The Ones We Keep: A Novel

"An idyllic lakeside resort seems like the perfect family vacation for Olivia and Harry Somerville and their three young boys. That is, until, returning from a solo hike one morning, Olivia hears that one of her sons has drowned. Before she can discover which son she's lost, she makes a decision that affects her and her family for the rest of their lives: She runs. Olivia begins a new life in a quiet town, hiding in a lie she tells herself every day: "I have three children." If she never learns which sondrowned, can she convince herself that none of them did? A deep meditation on the nature of loss and the gift of recovery, The Ones We Keep follows the next three decades as a fragmented family picks up the pieces and fights for a future free of grief and full of hope"--
An emotional debut for fans of Elizabeth Strout and Diane Chamberlain, The Ones We Keep follows the splintered lives of four family members in the years following an unthinkable tragedy, and the choices they must make to find their way back to each other.One family. One tragedy. One incredible decision to change their fate.A quiet lakeside resort in Vermont seems like the perfect summer getaway for Olivia and Harry Somerville and their three young boys. But in a single moment, their idyllic family retreat becomes a mother's worst nightmare. Returning from a solo hike one afternoon, Olivia learns from a passing stranger that one of her sons has drowned—but not which one.In that moment, Olivia makes a panicked decision that will change her family forever.If she never knows which son has drowned, can Olivia convince herself that none of them have? By shielding herself from reality, can she continue to live in a world where all three boys are still alive?An emotional and heartfelt meditation on the nature of loss, the gift of recovery, and the bonds of love, The Ones We Keep tells the story of one family as they learn to face their grief and fight for hope.Your next gripping book club read exploring the depths of a mother's love, the endurance of family, and the mind-bending paths we take to shield ourselves from heartache.