Susan Conley Books

The narrative captures a year-long creative exchange between a photographer and a writer, showcasing the evolution of their children's lives through photographs and accompanying stories. As children's growth marks the passage of time, the book reflects on the bittersweet nature of parenting, urging readers to cherish fleeting moments. Through personal recollections and vivid imagery, it evokes nostalgia for childhood and emphasizes the importance of mindfulness in family life, encouraging readers to pause and appreciate the present.

"From acclaimed author Susan Conley, a novel that gives us a luminous emotional portrait of a young woman living abroad in Paris in the 1980s and trying to make sense of the chaotic world around her as she learns the true meaning of family. When Willie Pears agrees to teach at a Parisian center for immigrant girls who have requested French asylum, she has no idea it will utterly change her life. She has lived in Paris for six months, surrounded by the most important people in her life: her beloved brother, Luke, her funny and wise college roommate, Sara, and Sara's do-gooder husband, Rajiv. And now there is Macon Ventri, a passionate, dedicated attorney for the detained girls. Theirs is a meeting of both hearts and minds--but not without its problems. As Willie becomes more involved with the immigrant girls who touch her soul, the lines between teaching and mothering are blurred. She is especially drawn to Gita, a young Indian girl who is determined to be free. Ultimately Willie will make a decision with potentially dire consequences to both her relationship with Macon and the future of the center. Meanwhile, Luke is taken with a serious, as-yet-unnamed illness, and Willie will come to understand the power of unconditional love while facing the dark days of his death. Conley has written a piercing, deeply humane novel that explores the connections between family and friends and reaffirms the strength of the ties that bind. "--

"A gorgeous, jewel of a novel about a mother caring for her two sons while everything else--her marriage, the fishing industry her New England community relies on - threatens to crumble around her. After a fishing accident leaves her husband hospitalized across the border in Canada, Jill is left to look after "the wolves" - her two teenage boys - alone. Nothing comes easy in their remote corner of Maine: money is tight, her son Sam is getting into more trouble by the day, and Jill begins to suspect her marriage isn't as stable as she once believed. As one disaster gives way to the next, Jill worries it's not enough to be a caring wife and mother anymore - not enough to show up when needed, nudge her boys in the right direction, and believe everything will be okay. But how to protect this life she loves, this household, this family? With remarkable poise and startling beauty, Landslide ushers us into a modern household where Instagram posts, sex-positivity talks, and old fishing tales become a kind of love language for a family. Conley's stunning portrait of a family at odds is as compelling as it is moving, and asks how to remain devoted when the eye of the storm closes in"--Provided by publisher

A captivating debut novel filled with sharp wit and humor, reminiscent of Marian Keyes.

The highly acclaimed author of Landslide delivers “[an] intricate, delicate-as-rice-paper novel" (O, The Oprah Magazine) about an ex-pat in China who embarks on a journey that takes her into the darkest corners of addiction, marriage, and motherhood. When Elsey's husband, Lukas, hands her a brochure for a weeklong mountain retreat, she knows he is really giving her an ultimatum: Go, or we’re done. Once a successful painter, Elsey set down roots in China after falling in love with Lukas. Now, with two young daughters and unable to find a balance between her identities as artist, mother, and wife, Elsey fills her days worrying, drinking, and descending into boredom and unhappiness. So she agrees to go. There, she meets a group of men and women who will forever alter the way she understands herself and her marriage. Written in a voice at once wry, sensual, blunt, and hypnotic, Elsey Come Home is a modern odyssey and a quietly dynamic portrait of contemporary womanhood.

Featuring the work of 50 photographers, this collection showcases the remarkable moments found in the everyday lives of Mainers. Through stunning imagery, the book highlights the beauty and uniqueness of ordinary experiences, celebrating the spirit and culture of Maine. Each photograph tells a story, revealing the depth and richness of life in this picturesque state. This visual journey connects viewers with the local community and its diverse narratives, making it a tribute to both the people and the landscape of Maine.