Debra Lee Won't Break: A Novel

'Moving, inspiring, gorgeously written...Debra Lee Won't Break is the ride of a lifetime!' —New York Times bestselling author Michael Levin


'An electrifying tale of grit, heart, and unshakable resolve.' —Suzie Housley, Midwest Book Review


A Reckoning Awaits

Debra Lee's life is overflowing — widowed at 38, raising a son, supporting a daughter in college, and caring for a mother with dementia, all while managing her multiple sclerosis. Determined to seize the moment, she sets out to conquer the 150-mile Chesapeake Challenge bike ride before her MS slows her down.


But just as she gathers the courage to push forward, ghosts from her past resurface. Caroline Cook — the friend who once betrayed her — wants back in her life. And the man who shattered her world as a teenager is suddenly appearing in unexpected places.


As old wounds reopen, will she find the strength to cross the finish line, or will the past derail her journey?


This fast-paced story of resilience and inspiration in the face of chronic illness will keep readers turning the pages. Fans of Eleanor Oliphant and Elizabeth Zott will be rooting for Debra Lee.


'Heartwarming. . . . An inspiring tale of an unlikely heroine who discovers a wellspring of strength within herself, encouraging us all to push past our limits with persistence and grit.'

—Lisa Doggett, MD, Author of Up the Down Escalator: Medicine, Motherhood, and Multiple Sclerosis

'Pickett's novel promises the kind of emotional depth and grit I crave. No toxic positivity, just a woman pushing through real life with all the accompanying, and highly relatable, mess and heart. Debra Lee Won't Break is high on my summer list.' —Washington City Paper