Hi-En Montijn Books

A young woman from Nigeria leaves behind her home and her first love to start a new life in America, only to find her dreams are not all she expected.

At the end of the Second World War, Cyril Conroy combines luck and a single canny investment to begin an enormous real estate empire, propelling his family from poverty to enormous wealth. His first order of business is to buy the Dutch House, a lavish estate in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia. Meant as a surprise for his wife, the house sets in motion the undoing of everyone he loves. The story is told by Cyril’s son Danny, as he and his older sister, the brilliantly acerbic and self-assured Maeve, are exiled from the house where they grew up by their stepmother. The two wealthy siblings are thrown back into the poverty their parents had escaped from and find that all they have to count on is one another. It is this unshakable bond between them that both saves their lives and thwarts their futures. Set over the course of five decades, The Dutch House is a dark fairy tale about two smart people who cannot overcome their past. Despite every outward sign of success, Danny and Maeve are only truly comfortable when they’re together. Throughout their lives, they return to the well-worn story of what they’ve lost with humor and rage. But when at last they’re forced to confront the people who left them behind, the relationship between an indulged brother and his ever-protective sister is finally tested.

Beloved author Elizabeth Gilbert returns to fiction with a unique love story set in the New York City theater world of the 1940s. Through the perspective of an older woman reflecting on her youth, the narrative explores themes of female sexuality, promiscuity, and the nuances of true love. Nineteen-year-old Vivian Morris is sent to Manhattan after being expelled from Vassar College due to her lackluster performance. She moves in with her Aunt Peg, who owns the flamboyant, crumbling Lily Playhouse. There, Vivian encounters a vibrant array of characters, including fun-loving showgirls, a charming male actor, a grand-dame actress, a seductive writer, and a pragmatic stage manager. A personal misstep leads to a professional scandal, turning her world upside down and prompting years of introspection. Ultimately, this tumultuous journey guides her toward a deeper understanding of her desires and the freedom needed to pursue them. It also leads her to the love of her life, a relationship that stands apart from all others. Now eighty-nine, Vivian reflects on how these formative experiences shaped her life, revealing a powerful truth: at some point, a woman can shed the burden of shame and embrace her true self. Written with profound insight into human desire and connection, this is a love story like no other.

A Long Way from Home follows Irene Bobs, a fast-driving enthusiast, and her car salesman husband as they tackle the grueling Redex Trial in 1950s Australia. This thrilling tale explores the nation's connection to its ancient culture amid the challenges of love and pain during a brutal car race.

From the author of Sojourn and Friend of My Youth, a novel that goes straight to the heart of a family, in all their hopes, desires and regrets.