life you find it" —PopSugar
"Delinsky's moving story is filled with love, loss, betrayal and passion. Readers will share the highs and lows experienced by the characters. This is a story for mothers and daughters everywhere. —RT Book Reviews
"Delinsky is an expert at portraying strong women characters."—Booklist
About the Author
BARBARA DELINSKY is the author of more than twenty New York Times bestselling books. She has been published in twenty-eight languages worldwide. A lifelong New Englander, Delinsky earned a B.A. in psychology at Tufts University and an M.A. in sociology at Boston College. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, more books than she'll ever be able to read, two tennis racquets, and enough electronic devices to keep in close touch with her children and their families. Read More
