Before and Again

(Paperback, Large Print Edition)

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From Barbara Delinsky, the New York Times bestselling author of Blueprints and Sweet Salt Air, a brand-new novel about a woman in hiding finding the courage to face the world again.

Mackenzie Cooper took her eyes off the road for just a moment but the resulting collision was enough to rob her not only of her beloved daughter but ultimately of her marriage, family, and friendsand thanks to the nonstop media coverage, even her privacy. Now she lives in Vermont under the name Maggie Reid, in a small house with her cats and dog. Shes thankful for the new friends shes madethough she cant risk telling them too much. And she takes satisfaction in working as a makeup artist at the luxurious local spa, helping clients hide the visible outward signs of their weariness, illnesses, and injuries. Covering up scars is a skill she has mastered.

Her only goal is to stay under the radar and make it through her remaining probation. But she isnt the only one in this peaceful town with secrets. When a friends teenage son is thrust into the national spotlight, accused of hacking a powerful mans Twitter account, Maggie is torn between pulling away and protecting herselfor stepping into the glare to be at their side. As the stunning truth behind their case is slowly revealed, Maggies own carefully constructed story begins to unravel as well. She knows all too well that what we need from each other in this difficult world is comfort. But to provide it, sometimes we need to travel far outside our comfort zones.

From a multimillion-selling master of womens fiction, Before and Again is a story of the relationships we find ourselves inmothers and daughters, spouses and siblings, true companions and fair-weather friendsand what kind of sacrifices we are or arent willing to make to sustain them through good times and bad.

Reviews

"Through a fast-paced and accessible narrative voice, Delinsky tackles many weighty issues in this complicated tale of friendship, loss, love, and redemption. A tale about surmounting life's most difficult moments and finding hope when one least expects it." - Kirkus

"This is a rewarding, emotionally intense novel." - Publishers Weekly

"With a bucolic New England setting and an emotional story that plumbs depths without feeling too heavy, Delinsky perfectly portrays the temptations of starting over." - Booklist

"It's largely about love and loss, mistakes and second chances and ultimately learning to survive life and whatever it throws your way and to go on living." - Medium

Author Bio

BARBARA DELINSKY is a New York Times bestselling author with more than twenty books, including Blueprints, Sweet Salt Air, and Warm Hearts. She has been published in twenty-eight languages worldwide. A lifelong New Englander, Delinsky earned a B.A. in psychology at Tufts University and an M.A. in sociology at Boston College. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, more books than she'll ever be able to read, two tennis racquets, and enough electronic devices to keep in close touch with her children and their families.