Hedge

An emotionally charged, richly observed novel about a woman balancing her own needs with the demands of motherhood and marriage.

Maud is a brilliant garden historian and devoted mom to daughters Ella and Louise. Motivated to ignite her career, she accepts a dreamy summer job restoring the gardens of historic Montgomery Place in the Hudson Valley and relocates with her daughters from their Bay Area home. Accepting the job and leaving her lawyer-husband Peter behind for the summer feels justified to Maud, but her decision leaves her spouse simmering with resentment and barely speaking to her.

Reveling in her temporary independence and the fascinating challenge of restoring the historic garden, Maud sets aside her ambivalent feelings for Peter, relishing her work and anticipating her solo time with her daughters. While waiting for her daughters to join her at the estate once school ends, Maud strikes a friendship with a co-worker, archeologist Gabriel Crew. The two share nightly dinners and their relationship grows more intimate, encouraging Maud to imagine a future outside of her stifling marriage. Once 13-year-old Ella and 8-year-old Louise arrive, Maud is immediately conflicted by her desire for Gabriel, her obligations to her daughters, and her growing concern for Ella's dark moods. Is Ella acting out because she senses that Maud and Gabriel have fallen in love?

What happens next is a seismic shock that profoundly changes Maud's life, as well as the lives of everyone she cares about.

Deeply moving and impossible to put down, Hedge is an unforgettable portrait of a woman's longing to be a good mother while still answering the call of her formidable soul and mind.