Elle wakes up at 6:30 in the morning, observing the remnants of last night’s dinner and remembering her secret liaison with Jonas. From there, the story unfolds within twenty-four hours and over fifty years, all narrated by Elle. 

Elle underwent surgery as a baby and was raised with her sister Anna by her mother Wallace and a series of stepfathers, stepmothers, and step-siblings. They summer each year at Cape Cod, where Elle meets Jonas, a striking, green-eyed boy who is a couple years younger than her but with whom she immediately develops a close and passionate friendship. While their parents engage in their own love affairs, Elle and Jonas discover themselves as they go on adventures and, eventually, play a part in the death of Conrad, Elle’s step-brother who has been sexually assaulting her for months. 

Since that dramatic climax, Elle and Jonas have been in and out of touch, though they’ve eventually reunited in close friendship with their spouses as well. Elle has lost her grandmother and her sister Anna, and she has cut off ties with her father. There is a lot that is heartbreaking in this quiet novel, and there is a lot of honest, slow suspense. The bonds between the characters are clear and constantly pulling, and the sense of place is tangible. 

This story was structured perfectly, combining two stories in one with meaningful memories and reflections. The narration feels utterly human, which is what pulled me through this entire novel in a single day.