This Isn't Everything You Are

For fans of Ann Patchett's, THE DUTCH HOUSE, J. Marie Rundquist brings a compelling story of two siblings, each holding a secret that will change all they thought they knew about one another.

When a child gets seriously injured on a school field trip, Lizzie loses not only her job and apartment, but most of her friends. She has a choice: face the consequences or hide. She chooses refuge with her brother, Justin. Except consequences can’t be avoided forever, and the incident at work causes Lizzie’s past to bubble up and uncover a long-buried truth about the accident that claimed the lives of their mother and sister twenty-five years ago.

Justin is happy to offer Lizzie a fresh start by having her move in with him. But as Lizzie cobbles together a new life forward, Justin’s starts to fall apart. Turbulence hits him at work when already challenging colleagues–who have never understood his autistic traits–become adversarial after his recent promotion, his best friend disappears for days at a time, and unwanted, long repressed memories begin to resurface.

As Lizzie and Justin’s lives collide, they must face a deeply held secret and a hidden promise. Both will open questions of loyalty, forgiveness, and what it means to be family.