Born in Sri Lanka on the cusp of its civil war (1983–2009), Alice Fonseka grows up with unhappy parents and her beloved and artistic grandfather Bee. The serenity of the island's landscape directly contradicts the growing tensions present in her multiethnic family dynamics, especially as the threat of political violence between the Sinhalese and Tamil populations increases. When she immigrates to England with her parents—a move that spares their lives but breaks their hearts—Alice immerses herself in art, only to find that journey interrupted by mother Sita's descent into sorrow. The relentless fatigue and frustration of this family's search for "home" continues over the next two decades, captured by Tearne's (Mosquito; Bone China) empathetic prose. Each moment of rift, reunion, and regret is explored within the context of past and present, because the future is always a disappointment. VERDICT Tearne's layered novel is fresh and relevant. The author's biography mirrors parts of Alice's, so readers will immediately reach for her backlist of titles in order to continue exploring her story.—Tina Panik, Avon Free P.L., CT