Mary Beth Latham is a happily married mother of three teenagers. While her children go through the normal dramas of teenagers, they are generally healthy and well-adjusted. When her talented daughter, Ruby, breaks up with her long-term boyfriend, Mary Beth is not overly alarmed until she is blindsided by an unspeakable act of violence. Bereft, Mary Beth must cope with her grief and regain a sense of meaning in her life. Strong characters and beautiful prose make Anna Quindlen’s novel well worth your time.