The Secrets of Midwives

Hepworth dazzles in this smart and engaging tale of three generations of midwives in Providence, R.I. Telling the story from three points of view—those of her grandmother, Floss; her well-meaning but often overbearing daughter, Grace; and Grace’s reticent daughter, Neva—Hepworth effortlessly switches from the past to the present, moving the story forward while skillfully providing just the right amount of backstory. As the story opens, Neva has just delivered a child at the birthing center she runs—and upon arriving at her grandmother’s home, she spills a pitcher of water, revealing the secret beneath her baggy scrubs: she’s 30 weeks pregnant. Hepworth uses this as a jumping-off point for the many secrets that follow—including one of Floss’s that could tear the family apart. Grace is determined to find out who fathered Neva’s baby, and her insistence makes Neva all the more determined not to tell. Grace herself never had a father, and Floss has never been open with her daughter about the subject. As Neva’s due date approaches, glimpses of Floss’s and Grace’s pasts are interwoven, allowing the reader to empathize with each woman and her decisions. This intelligent, well-plotted debut will draw readers in from the very first word and keep them engaged until the end. First printing: 75,000 copies. (Feb.)