The New York Times bestselling author of Labor Day and After Her returns with a poignant story about the true meaningāand the true priceāof friendship.
Drinking cost Helen her marriage and custody of her seven-year-old son, Ollie. Once an aspiring art photographer, she now makes ends meet taking portraits of school children and working for a caterer. Recovering from her addiction, she spends lonely evenings checking out profiles on an online dating site. Weekend visits with her son are awkward. Heās drifting away from her, fast.
When she meets Ava and Swift Havilland, the vulnerable Helen is instantly enchanted. Wealthy, connected philanthropists, they have their own charity devoted to rescuing dogs. Their home is filled with fabulous friends, edgy art, and dazzling parties.
Then Helen meets Elliott, a kind, quiet accountant who offers loyalty and love with none of her newfound friendsā fireworks. To Swift and Ava, heās boring. But even worse than that, heās unimpressed by them.
As Helen increasingly falls under the Havillandsā influenceārunning errands, doing random chores, questioning her relationship with ElliottāAva and Swift hold out the most seductive gift: their influence and help to regain custody of her son. But the debt Helen owes them is about to come due.
Ollie witnesses an accident involving Swift, his grown son, and the daughter of the Havillandsā housekeeper. With her young sonās future in the balance, Helen must choose between the truth and the friends who have given her everything.