After Melanie

When 13-year-old Melanie dies of an aneurysm, her parents and older brother struggle to cope with their grief, and a heavy strain is placed on Judith and David’s marriage. The son, Brian, focuses on his future with his fiancée; their solid relationship contrasts with the “together but alone” state of his parents’ union. David finds comfort and empathy from his colleague; Judith builds a relationship with a former neighbor who is a widower. While the first half of the book is constant grief and depression, the plot picks up halfway through when these extramarital relationships become deeper, and the stakes of what can be lost loom. The sedate writing is cluttered with details of the synagogue’s thrift shop, where Judith starts volunteering—she reflects on the possessions that a person can accumulate—but it is also brightened with literary quotes from some of Judith’s favorite authors.