Laura is shot dead on the subway by an unknown assailant for reasons unknown. She leaves behind her husband and three daughters.
This book for me highlighted the struggle her husband, Nathan, has in becoming the only parent to three daughters who he doesn't really know and taking up the tasks that Laura did for the family that he wasn't even aware of. You feel sorry for him as he is out of his depth with in-laws that are no help.
Enter Maria, a friend of Laura from a shelter she volunteered at - that her family didn't know she did. Maria knows about grief and loss but the Laura she knew is different to the one Nathan and the girls knew, that the life she was living was not the one she wanted for her family.
Central to this story are the feelings of grief and loss and the paralyzing effect of them. And even how in a seemingly happy marriage how out of touch one can become. How secrets keep you from moving on and living and loving your life.
But above all its a story about find hope again and healing.
A beautiful, touching read.