The Simple Things
A Novel of Healing, Friendship, and Second Chances
After her marriage crumbles and her carefully constructed life falls apart, Amber finds herself starting over in a tiny house community in Bethlehem, Georgia-population: healing hearts and fresh beginnings. Armed with nothing but her purple "My Butterfly Effects" sweatsuit, a growing collection of heart-shaped rocks, and a daily practice of finding one small thing to be grateful for, she's learning that sometimes the simple things are the only things that matter.
But Amber isn't the only one struggling to rebuild. There's a woman she calls "Toxicity"-always alone, always carrying invisible weight, always sitting on the same park bench like she's waiting for something that might never come. When a chance encounter over a fallen daisy leads to an unexpected friendship, Amber discovers that healing isn't meant to be a solo journey.
As their bond deepens through evening walks, gratitude lists, and conversations that stretch long into the night, both women begin to shed the heavy burdens they never chose to carry. But it's during a windy evening filled with emoji balloons that Starria-the woman behind the pain-finally learns the difference between holding on and letting go.
From heart-shaped rocks and butterfly encounters to midnight porch talks and life-changing balloon ceremonies, The Simple Things is a story about the extraordinary power of ordinary moments. It's about friendship that feels like family, healing that happens one small step at a time, and the beautiful truth that sometimes broken people find each other exactly when they need to.
Perfect for readers who loved Wild by Cheryl Strayed and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, this uplifting novel reminds us that transformation doesn't require grand gestures-sometimes it just takes two women, a handful of balloons, and the courage to believe that better days are always possible.
Because sometimes, the simplest things change everything.
"A tender, authentic story about the healing power of true friendship and the magic that happens when we stop trying to carry our burdens alone."