Ellen Hawley Books

A novel of great wisdom but light touch about love and loss and family?and how to survive them all. For fans of Elizabeth Strout and Lorrie Moore.

The story follows Abigail, who believes that her struggles with weight are the sole barrier to her happiness after having a baby. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when she suddenly loses her husband, shedding not just emotional burdens but also 170 pounds of relationship weight. This dramatic shift leads her to confront her identity and redefine her path to joy and fulfillment. The narrative explores themes of self-discovery, loss, and the complexities of motherhood.

Summer Dawidowitz has spent the past year caring for her grandmother, Josie -- a lifelong Communist, a dedicated teacher, and the founder of an organization that tutors schoolchildren. When Josie dies, everything that seemed solid in Summer's life comes into question. What sort of relationship will she have with the mother who abandoned her? Will she meet with the brother Josie exiled from the family? Does she really want to go back to the non-monogamous household she was part of before she moved in to take care of Josie? Finally, does she still believe a small, committed group of citizens can change the world, and if so - how?