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If Never Get Back: A Journey of Love, Loss, and Hope in the American Heartland

Jace Mitchell

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Published in If I Never Get Back: A Novel

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In the small town of Sutton, Nebraska, where the cornfields stretch as far as the eye can see and the wind whispers secrets through the tall grass, a young woman named Anya returns home after the death of her father. She left Sutton ten years ago, a teenager running from the pain of her mother's death and the secrets that her family kept. Now, she is a successful journalist in New York City, but she cannot escape the pull of her past.

If I Never Get Back: A Novel

by Darryl Brock

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	758 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	432 pages

As Anya reluctantly walks through the door of her childhood home, she is greeted by her stepmother, Elaine, a woman who has always been a source of comfort and strength. But Anya also senses a distance between them, a barrier that has been erected over the years. Her father's death has left a void in her family, a void that Anya feels she must fill.

Over the next few weeks, Anya slowly begins to reconnect with her family and her hometown. She spends time with her stepmother, learning about her father's last days and the secrets he kept from her. She visits her old friends, who are now married with children of their own. And she meets new people, who challenge her preconceptions about Sutton and its people.

As Anya delves deeper into her family's past, she uncovers a web of secrets that have haunted her for years. She learns about her mother's troubled childhood, her father's infidelity, and the tragic accident that killed her brother. Anya is forced to confront the pain of her past, but she also finds healing and hope.

Through her journey, Anya discovers that Sutton is not the place she left behind. It is a place of love, loss, and hope. It is a place where secrets are kept, but also where they are revealed. And it is a place where Anya finally finds her place in the world.

If Never Get Back is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant novel about the power of family, the resilience of the human spirit, and the search for redemption. It is a story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

Characters

Anya is a young woman who returns to her hometown after the death of her father. She is a successful journalist in New York City, but she is haunted by the secrets of her past.

Elaine is Anya's stepmother. She is a kind and compassionate woman who has always been a source of comfort and strength for Anya.

Peter is Anya's father. He was a loving and supportive man, but he kept secrets from his family that would eventually tear them apart.

Sarah is Anya's mother. She was a troubled woman who died when Anya was a teenager. Anya never knew her mother well, but she is determined to uncover the secrets of her past.

Michael is Anya's brother. He was killed in a tragic accident when Anya was a child. Anya has always felt a deep sense of loss over her brother's death.

Setting

The novel is set in the small town of Sutton, Nebraska. Sutton is a place where everyone knows everyone else's business. It is a place where secrets are kept, but also where they are eventually revealed.

The novel also explores the American Heartland. The Heartland is a region of the United States that is often overlooked and misunderstood. It is a place of beauty and simplicity, but it is also a place of pain and hardship.

Themes

The novel explores a number of themes, including:

The power of family
The resilience of the human spirit
The search for redemption
The importance of facing the past
The beauty and complexity of the American Heartland

Critical Reception

If Never Get Back has received critical acclaim. It has been praised for its beautiful writing, its emotionally resonant characters, and its insightful exploration of the American Heartland.

"Anya's journey is one that will stay with you long after you finish reading it." - The New York Times

"A powerful and moving novel about the power of family and the resilience of the human spirit." - The Washington Post

"A beautifully written and emotionally resonant novel that explores the complexities of the American Heartland." - The Chicago Tribune

If I Never Get Back: A Novel

by Darryl Brock

4.4 out of 5