Waiting on Wednesday: Alice Bliss by Laura Harrington

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.





Most of us know someone who has been affected by war in some way. I sure do. The premise of this soon-to-be published novel is something I can relate to. From Laura Harrington's website, the book's description reads:

When Alice learns that her father is being deployed to Iraq, she’s heartbroken. Matt Bliss is leaving just as his daughter blossoms into a full-blown teenager. She will learn to drive, shop for a dress for her first dance, and fall in love all while trying to be strong for her mother and take care of her younger sister. Alice wears her dad’s shirt every day, even though the scent of him is fading and his phone calls are never long enough. Life continues without him, but nothing can prepare Alice for the day two uniformed officers arrive at their door with news.

Alice Bliss is a gorgeous, transforming novel about the support of a small town looking after its own in times of loss; the love between an absent father and his daughter; the complicated love between Alice and her mother, Angie; and first love between Alice and the boy next door. It’s a universal story and yet it touches on something very personal: these characters’ struggles amid uncertain times echo our own, lending Alice Bliss an immediacy and poignancy that are both relevant and real.

Alice Bliss will be published by Pamela Dorman Books/Viking on June 6th. I'm looking forward to it!