Description
“An affecting, deeply honest novel; at the same time, a lacerating indictment of our modern health care system.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Montpelier Tomorrow is a beautifully written, superbly constructed novel which will almost certainly be the best Family Life/Literary Fiction novel you will read this year.”— Books Butterfly Editorial Reviews
Her friends in Illinois think Colleen Gallagher has it all together: meaningful work, a loving family, and a knack for solving problems. However, caring for aged parents has left her little time to nurture a relationship with her emotionally distant daughter. She hopes the summer will give her a chance to turn that around.
Her daughter’s new house and the birth of a second grandchild give Colleen an excuse to pack her bags and relocate to Washington DC. But when her son-in-law falls ill, this kindergarten teacher and delighted grandma must change her focus from the little ones to the grownups.
As Colleen delves deeper into the details of her son-in-law’s disease, she catches a glimpse of what lies ahead. Colleen’s daughter, a young mom with a high-powered career and two small children, will soon become a caregiver to a dying man.
Colleen tries to warn her daughter, but her warnings fall on deaf ears. The young couple clings to the hope that they can make the most of their remaining time together — romantic getaways and date nights out. The more Colleen tries to penetrate the fog of denial, the more her daughter pushes away, an unfortunate pattern that began in high school — outbursts of anger followed by withering silence. As Colleen juggles the multiple roles of grandma, cook, and caregiver, she discovers that even her superhuman efforts and a special “last” Christmas in Vermont can’t fix what’s wrong. Maybe nothing can.
If you enjoy flawed yet heroic characters and a powerful mix of tragedy and humor, then you won’t want to miss Montpelier Tomorrow.
This beautifully written, literary novel is a testament to enduring power of a mother’s love and the resilience of the human spirit. Buy Montpelier Tomorrow today.
Winner of the Gold Medal for Drama from Readers’ Favorites International Book Awards
“Montpelier Tomorrow is an exceptional read. A mix of sadness and humor, it is indeed a story that should be read many times.”
—US REVIEW OF BOOKS
“…characters are vivid, relatable, and all too perfectly human.”
—JEWELL PARKER RHODES, author of Magic City and Sugar
“…an engrossing account of the impossible choices faced by caregivers.”
—KATHERINE SHONK, author of The Red Passport and Happy Now?
“Each time I have reread this novel, I have felt rewarded by the connection it offers to the central character, Colleen. I can think of no single page in which her voice is not an irreplaceable gift to the reader.”—KEVIN MCILVOY, author of The Fifth Station and Little Peg