Untitled Gideon

An utterly original, thoughtful and deeply compelling novel for readers who loved The Time Traveler's Wife. In the heart of the Sonoma Valley, on the edge of a sun-drenched meadow, lies the idyllic community of Greengage – where the residents wear simple clothes, lead quiet lives and whose manners could almost seem to be of another time. Into this world stumbles single mother Lux Lysander, trying to lose herself in the peaceful beauty of the Californian countryside while her young son visits his grandparents. It's a world far away from the unpaid bills piling up and the overwhelming sense of struggle to make ends meet. Soon, Lux finds herself drawn into the lives of the people of Greengage, discovering not only the secret at the heart of their community but also a sense of belonging she didn't know she was looking for. Torn between this life and her own with her son back in San Francisco, can Lux turn her back on the only place that has ever truly felt like home? 'Lovingly handcrafted, delectable and transcendent'San Francisco Chronicle 'Beautifully written . . . a wonderful story about belonging, love and the aching certainty that there's something more out there. . . . Sure to appeal to fans of Time and Again or The Time Traveler's Wife' Shelf Awareness (starred review) 'Captivating' Booklist "The author of the critically acclaimed Wife 22 has written a captivating novel about a love that transcends time--perfect for readers of The Time Traveler's Wife, Time and Again, and the novels of Sarah Addison Allen. San Francisco, 1975.A single mother, Lux Lysander is overwhelmed, underpaid, and living on the edge of an emotional precipice. When her adored five-year-old son is away visiting his grandparents, Lux takes a solo trip to Sonoma Valley--a chance to both lose herself and find herself again. Awakened at midnight, Lux steps outside to see a fog settled over the Sonoma landscape. Wandering toward a point of light in the distance, she emerges into a meadow on a sunny day. There she meets a group of people whose sweetly simple clothing, speech, and manners almost make them feel like they are from another time. And then she realizes they are. Lux has stumbled upon an idyllic community cut off not only from the rest of the world but from time itself. The residents of Greengage tell a stunned and disoriented Lux that they've somehow been marooned in the early twentieth century. Having inexplicably stepped into the past, it is not long before Lux is drawn in by its peace and beauty. Unlike the people of Greengage, Lux discovers that she is able to come and go. And over the years, Lux finds herself increasingly torn between her two lives. Her beloved son is very much a child of the modern world, but she feels continually pulled back to the only place she has ever truly felt at home. A gorgeous, original, and deeply moving novel about love and longing and the power that time holds over all of us, Valley of the Moon is unforgettable. Praise for Melanie Gideon's Wife 22 "This modern-day, mixed-media comedy of manner is as up-to-the-minute as your favorite Twitter feed."--The Washington Post "An LOL Instagram about love in a wired world."--People "Vibrant, au courant, and hilarious. brilliant!"--Adriana Trigiani "Channels the playful but incisive vibe of Nora Ephron's You've Got Mail."--NPR "Fresh and funny. a delightful, thoroughly modern, guilty pleasure of a read."--San Francisco Chronicle "A skillful blend of pop-culture references, acidic humor, and emotional moments. It will take its rightful place. alongside Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones's Diary, Anna Maxted's Getting Over It, and Allison Pearson's I Don't Know How She Does It."--Library Journal (starred review) "I loved it, loved it, loved it. It's so funny and true and sad and real and clever. also so hopeful and wise and ultimately heartwarming."--Marian Keyes"-- Provided by publisher 'captivating'--booklist 'gripping . . . Well-crafted Twists And Thought-provoking'--historical Novels Review A Thoughtful And Compelling Novel For Readers Who Loved The Time Traveller's Wife.