Now and Then Friends

July 1, 2016
Rachel Campbell feels like she's been working forever. Her father abandoned the family when she was young, and she left Durham University after two weeks to take over the family cleaning business when her mother was injured. Rachel has two younger sisters, an invalid mother, and a nephew to take care of, and small pleasures are few and far between. When an old friend returns to Hartley-by-the-Sea, Rachel is half-mortified by her current situation and half-curious to find out what Claire West has been doing for the last 15 years. This engrossing examination of the complexities of female friendship combines the strength of small-town gossip, the stubbornness of independent women, and the power of self-discovery. Fans of Wendy Wax and Marie Bostwick will enjoy the relatable heroines and small-town feel, and loyal readers of Hewitt's previous novels will welcome this new addition. With lush coastal imagery and well-drawn characters, Hewitt immerses the reader in the deeply personal struggles and triumphs of Rachel and Claire. At turns introspective and exhilarating, this novel proves that it's never too late to start over.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)