After 40 years, John Irving returns to the world of his bestselling classic novel and Academy Award–winning film, THE CIDER HOUSE RULES, revisiting the orphanage in St. Cloud’s, Maine, where Dr. Wilbur Larch takes in Esther --- a Viennese-born Jew whose life is shaped by antisemitism.

After 40 years, John Irving returns to the world of his bestselling classic novel and Academy Award–winning film, THE CIDER HOUSE RULES, revisiting the orphanage in St. Cloud’s, Maine, where Dr. Wilbur Larch takes in Esther --- a Viennese-born Jew whose life is shaped by antisemitism.

After 40 years, John Irving returns to the world of his bestselling classic novel and Academy Award–winning film, THE CIDER HOUSE RULES, revisiting the orphanage in St. Cloud’s, Maine, where Dr. Wilbur Larch takes in Esther --- a Viennese-born Jew whose life is shaped by antisemitism.

Esther Nacht is born in Vienna in 1905. Her father dies on board the ship to Portland, Maine. Her mother is murdered by antisemites in Portland. Dr. Larch knows it won’t be easy to find a Jewish family to adopt Esther. In fact, he won’t find any family who’ll adopt her.

When Esther is 14, soon to be a ward of the state, Dr. Larch meets the Winslows, a philanthropic New England family with a history of providing foster care for unadopted orphans. The Winslows aren’t Jewish, but they despise antisemitism. Esther’s gratitude for the Winslows is unending. Even as she retraces her roots back to Vienna, she never stops loving and protecting the Winslows. In the final chapter, set in Jerusalem in 1981, Esther Nacht is 76.

John Irving’s 16th novel is a testament to his enduring ability to weave complex characters and intricate narratives that challenge and captivate. QUEEN ESTHER is not just a story of survival but a profound exploration of identity, belonging and the enduring impact of history on our personal lives showcasing why Irving remains one of the world’s most beloved, provocative and entertaining authors --- a storyteller of our time and for all time.

Bestselling, beloved author Ann Packer returns with her first novel in over a decade, an intimate and profoundly moving look at a long marriage and the ways in which a startling request can change a couple’s understanding of who they are, together and apart.

Bestselling, beloved author Ann Packer returns with her first novel in over a decade, an intimate and profoundly moving look at a long marriage and the ways in which a startling request can change a couple’s understanding of who they are, together and apart.

Bestselling, beloved author Ann Packer returns with her first novel in over a decade, an intimate and profoundly moving look at a long marriage and the ways in which a startling request can change a couple’s understanding of who they are, together and apart.

Eliot and his wife, Claire, have been happily married for nearly four decades. They've raised two children in their sleepy Connecticut town and weathered the inevitable ups and downs of a long life spent together. But eight years after Claire was diagnosed with cancer, the end is near, and it's time to gather loved ones and prepare for the inevitable.

Over the years of Claire’s illness, Eliot has willingly --- lovingly --- shifted into the role of caregiver, appreciating the intimacy and tenderness that comes with a role even more layered and complex than the one he performed as a devoted husband. But as he focuses on settling into what will be their last days and weeks together, Claire makes an unexpected request that leaves him reeling. In a moment, his carefully constructed world is shattered.

What if your partner’s dying wish broke your heart? How well do we know the deepest desires of those we love dearly? As Eliot is confronted with this profound turning point in his marriage and his life, he grapples with the man and husband he’s been, and with the great unknowns of Claire’s last days.

Ann Packer makes a triumphant return with this powerful novel that is tender and raw, visceral and unexpected. Emotionally vibrant and complex, SOME BRIGHT NOWHERE explores the profound gifts and unexpected costs of truly loving someone, and the fears and desires we experience as the end of life draws near.