On an ordinary spring afternoon, Ciara Fay drives away from her marriage—and into an uncertain future.
With an armful of clothes, two young daughters in the back seat, and nowhere else to turn, Ciara makes a split-second decision that will change her life forever. All she knows is that home is no longer safe.
What begins as an escape quickly becomes a fight for survival.
With her savings running out, no job, and no family nearby, Ciara finds herself trapped in a broken housing system, raising her children from a cramped hotel room while struggling to build a new life from nothing. As summer fades and winter approaches, the pressure intensifies—and so does her husband Ryan's relentless determination to bring her back.
But leaving is one thing.
Staying away is another.
As fear, doubt, and uncertainty threaten to overwhelm her, Ciara must find the courage to keep moving forward and discover just how far a mother will go to protect her children.
Winner of the BBC Radio 2 Book Club Award 2026
Winner of the 2025 Irish Book Awards, Novel of the Year
Longlisted for the 2025 Women's Prize for Fiction
