Coming May 6th 2025…pre-order in the US now! And in the UK here!

From a #1 New York Times bestselling author comes a powerful novel about family, the weight of secrets, and the repercussions of choices we make.

When Bunny Linden abandons her three children with her older sister, Jayne, in 1972, she knows Jayne will be the perfect mother. The mother Bunny, a teen runaway, could never be. As months turn into years, Jayne and her husband, Rodger, a rising journalism star, strive to give the children the opportunity to flourish. When Jayne and Rodger finally have a child of their own, a seemingly stable home is built.

But then, after nearly a decade, Bunny resurfaces and sets a chain of events in motion that detonates all their lives.

As adults, their children try to reassemble the pieces and solve the mystery that has always haunted them. Who were their parents? What really happened between them? And who is ultimately to blame for the destruction? But will the answers they seek set them free―or lead to something far more damaging than anyone imagined?

 “Written with grace and intelligence, Kraus explores the complex intersection of memory and loyalty in a sweeping story of a broken family and the women who knit together the remains. Perfect for book clubs." ~Sarah Pekkanen, #1 NYT bestselling author of HOUSE OF GLASS 

“From a beloved writer comes a unique, deeply moving story told with heart, depth and humor about the women we are, the women we come from, and the way we heal.” ~Rebecca Serle, NYT bestselling author of IN FIVE YEARS and EXPIRATION DATES

“So heartbreaking and so good I couldn't stop reading--even when I needed to catch a train or make dinner. Like Ann Patchett, Kraus gets at the heart of how people can disconnect from their truest selves, and how, if they’re lucky, they can find their way back." Caroline Leavitt, NYT bestselling author of PICTURES OF YOU and DAYS OF WONDER

“For anyone who grew up with Kramer vs. Kramer and MTV, Kraus perfectly captures the ache and stretch of adolescence, the grief and rage of middle age, and the loss and doubt that's the drumbeat beneath it all. Consistently surprising in all the best ways, this book is a beacon!" Catherine Newman, NYT bestselling author of WE ALL WANT IMPOSSIBLE THINGS and SANDWICH.

I'm a #1 New York Times bestselling author with over 6 million copies of my books in print in 32 languages. 

My love of storytelling started young. In preschool I had a weird obsession with anything tragic, from Medea to Macbeth.  And, yes, it was the 70s when no one asked if content was child-appropriate. Later, I discovered Tom Lehrer and came home from school to listen to his satirical albums for hours.  When I started babysitting I spent all my money on Weird Al Yankovic cassettes. And somewhere between my obsession with royalty brought low and ‘Like a Surgeon’ you have The Nanny Diaries. 

As a creative coach, I believe it's the audience's God-given right to be entertained.  As a journalist, I want to know what drives people, what excites them, and how they get through the days when it doesn't all come together.  As an artist, I believe in sitting quietly for a few minutes every day to keep that channel open to the magical place where the words come from. 

And chocolate.  Dear God, I believe in chocolate.