The state of California votes on secession in the wake of a divisive
presidential election in this gripping, prescient novel of marriage,
family, and the profound moments that shape our lives.
Doctor Julie Walker has just signed her divorce papers when she receives
news that her younger sister, Heather, has gone into labor. Though
theirs is a strained relationship, Julie sets out for the hospital to be
at her sister's side--no easy task since the streets of San Francisco
are filled with tension and strife. Today is also the day that Julie
will find herself at the epicenter of a violent standoff in which she is
forced to examine both the promising and the painful parts of her
past--her Southern childhood; her romance with her husband, Tom; her
estrangement from Heather; and the shattering incident that led to her
greatest heartbreak.
Infused with emotional depth and poignancy, Golden State takes readers
on a journey over the course of a single, unforgettable day--through an
extraordinary landscape of love, loss, and hope.
Praise for Golden State
"A stirring look at the ties that bind husband-wife, mother-child and
even sisters, and what happens when they're torn asunder. Set in a San
Francisco chafing with unrest both political and personal, the world
Richmond creates is exquisitely charged with regret and
hope."--Family Circle
"[A] riveting read that can be recommended to fans of Jodi Picoult and
Jacquelyn Mitchard . . . Mesmerizing and intricate, Richmond's
dissection of a California on the violent brink of secession from the
nation provides the backdrop to her deeper inspection of the uneasy,
fragile relationship between siblings."--Booklist (starred review)
"[An] amazing, turbulent novel woven of disparate threads . . . Nearly
every feature of this mesmerizing novel is provocative, as Richmond
explores the fragmented, hopeful lives of complex characters. This is
gripping, multilayered must-read fiction."--Library Journal (starred
review)
"An exciting premise . . . skillfully written . . . Julie's past and her
relationship with the other characters are scrutinized as the clock
ticks. It's an interesting and sometimes-disturbing study."--Kirkus
Reviews
"Richmond takes readers through a bittersweet, heartwarming tale of a
woman on the cusp of life-changing events in both her personal and
professional lives. . . . Once invested, the reader is carried away by
this action-packed, poignant story, making this a tale that will live in
the heart of the reader once the last page is read."--RT Book
Reviews
"This is a thoughtful book about how past circumstances change us into
the people we are today, for the good or bad. Julie is a sympathetic and
relatable character, and readers will definitely feel for her as she
goes through her life-changing day."--The Parkersburg News and
Sentinel
"Richmond . . . delivers a page-turner."--San Jose Mercury News
"A breathtaking read and one I'll not soon forget."--Melanie Benjamin,
author of The Aviator's Wife
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