In the middle of a Boston snowstorm, one split second shatters the fragile balance of the Doyle family. Tip and Teddy have spent their lives shaped by their father’s ambitions, pushed toward political futures they have never wanted. Since their mother’s death, Bernard Doyle has clung tightly to his sons, convinced he alone can guide their paths.
But an argument on an icy street draws a stranger and her young daughter into their orbit, setting off a chain of revelations that forces every member of the family to confront buried truths. Over the next twenty four hours, privilege intersects with hardship, and unexpected bonds take shape in the most unlikely places.
Acclaimed author Ann Patchett delivers a moving, deeply humane novel about responsibility, connection, and the enduring reach of family.
