Jenny Alexander has sought refuge from a troubled past on tiny, verdant San Juan Island, off the coast of Washington State. There — surrounded by the cold water of the Puget Sound — she does her best to raise her girls, innocent Frankie and thrill-seeking Lilly, in a tight-knit year-round community of eccentrics and dreamers.
When a professional actor from New York awakens both Jenny and Lilly to the “brave new world” of love, Jenny is thrust into a command performance that resonates in all their lives.
Reviews
“Wonderfully immersive…Readers will find themselves caught up in the isolated island communities of the Puget Sound, which reflect the Shakespearean themes without losing their own unique expressiveness. Saffran’s prose is delicate and precise, and her focus on the Bard reveals an obvious affection for the English language. She has created an excellent protagonist in Jenny, balancing her growth with that of her daughters, and takes care in giving them all enough room to grow.”
— Publishers Weekly
“A nice portrait of a close-knit, creative community and all the quirks that go along with it. Shakespearean references abound, which makes for a treat for literary fiction fans, yet it’s done with a light enough touch that those unfamiliar with The Tempest or other such works won’t feel left out.”
— Library Journal
“In Saffran’s debut novel set in Washington’s San Juan Islands, local life is disrupted and enchanted by a raft of summer visitors, including a crew of professional actors who have arrived to play The Tempest for the islands’ annual Shakespeare performance. Romantic mayhem results on stage and off as Saffran deftly directs the interplay of natural and manmade forces in the San Juan archipelago.”
— National Geographic Traveler