Bøger af Sarah Pekkanen

'The plot is ingenious, and the writing as clever and tantalising as ever' Daily MailFrom Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, the authors of the top ten bestseller The Wife Between Us and An Anonymous Girl, comes You Are Not Alone - a gripping novel about a group of women who appear to have the perfect lives, but all is not what it seems . . . You probably know someone like Shay Miller. She wants to find love, but it eludes her. She wants to be fulfilled, but her job is a dead end. She wants to belong, but her life is becoming increasingly isolated.You probably don't know anyone like the Moore sisters. They have an unbreakable circle of friends. They live a life of glamour and perfection. They always get what they desire.Shay thinks she wants their life.But what they really want is hers.

From the internationally bestselling authors of The Wife Between Us comes a mind-blowing thriller of betrayal, obsession and dangerous truths.

A romantic thriller filled with suspense and the first collaboration between Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen.

Fra forfatterne bag bestselleren KVINDEN MELLEM OS kommer EN ANONYM PIGE, en psykologisk thriller, der løfter genren til nye niveauer. Da Jessica melder sig til en psykologisk undersøgelse, som ledes af den karismatiske doktor Shields, regner hun bare med at skulle svare på et par spørgsmål, før hun kan indkassere pengene og gå. Jessicas paranoia vokser, da spørgsmålene langsomt bliver mere og mere intime, og hun bliver sendt på suspekte opgaver ude i byen. Hun kender ikke længere grænsen mellem virkeligheden og doktor Shields’ manipulation, og pludselig befinder hun sig i et net af bedrag og begær, hvor løgne er dødsensfarlige. EN ANONYM PIGE gik direkte ind som nummer 1 på New York Times’ bestsellerliste. ”Plottets sidste twists får én til at gispe … Spænding af højeste klasse.” – Publishers Weekly ”Spændingen bygges op på mesterlig vis.” – Booklist ”Hendricks og Pekkanen er i topform. Du vil blive overrasket til det allersidste.” – People Magazine

“Kvinden mellem os” har ved første øjekast et simpelt plot. En ung, forelsket og optimistisk kvinde er ved at planlægge sit drømmebryllup. Som et bump på vejen står den ældre, ulykkelige ekskone, men vil hun virkelig få lov at slå skår i parrets glæde? Det vil tiden vise. I denne gennemtænkte og yderst intelligente thriller bliver læseren inddraget i et spind af løgne, som gør det umuligt at gennemskue, hvordan det spændingsmættede trekantsdrama i virkeligheden hænger sammen. Den ene chokerende drejning afløser den anden, og læseren bliver hurtigt passager på en tempofyldt rutschebanetur, hvor intet er, som det ser ud til. Planer falder fra hinanden og fortiden nægter at give slip, når “Kvinden mellem os” udforsker ægteskabets dybeste hemmeligheder.

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! One of Newsweek's Most Anticipated Books of 2020One of SheReads Most Anticipated Books of 2020One of PopSugar's Most Anticipated Books of 2020One of HelloGiggles' Most Anticipated Books of 2020One of Marie Claire's Best Fiction by Women in 2020One of Woman's Day's Best Fiction Books Coming Out in 2020The electrifying #1 New York Times bestselling authors of THE WIFE BETWEEN US and AN ANONYMOUS GIRL return with a brand new novel of psychological suspense, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.Shay Miller wants to find love, but it eludes her. She wants to be fulfilled, but her job is a dead end. She wants to belong, but her life is increasingly lonely.Until Shay meets the Moore sisters. Cassandra and Jane live a life of glamorous perfection, and always get what they desire. When they invite Shay into their circle, everything seems to get better. Shay would die for them to like her. She may have to. A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press

A "e;fresh, funny, and satisfying"e; (New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner) about the complicated bonds of sisterhood.Twenty-nine-year-old Lindsey Rose has, for as long as she can remember, lived in the shadow of her ravishingly beautiful fraternal twin sister, Alex. Determined to get noticed, Lindsey is finally on the cusp of being named VP creative director of an elite New York advertising agency, after years of eighty-plus-hour weeks, migraines, and profound loneliness. But during the course of one devastating night, Lindsey's carefully constructed life implodes. Humiliated, she flees the glitter of Manhattan and retreats to the time warp of her parents' Maryland home. As her sister plans her lavish wedding to her Prince Charming, Lindsey struggles to maintain her identity as the smart, responsible twin while she furtively tries to piece her career back together. But things get more complicated when a long-held family secret is unleashed that forces both sisters to reconsider who they are and who they are meant to be.

Para ganar dinero fcil, Jessica Farris acepta ser objeto de un estudio clnico sobre tica y moral. Pero a medida que pasan los dias, se desdibuja la lnea entre lo que es real y los experimentos psicolgicos a los que ha aceptado someterse.Quien dirige el estudio parece saber en todo momento lo que Jess sabe... y lo que oculta. Es posible que adems de estudiar el comportamiento de Jessica, la estn manipulando?Atrapada en una telaraa de celos y seduccin, Jess se da cuenta rapidamente de que algunas obsesiones pueden ser mortales.Llena de intriga y vueltas de tuerca inesperadas, Una chica annima te cautivar de la primera pgina a su sorprendente desenlace.SARAH PEKKANEN es autora bestseller internacional de ocho libros. Fue periodista de investigacin y escritora galardonada. Sus artculos han sido publicados en The Washington Post, USA Today, entre otros. Vive a las afueras de Washington D.C.GREER HENDRICKS fue editora durante ms de dos dcadas en Simon Schuster. Anterior a eso, trabajo en la revista Allure y obtuvo una maestra en Periodismo en la Universidad de Columbia. Sus escritos han sido publicados en The New York Times y Publishers Weekly. Vive en Manhattan.

"e;Julia Whelan reads the novel in her low, pleasant voice, moving down a register to capture Richard's infuriating condescension and lightening slightly for the younger Emma. With its perfidious turns, this escapist entertainment is a fine example of the 21st century's more cynical version of the O. Henry ending."e; - The Washington PostFrom Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen comes the next hit audiobook thriller, an instant New York Times bestseller!When you listen to this audiobook, you will make many assumptions.You will assume you are listening to a story about a jealous ex-wife.You will assume she is obsessed with her replacement - a beautiful, younger woman who is about to marry the man they both love. You will assume you know the anatomy of this tangled love triangle.Assume nothing. Twisted and deliciously chilling, The Wife Between Us exposes the secret complexities of an enviable marriage - and the dangerous truths we ignore in the name of love.Listen for the truth between the lies.Praise for The Wife Between Us:"e;Addictive domestic thrillers with twist-filled plots and unreliable narrators are increasingly popular. Add in assumptions that should not be assumed, shape-shifting, surprising characters and a complex chronology, and you have a hint of what you'll find in The Wife Between Us...All will be made clear, or perhaps not, as you listen to Julia Whelan's tautly paced performance."e; - BookPage"e;A clever thriller with masterful twists."e; - Karin Slaughter, New York Times bestselling author of The Kept Woman "e;Readers who were enthralled by B.A. Paris's Behind Closed Doors and Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl will love the skewed psychology and shifting perspectives in this domestic thriller."e; - Library Journal"e;A fiendishly clever romantic thriller in the vein of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train. This one will keep you guessing."e; -Anita Shreve, New York Times bestselling author of The Stars are Fire"e;A twisty, mind-bending novel about marriage and betrayal. A gripping plot and fascinating characters; this book will keep you turning the pages and guessing until the very end. A must-read!"e; -Lauren Weisberger, New York Times bestselling author of The Devil Wears PradaThis audiobook contains a bonus interview with the authors

';Writing with rawness and realism, Pekkanen doesn't hold backFans of Liane Moriarty and Anne Tyler will appreciate the story's depth.' Booklist ';In her signature conversational style, Pekkanen uncovers the truth behind the lies as Josie comes to grips with reality vs. the mirage of her marriage.' Library Journal (starred review) In this intricate and enthralling domestic drama, perfect for fans of Big Little Lies and The Affair, the internationally bestselling author of the ';gossipy page-turner' (Glamour) The Perfect Neighbors goes deep into a marriage in crisis, peeling back layers of secrets to discover where the relationship veered off courseand whether it is worth saving.Josie and Frank Moore are happyat least Josie thinks they are. As parents of two young girls in the Chicago suburbs, their days can be both busy and monotonous, and sometimes Josie wonders how she became a harried fortysomething mother rather than the driven career woman she once was. But Frank is a phenomenal father, he's handsome and charismatic, and he still looks at his wife like she's the beautiful woman he married more than a decade ago. Josie isn't just happyshe's lucky. Until one Saturday morning when Josie borrows her husband's phone to make a quick calland sees nine words that shatter her world. Now Josie feels as if she is standing at the edge of a sharp precipice. As she looks back at pivotal moments in the relationship she believed would last forever, she is also plunging ahead, surprising everyone (especially herself) with how far she will go to uncover the extent of her husband's devastating secret. With her ';conversational writing style and a knack for making readers care about her characters' (The Washington Post) bestselling author Sarah Pekkanen paints a vivid, kaleidoscopic portrait of a marriage before and during a crisisand of a woman who fears that the biggest secret of all may be the one she's hiding from herself.

Una novela de suspenso que explora las complejidades del matrimonio y las peligrosas verdades que ignoramos en nombre del amor. Cuando leas este libro, tendrs muchas suposiciones. Supondrs que ests leyendo la historia de una esposa celosa y su obsesion con la mujer tomo su lugar. Supondrs que ests leyendo la historia de una mujer a punto de iniciar un nuevo matrimonio con el hombre que ama. Supondrs que la primera esposa era un desastre y que el esposo hizo bien librndose de ella. Supondrs que sabes los motivos, la historia, la anatoma de las relaciones. No supongas nada. Preprate para la lectura de tu vida. Greer Hendriks y Sarah Pekkanen exploran las complejidades del matrimonio, las relaciones entre mujeres, y las peligrosas verdades que ignoramos en nombre del amor. Vanessa, de tiene treinta y siete aos se ha divorciado recientemente de su marido adinerado y se encuentra postrada en cama en el apartamento de su ta en Nueva York, sintiendose como si estuviera anclada a ese lugar. No tiene hijos, no tiene dinero ni tampoco amigos verdaderos. Richard, su exesposo carismtico y apasionado era su vida entera. Cuando se da cuenta que ahora el est comprometido con la mujer con quien tuvo una aventura su mundo se hace trizas. Se imagina a Richard susurrando las mismas cosas que sola decirle a ella: voy a hacerte tan feliz. T eres mi mundo. Solo puede pensar que su reemplazo ahora tiene la familia que ella quiere tan desesperadamente. A medida que crece su obsesion, Vanessa comienza a rastrear a la mujer joven y hermosa que intervino en su matrimonio. Acechndola. Esperando el momento oportuno para hacer lo que sea necesario para impedir la boda. Faltan solo unas semanas para la boda, y todo est listo. Nellie parece ser como el resto de mujeres jovenes que se mudan a Manhattan para comenzar su vida adulta. Comparte ropa con su compaera de habitacion y lucha para reducir los gastos en su tarjeta de credito y su cintura. Pero no es tan despreocupada como intenta aparentar. En su mente, ella lo llama el incidente, un secreto muy bien guardado que la obligo a huir de Florida y que le impide caminar a su apartamento sola por la noche. Es la razon por la cual tiene un bate de beisbol junto a su cama, y tres cerraduras dobles en la puerta de su casa. Cuando conoce a Richard, este le dice que es soltero y le promete mantenerla a salvo. Pero entonces comienzan las misteriosas llamadas telefonicas. Alguien voltea la fotografa suya que est sobre la mesita de noche de Richard. Y el pauelo de su pap, el que ella planeaba usar para atar su bouquet, desaparece. Cuando Nellie se da cuenta que talvez la ex de Richard no quiere dejarlo ir, la persigue el temor de que alguien la est vigilando. Alguien que quiere hacerle dao. Pero quien? Una historia que gira alrededor de los complejos problemas psicologicos que yace en el corazon de un peligroso enredo romntico. Un thriller psicologico con giros trepidantes que cautivar a los lectores desde la primera escena hasta el sorprendente final.

A heartwarming original estory that shows that there is lifeand yes, even loveafter heartbreak.Things have always gone perfectly for Corrine Brownuntil now. Shes separated from her husband of less than three years, and going solo to her baby sisters wedding in Minnesota. As happy as she is for Ilsa, the weekend is long and lonely, and shes eager to get back to her life in LAuntil she realizes that her life, as shes known it, is over. Forced to reinvent herself just when she thought was finally settled, Corrine soon learns that sometimes, the most rewarding adventures are the ones that we least expect. A continuation of the original short e-stories All Is Bright and Love, Accidentally, but told from the point of view of a new character, Beginning Again is a heartfelt take on what happens when one happily ever after fadesand another begins.

One of Glamours Best Books of Summer * An Us Weekly Trending Title A delicious beach read. People Relatable characters round out a fun, fast read. Good Housekeeping A compelling, suspenseful tale. Kirkus Reviews The perfect summer read. BooklistHow well do you ever really know the family next door? Bucolic Newport Cove, where spontaneous block parties occur on balmy nights and all of the streets are named for flowers, is proud of its distinction of being named one the top twenty safest neighborhoods in the US. Its also one of the most secret-filled. Kellie Scott has just returned to work after a decade of being a stay-at-home mom. Shes adjusting to high heels, scrambling to cook dinner for her family after a day at the officeand soaking in the dangerous attention of a very handsome, very married male colleague. Kellies neighbor Susan Barrett begins every day with fresh resolutions: she wont eat any carbs, shell go to bed at a reasonable hour, and shell stop stalking her ex-husband and his new girlfriend. Gigi Kennedy seems to have it all togetherexcept her teenage daughter has turned into a hostile stranger and her husband is running for Congress, which means her old skeletons are in danger of being brought into the light. Then a new family moves to this quiet, tree-lined cul-de-sac. Tessa Campbell seems friendly enough to the other mothers, if a bit reserved. Then the neighbors notice that no one is ever invited to Tessas house. And soon, it becomes clear that Tessa is hiding the biggest secret of all.

Read Sarah's beloved first two novels together! Explore the relationship between twin sisters who uncover a surprising family secret in The Opposite of Me and discover how a near-death experience completely remakes a marriage in Skipping a Beat.

In this timely and provocative novel, internationally bestselling author Sarah Pekkanen takes us inside a family in crisis and a marriage on the brink after a tragic shooting.How far would you go to save your family? Every morning, as her husband Mike straps on his SIG Sauer and pulls on his heavy Magnum boots, Jamie Anderson tenses up. Then comes the call she has always dreaded: Theres been a shooting at police headquarters. Mike isnt hurt, but his long-time partner is grievously injured. As weeks pass and her husbands insomnia and disconnectedness mount, Jamie realizes he is an invisible casualty of the attack. Then the phone rings again. Another shootingbut this time Mike has pulled the trigger. But the shooting does more than just alter Jamies world. Its about to change everything for two other women. Christie Simmons, Mikes flamboyant ex, sees the tragedy as an opportunity for a second chance with Mike. And Jamies younger sister, Lou, must face her own losses to help the big sister who raised her. As the press descends and public cries of police brutality swell, Jamie tries desperately to hold together her family, no matter what it takes. In her characteristic exploration of true-to-life relationships, Sarah Pekkanen has written a complex, compelling, and openhearted novelher best yet.

A vibrant, compulsively readable novel about two married couples who pursue a dream to open a bed-and-breakfast in small-town Vermont, from the internationally bestselling author of Perfect Neighbors and The Wife Between Us.In her previous works including The Best of Us, rising star (Library Journal) Sarah Pekkanen captivated readers by penning refreshingly introspective, sharply realistic, and tenderly humorous novels (Booklist) that had readers flying through the pages (Hoda Kotb, Today show). Now, in Catching Air, Pekkanen turns an unflinching eye on the tangled relationships of two pairs of thirty-somethings. A chance to run a B&B in snowy, remote Vermont—it’s an offer Kira Danner can’t resist after six soul-crushing years of working as a lawyer in Florida. As Kira and her husband, Peter, step into a brand new life, she quells her fears about living with the B&B’s co-owners: Peter’s sexy, irresponsible brother Rand, and Rand’s wife, Alyssa…who is essentially a stranger. For her part, Alyssa sees taking over the B&B as the latest in a string of adventures. Plus, a quiet place might help her recover from the news that she can’t bear children. But the idyllic town proves to be anything but serene: Within weeks, the sisters-in-law are scrambling to prepare for their first big booking—a winter wedding—and soon a shy, mysterious woman comes to work for them. Dawn Zukoski is hiding something; that much is clear. But what the sisters-in-law don't realize is that Dawn is also hiding from someone… Relatable and dynamic, Catching Air delves deeply into the vital relationships that give shape to women’s lives.

Paradise isnt quite what it seems as four college friends meet for an island vacation in this captivating new novel from the acclaimed author of These Girls.An all-expense-paid week at a luxury villa in Jamaicaits the invitation of a lifetime for a group of old college friends. All four women are desperate not just for a reunion, but for an escape: Tina is drowning under the demands of mothering four young children. Allie is shattered by the news that a genetic illness runs in her family. Savannah is carrying the secret of her husbands infidelity. And, finally, theres Pauline, who spares no expense to throw her wealthy husband an unforgettable thirty-fifth birthday celebration, hoping it will gloss over the cracks already splitting apart their new marriage. Languid hours on a private beach, gourmet dinners, and late nights of drinking kick off an idyllic week for the women and their husbands. But as a powerful hurricane bears down on the island, turmoil swirls inside the villa, forcing each of the women to reevaluate everything she knows about her friendsand herself.

Internationally bestselling author Sarah Pekkanen examines the lives of three women working and living together in New York City and shows that family secrets may shape us all, but it's the rich, complicated layers of friendship that can save us.Family secrets may shape us all, but its the rich, complicated layers of friendship that can save us. Cate, Renee, and Abby have come to New York for very different reasons, and in a bustling city of millions, they are linked together through circumstance and chance. Cate has just been named the features editor of Gloss, a high-end lifestyle magazine. Its a professional coup, but her new job comes with more complications than Cate ever anticipated. Her roommate Renee will do anything to nab the plum job of beauty editor at Gloss. But snide comments about Renees weight send her into an emotional tailspin. Soon she is taking black market diet pillsdespite the racing heartbeat and trembling hands that signal shes heading for real danger. Then theres Abby, whom they take in as a third roommate. Once a joyful graduate student working as a nanny part time, she abruptly fled a seemingly happy life in the D.C. suburbs. No one knows what shattered Abbyor why she left everything she once loved behind. Pekkanens most compelling, true-to-life novel yet tells the story of three very different women as they navigate the complications of careers and loveand find the lifeline they need in each other.

From the author of the acclaimed The Opposite of Me, a poignant, witty novel about marriage, forgiveness, and the choices that give shapeand limitsto our lives.What would you do if your husband suddenly wanted to rewrite all of the rules of your relationship? This is the question at the heart of Skipping a Beat, Pekkanens thought-provoking second book. From the outside, Julia and Michael seem to have it all. Both products of difficult childhoods in rural West Virginiawhere they were simply Julie and Mikethey become high school sweethearts and fall in love. Shortly after graduation, they flee their small town to start afresh. Now thirty-somethings, they are living a rarified life in their multi-million-dollar, Washington D.C. home. Julia is a highly sought-after party planner, while Michael has just sold his wildly successful flavored water company for $70 million. But one day, Michael collapses in his office. Four minutes and eight seconds after his cardiac arrest, a portable defibrillator jump-starts his heart. But in those lost minutes he becomes a different man. Money is meaningless to himand he wants to give it all away. Julia, who sees bits of her life reflected in scenes from the worlds great operas, is now facing with a choice she never anticipated. Should she should walk away from the man she once adoredbut who truthfully became a stranger to her long before this pronouncementor give in to her husband's pleas for a second chance and a promise of a poorer but happier life? As wry and engaging as her debut, but with quiet depth and newfound maturity, Skipping a Beat is an unforgettable portrait of a marriage whose glamorous surface belies the complications and betrayals beneath.

A "e;fresh, funny, and satisfying"e; (New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner) about the complicated bonds of sisterhood.Twenty-nine-year-old Lindsey Rose has, for as long as she can remember, lived in the shadow of her ravishingly beautiful fraternal twin sister, Alex. Determined to get noticed, Lindsey is finally on the cusp of being named VP creative director of an elite New York advertising agency, after years of eighty-plus-hour weeks, migraines, and profound loneliness. But during the course of one devastating night, Lindsey's carefully constructed life implodes. Humiliated, she flees the glitter of Manhattan and retreats to the time warp of her parents' Maryland home. As her sister plans her lavish wedding to her Prince Charming, Lindsey struggles to maintain her identity as the smart, responsible twin while she furtively tries to piece her career back together. But things get more complicated when a long-held family secret is unleashed that forces both sisters to reconsider who they are and who they are meant to be.

In this timely and provocative novel, internationally bestselling author Sarah Pekkanen takes us inside a family in crisis and a marriage on the brink after a tragic shooting.How far would you go to save your family? Every morning, as her husband Mike straps on his SIG Sauer and pulls on his heavy Magnum boots, Jamie Anderson tenses up. Then comes the call she has always dreaded: Theres been a shooting at police headquarters. Mike isnt hurt, but his long-time partner is grievously injured. As weeks pass and her husbands insomnia and disconnectedness mount, Jamie realizes he is an invisible casualty of the attack. Then the phone rings again. Another shootingbut this time Mike has pulled the trigger. But the shooting does more than just alter Jamies world. Its about to change everything for two other women. Christie Simmons, Mikes flamboyant ex, sees the tragedy as an opportunity for a second chance with Mike. And Jamies younger sister, Lou, must face her own losses to help the big sister who raised her. As the press descends and public cries of police brutality swell, Jamie tries desperately to hold together her family, no matter what it takes. In her characteristic exploration of true-to-life relationships, Sarah Pekkanen has written a complex, compelling, and openhearted novelher best yet.

A vibrant, compulsively readable novel about two married couples who pursue a dream to open a bed-and-breakfast in small-town Vermont, from the internationally bestselling author of Perfect Neighbors and The Wife Between Us.In her previous works including The Best of Us, rising star (Library Journal) Sarah Pekkanen captivated readers by penning refreshingly introspective, sharply realistic, and tenderly humorous novels (Booklist) that had readers flying through the pages (Hoda Kotb, Today show). Now, in Catching Air, Pekkanen turns an unflinching eye on the tangled relationships of two pairs of thirty-somethings. A chance to run a B&B in snowy, remote Vermont—it’s an offer Kira Danner can’t resist after six soul-crushing years of working as a lawyer in Florida. As Kira and her husband, Peter, step into a brand new life, she quells her fears about living with the B&B’s co-owners: Peter’s sexy, irresponsible brother Rand, and Rand’s wife, Alyssa…who is essentially a stranger. For her part, Alyssa sees taking over the B&B as the latest in a string of adventures. Plus, a quiet place might help her recover from the news that she can’t bear children. But the idyllic town proves to be anything but serene: Within weeks, the sisters-in-law are scrambling to prepare for their first big booking—a winter wedding—and soon a shy, mysterious woman comes to work for them. Dawn Zukoski is hiding something; that much is clear. But what the sisters-in-law don't realize is that Dawn is also hiding from someone… Relatable and dynamic, Catching Air delves deeply into the vital relationships that give shape to women’s lives.

Internationally bestselling author Sarah Pekkanen examines the lives of three women working and living together in New York City and shows that family secrets may shape us all, but it's the rich, complicated layers of friendship that can save us.Family secrets may shape us all, but its the rich, complicated layers of friendship that can save us. Cate, Renee, and Abby have come to New York for very different reasons, and in a bustling city of millions, they are linked together through circumstance and chance. Cate has just been named the features editor of Gloss, a high-end lifestyle magazine. Its a professional coup, but her new job comes with more complications than Cate ever anticipated. Her roommate Renee will do anything to nab the plum job of beauty editor at Gloss. But snide comments about Renees weight send her into an emotional tailspin. Soon she is taking black market diet pillsdespite the racing heartbeat and trembling hands that signal shes heading for real danger. Then theres Abby, whom they take in as a third roommate. Once a joyful graduate student working as a nanny part time, she abruptly fled a seemingly happy life in the D.C. suburbs. No one knows what shattered Abbyor why she left everything she once loved behind. Pekkanens most compelling, true-to-life novel yet tells the story of three very different women as they navigate the complications of careers and loveand find the lifeline they need in each other.

From the author of the acclaimed The Opposite of Me, a poignant, witty novel about marriage, forgiveness, and the choices that give shapeand limitsto our lives. What would you do if your husband suddenly wanted to rewrite all of the rules of your relationship? This is the question at the heart of Skipping a Beat, Pekkanens thought-provoking second book. From the outside, Julia and Michael seem to have it all. Both products of difficult childhoods in rural West Virginia where they were simply Julie and Mike they become high school sweethearts and fall in love. Shortly after graduation, they flee their small town to start afresh. Now thirty-somethings, they are living a rarified life in their multi-million-dollar, Washington D.C. home. Julia is a highly sought-after party planner, while Michael has just sold his wildly successful flavored water company for $70 million. But one day, Michael collapses in his office. Four minutes and eight seconds after his cardiac arrest, a portable defibrillator jump-starts his heart. But in those lost minutes he becomes a different man. Money is meaningless to him - and he wants to give it all away. Julia, who sees bits of her life reflected in scenes from the worlds great operas, is now facing with a choice she never anticipated. Should she should walk away from the man she once adored but who truthfully became a stranger to her long before this pronouncement - or give in to her husband's pleas for a second chance and a promise of a poorer but happier life? As wry and engaging as her debut, but with quiet depth and newfound maturity, Skipping a Beat is an unforgettable portrait of a marriage whose glamorous surface belies the complications and betrayals beneath.

Paradise isnt quite what it seems as four college friends meet for an island vacation in this captivating new novel from the acclaimed author of These Girls.An all-expense-paid week at a luxury villa in Jamaicaits the invitation of a lifetime for a group of old college friends. All four women are desperate not just for a reunion, but for an escape: Tina is drowning under the demands of mothering four young children. Allie is shattered by the news that a genetic illness runs in her family. Savannah is carrying the secret of her husbands infidelity. And, finally, theres Pauline, who spares no expense to throw her wealthy husband an unforgettable thirty-fifth birthday celebration, hoping it will gloss over the cracks already splitting apart their new marriage. Languid hours on a private beach, gourmet dinners, and late nights of drinking kick off an idyllic week for the women and their husbands. But as a powerful hurricane bears down on the island, turmoil swirls inside the villa, forcing each of the women to reevaluate everything she knows about her friendsand herself.

One of Glamours Best Books of Summer * An Us Weekly Trending Title A delicious beach read. People Relatable characters round out a fun, fast read. Good Housekeeping A compelling, suspenseful tale. Kirkus Reviews The perfect summer read. BooklistHow well do you ever really know the family next door? Bucolic Newport Cove, where spontaneous block parties occur on balmy nights and all of the streets are named for flowers, is proud of its distinction of being named one the top twenty safest neighborhoods in the US. Its also one of the most secret-filled. Kellie Scott has just returned to work after a decade of being a stay-at-home mom. Shes adjusting to high heels, scrambling to cook dinner for her family after a day at the officeand soaking in the dangerous attention of a very handsome, very married male colleague. Kellies neighbor Susan Barrett begins every day with fresh resolutions: she wont eat any carbs, shell go to bed at a reasonable hour, and shell stop stalking her ex-husband and his new girlfriend. Gigi Kennedy seems to have it all togetherexcept her teenage daughter has turned into a hostile stranger and her husband is running for Congress, which means her old skeletons are in danger of being brought into the light. Then a new family moves to this quiet, tree-lined cul-de-sac. Tessa Campbell seems friendly enough to the other mothers, if a bit reserved. Then the neighbors notice that no one is ever invited to Tessas house. And soon, it becomes clear that Tessa is hiding the biggest secret of all.