I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
It features 2 women who have both returned to their home town after trying to make it in their chosen careers elsewhere. We are clearly told the reason for Mattie’s return but Jillian remains a mystery. She is a mysterious ice queen – who shows herself to be vulnerable and just trying to protect herself.
This book shows the difficulties in living your life while teaching in a Catholic high school where staff sign to agree that they will not do anything in their lives that could be considered to be unsuitable. The catholic code has to be kept.
The women are from different religious backgrounds (Jewish and Catholic) with different levels of religious observance and belief.
Jillian drives a 1991 Audi Quattro – that was my teenage dream car (funny how when I could actually afford one I didn’t even consider it).
This book could teach so many life lessons as you see them unfold on the page – and not just for the 2 main characters – there are also the pupils, other staff and their families.
I did have a sense of dread as I read through it wondering what was to come – but that is obviously a sign of the quality of the writing.

It has an epilogue – which I am rather fond of.
This shows a future that is being enjoyed, both by the main characters and some of their pupils – as life goes on and people grow into themselves.

I highly recommend this.

Thank you to the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.