From the New York Times bestselling author of Belong to Me, Love Walked In, and Falling Together comes a captivating novel about friendship, family, second chances, and the redemptive power of love.
In all her life, Eustacia “Taisy” Cleary has given her heart to only three men: her first love, Ben Ransom; her twin brother, Marcus; and Wilson Cleary—professor, inventor, philanderer, self-made millionaire, brilliant man, breathtaking jerk: her father.
Seventeen years ago, Wilson ditched his first family for Caroline, a beautiful young sculptor. In all that time, Taisy’s family has seen Wilson, Caroline, and their daughter, Willow, only once.
Why then, is Wilson calling Taisy now, inviting her for an extended visit, encouraging her to meet her pretty sister—a teenager who views her with jealousy, mistrust, and grudging admiration? Why, now, does Wilson want Taisy to help him write his memoir?
Told in alternating voices—Taisy’s strong, unsparing observations and Willow’s naive, heartbreakingly earnest yearnings—The Precious One is an unforgettable novel of family secrets, lost love, and dangerous obsession, a captivating tale with the deep characterization, piercing emotional resonance, and heartfelt insight that are the hallmarks of Marisa de los Santos’s beloved works.
Author Info
Marisa de los Santos is a New York Times bestselling author and award-winning poet with a PhD in literature and creative writing. She lives in Wilmington, Delaware, with her family.
Reviews
Praise for The Precious One: “Emotionally potent, painfully honest, and, at times, delightfully funny, de los Santos’s latest is a must for fans of intelligent, thoughtful women’s fiction.” — Booklist (starred review)
“The slow fracturing of each sister’s perception of the other and the strong three-dimensional characters are exceptionally well crafted. ...de los Santos’s characters’ journeys are perfectly paced.” — Publishers Weekly on THE PRECIOUS ONE
“de los Santos offers a comfort-food story in which men are either predators or perfect and women are both beautiful and brilliant.” — Kirkus Reviews
“The author writes engagingly and creates complex and lovable characters who carry the story. Readers of character-based fiction with heartwarming, hopeful endings (e.g., books by authors such as Elizabeth Berg or Ann Hood) will love this one, too.” — Library Journal
“With talent as keen as a new razor and generosity born of a humane heart, de los Santos offers an affecting story, brilliantly conceived characters and arresting prose.” — Richmond Times-Dispatch
“You won’t be able to put this wonderful novel down....The Precious One is...a captivating tale with the deep characterization, piercing emotional resonance, and heartfelt insight that are the hallmarks of Marisa de los Santos’s beloved works.” — Fresh Fiction
Praise for Falling Together:“The mix of perfectly realized personalities and genuine emotion make this a winner.” — Publishers Weekly on FALLING TOGETHER
“A satisfying novel about friends rediscovering one another—and confronting unwelcome truths—at their college reunion.” — People on FALLING TOGETHER
“[FALLING TOGETHER] is a good, solid read that succeeds in being both funny and heartbreaking. De los Santos has a knack for best-friend banter and stays true to the emotions involved in letting go of treasured relationships.” — Booklist on FALLING TOGETHER
Praise for Belong to Me: “The novel reveals layers of rich patina—the story underneath is more complex, engaging, and surprisingly moving...de los Santos delivers an interconnected network of compelling little stories. Her writing is both vividly descriptive and surprisingly insightful.” — Boston Globe on BELONG TO ME
“By the book’s end, humanity is discovered in the unlikeliest places, and Cornelia learns that tempting as it is, you can’t always judge a woman by her hairstyle.” — New York Times on BELONG TO ME
“Witty and intelligent.” — Kirkus Reviews on BELONG TO ME
“Marisa de los Santos’s BELONG TO ME is my favorite discovery of the past years: a terrific page-turner that’s also poignant, funny, surprising and deeply heartfelt. BELONG TO ME is the kind of novel you can’t wait to share with your friends. The perfect book club pick.” — Harlan Coben on BELONG TO ME
