The Memory of You

In her fifth novel, West (The Things We Knew) builds a complex, relatable story of faith, hope, and recovery in the aftermath of great tragedy. On the brink of having another emotional breakdown, Natalie Mitchell is bullied by her father (who is also her boss) into taking a leave of absence to check up on her ailing grandfather, Hal, as he recovers from a heart attack in Sonoma, Calif. But as comforting as Sonoma once was for Natalie, it also brings back terrible memories of the car accident that took the life of her sister 13 years before. Instructed by her father to find a way to close Hal’s struggling winery, Natalie defiantly plans to find a way to keep the business open. Upon arriving, she reconnects with her former crush Tanner Collins, the son of Hal’s ex-housekeeper, who is now the vintner at the winery. In the beginning, their relationship is strained and harsh, with Tanner unable to fully trust Natalie to fight to keep the winery open, and Natalie unable to get over bad memories of their teenage relationship. But the closer they get to each other, the harder it becomes for Natalie to avoid her guilt and run away from regrets—a struggle that brings her into deeper spiritual faith. In this inspiring, emotionally astute story, West does an exquisite job depicting the complexity and messiness of overcoming trauma. Agent: Rachelle Gardner, Books & Such Literary (Mar.)