Mary Beth has built her life around her close knit and much loved family: husband Glen, daughter Ruby, 17, and 14-year-old twins Alex and Matt. However, the shocking and violent events of one New Year's Eve shatters the family and Mary Beth is left to face an uncertain future and to try to somehow rebuild her life.

When Ellen Gulden learns that her mother, Kate, has cancer, she goes home to look after her. As Kate's pain increases so does Ellen's belief that her mother's suffering is unendurable. That doesn't mean she gave her the overdose of morphine.

It is the 1960s, in suburban New York City and 12-year-old Maggie Scanlan begins to sense that despite the calm normality of her family everything is about to go horribly wrong. When her all-powerful grandfather is struck down by a stroke Maggie is astonished to see her dispassionate father break down.

It's an otherwise ordinary Monday when Meghan Fitzmaurice's perfect life hits a wall. A household name as the host of 'Rise and Shine', Meghan cuts to a commercial break, but not before she mutters two forbidden words into her open mike. In an instant, it's the end of an era.

Fran Benedetto's husband beats her. What began as a passionate and trusting marriage is now shadowed by abuse and violence, and Fran is forced to escape by disappearing with her ten-year-old son.

One night a young couple sneak onto the estate of wealthy Lydia Blessing and leave a box in the driveway. In the box is a baby and Skip Cuddy, the caretaker who discovers her, keeps her secretly. When Lydia Blessing herself finds out about the child, she decides to collude with Skip.

From childhood memories to manic motherhood to middle age, the author tells life as she has lived it. She acknowledges the passing years, from the generational shrinking of underwear to facing the fact that her knees make 'this noise like Rice Krispies' when she exercises.