Just Once

December 15, 2018
Francesca Sicari hasn't seen her ex-husband, Charley, since they divorced almost 25 years ago, so when he unexpectedly shows up with no memory of their divorce, she knows something's wrong, and a trip to the doctor confirms that Charley has a terminal brain tumor that is affecting his memory. Charley's current wife, Hannah, arrives to help, but Charley has no idea who she is, and her presence makes him angry, leaving Frankie to step in. Paranormal romance author Handeland (Zombie Island, 2012) moves skillfully between her characters' pasts and their present lives, illuminating the dark events that led each to his or her current situation. Charley's service as a combat photographer in Vietnam led to untreated PTSD, Frankie's grief after the accidental death of her daughter caused her to withdraw, and the death of Hannah's twin brother from AIDS left her unable to cope with losing Charley. As the narrative progresses, the interconnectedness of the characters' stories intensifies, leading to the wrenching but ultimately hopeful ending. Readers who enjoy deeply emotional stories with a focus on relationships will be drawn to Handeland's women's fiction debut.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)