A Valediction
A novel
by Ellis Friedman

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Uneasy about the impending responsibilities of adulthood, July can’t figure out where she wants her life to go. When romance ignites with Toby, a middle-aged man shell-shocked by the dissolution of his family, July clings to the idea that a future with Toby might save her from the decisions of post-university life. In an attempt to celebrate his divorce and new relationship, Toby takes July on a winter trip to Florence, Italy, where the vacation romance devolves into ruminations on disappointment, failure, and the future. The appearance of enigmatic, charming Massimo awakens in July the excitement of possibility and chance, but mires her further in her doubts. Meanwhile, Toby’s ex-wife remarries almost immediately, sending him into a tailspin. A wry, often humorous novel about loss, discovery, and family, A Valediction examines the way we delude ourselves ­— and the repercussions that result.

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Ellis Friedman is a Wellesley graduate and Arizona native. She spent four years living in China working as a teacher, magazine editor, and amateur gourmand. She and her husband currently reside in Phoenix.

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Contributors

Author

Ellis Friedman

Cover design by

Michael Hagelberg