Black Mountain Breakdown

The New York Times bestselling author of The Last Girls presents one of her most compelling novels, acclaimed by Anne Tyler, Annie Dillard, and more …

Everywhere about her, from the traffic on Highway 460 to the river that’s gone black with coal dust, Crystal Spangler sees a current flowing from the mountain town of Black Rock into the wider world. As a teenager, she is elected beauty queen, gets good grades, and—despite her many enviable qualities—manages also to be well-loved. Everyone knows that she is destined to leave town and do great things.

And she does.

But no one expects her return; drawn back home by some sort of memory, as if the current that had taken her away had changed its mind …

"Black Mountain Breakdown is like a country song. It is true and real; it is loving and sad."—Annie Dillard