Coming Up for Air - Hardcover

An affecting Southern tale about second chances and banishing the ghosts of regret Romantic storytelling at its simple best. "Kirkus (starred review)" This standard example of women's fiction is elevated by Henry's subtle, sometimes excellent characterization.... Ellie's earnest quest for true happiness will resonate with many readers, especially fans of Kristin Hannah and Susan Wiggs. "Booklist" A beautiful, emotionally engrossing story about marriage and motherhood, loss and longing. Patti Callahan Henry has done it again, capturing all the complexity of relationships with insight, compassion and a lyrical, unforgettable voice. "Emily Giffin" Patti Henry's luminous story-telling shines through once again. Mary Kay Andrews A buoyant journey of self-discovery from an author who understands the human heart With the complexity of a sultry southern breeze, "Coming Up for Air" reveals the link between a mother's secret past and a daughter's hope for a new future. "Sherryl Woods" "Coming Up For Air" is a beautiful exploration of the deepest mysteries of the human heart. Patti Callahan Henry writes with compassion and insight, illuminating the pain of yearning and loss as well as the unsurpassed joy of love rediscovered. "Susan Wiggs" A southern woman's journey into truth. An emotionally intense, beautiful and unforgettable novel. I loved it. "Robyn Carr" In "Coming Up for Air" Patti Callahan Henry writes with piercing reality, grace and breathtaking insights. Every book Henry writes is a must-read for me, and this one rises to the top! "Mary Alice Monroe, New York Times bestselling author of The Butterfly's Daughter" Heartwarming with a touch of magic. Patti Callahan Henry's elegant writing takes you on an emotional journey you won't soon forget. . . nor will you want to. "Diane Chamberlain, New York Times bestselling author of The Midwife's Confession" A richly textured story of love, loss and redemption, reminiscent of some of the best southern storytellers. "Donna Ball, author of A Year on Ladybug Farm""

On the coast of Alabama, there is a house cloaked in mystery, a place that reveals the truth and changes lives...Ellie is in a dying marriage. She knows this. After her controlling mother, Lillian, passes away, Ellie's world is turned upside down when she discovers that her ex-boyfriend, Hutch, is in charge of a documentary that involved Lillian before her death. When Hutch shows up at her mother's funeral, Ellie's closed heart opens to the past. Fighting their feelings, Ellie and Hutch set out together to dig into Lillian's history. Using both a diary Ellie finds and a trip to the Summer House, a mysterious and seductive bayside home, Hutch and Ellie gamble that they can work together and not fall in love again. But in piecing together Lillian's unrequited-love story, they just might uncover the secrets in their own hearts. In her debut with "St. Martin's Press", Patti Callahan Henry shines as a true tour de force. Praised over and over for her lyricism and uncanny ability to transport readers to other places and times, she has outdone herself with this heart-whispering breakout.