Description

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Weight of Water and The Pilots Wife an Oprahs Book Club selection an exquisitely suspenseful new novel about an extraordinary young woman tested by a catastrophic event and its devastating aftermathbased on the true story of the largest fire in Maines history

In October 1947 after a summer long drought fires break out all along the Maine coast from Bar Harbor to Kittery and are soon racing out of control from town to village Five months pregnant Grace Holland is left alone to protect her two toddlers when her husband Gene joins the volunteer firefighters Along with her best friend Rosie and Rosies two young children Grace watches helplessly as their houses burn to the ground the flames finally forcing them all into the ocean as a last resort The women spend the night frantically protecting their children and in the morning find their lives forever changed homeless penniless awaiting news of their husbands fate and left to face an uncertain future in a town that no longer exists In the midst of this devastating loss Grace discovers glorious new freedomsjoys and triumphs she could never have expected her narrow life with Gene could containand her spirit soars And then the unthinkable happensand Graces bravery is tested as never before