Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

Asha never expected her and Charlie’s vows of “in sickness and in health” to be tested so quickly. A sudden aneurysm leaves Charlie in a coma, facing little chance of recovery. Asha is a dutiful wife, visiting Charlie often and avoiding his preachy, born-again sister as much as possible. Thankfully, Asha’s best friend Bridget is always around to distract her with coffee and gossip. Bridget spills the beans that Asha’s old boyfriend has recently divorced and moved back to town. Not just any old boyfriend, but Jason Kapaglia, Asha’s first love. Though mourning her husband’s condition and wary about reliving her volatile teenage years, Asha decides a phone call can’t hurt—right? Diving into the connections between first loves and last loves, Garver explores Asha and Jason’s teenage relationship, Asha and Charlie’s courtship, and the present day in alternating chapters. Her witty, touching, and sincere debut, a tale of unexpected connections, will delight fans of Helen Fisher’s Faye Faraway (2021), Beth Harbison’s Confessions of the Other Sister (2022), and Amy Jo Burns’ Mercury (2024).