Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley, and Anissa Gray for the opportunity to read this wonderful debut novel.
We learn from the start that Althea and her husband, Proctor, are in jail for embezzlement from their business and the townspeople. But the real story begins both before and after the trial. Before - Althea is the oldest of 4 siblings, raised by a mostly-absent, mean father after their mother died. Althea had to step in to raise her siblings and carried much resentment towards her father. Lillian, the baby, ends up back living with the dad when he is somewhat of a changed man and therefore has a different relationship with Lillian. The other two siblings, Viola and Joe, have their own struggles and demons. After the trial, all of Althea's siblings and her two twin daughters are left to face the wrath of the townspeople as well as trying to cope with their new situation of caring for the girls while the parents are in jail.
This is definitely a book about all the things that make us human - family, loyalty, forgiveness, and hopefully moving towards healing and a new normal. Beautiful debut!
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