I typically dislike stream of consciousness books, but was able to find my rhythm with these characters within just a few pages. This book is set just outside of Manchester, England during one of the covid lockdowns. Kate, a single mother, goes completely stir crazy and decides to slip out, just for a bit, and take a quick hike down one of her most well-traveled paths. She leaves her teenage son napping in the house, her phone in her bedroom, and no note because, of course, she'll be back before he even realizes she's gone.

Unfortunately, she slips, falls, and suffers a major injury that will require a rescue team and intensive medical intervention to recover from. But before that rescue team can even search for her, her son has to realize she's gone and approach their neighbor, Alice, for help.

I found this slim novel to be riveting and full of the conundrums we've all been facing these last couple of years. How can we tend to our own self care while ensuring the safety of those around us? How careful is too careful? Where's the line?