Stepping: A Novel

Now available for the first time in audio, the dynamic debut novel from beloved New York Times bestselling author Nancy Thayer explores the steep challenges of a woman trying to do what’s best—for her family and for herself.

Zelda Campbell was just a college student when she met and fell in love with her professor; they married before she graduated. Zelda’s love for Charlie was wonderfully passionate—though it came with extras: his daughters Caroline and Cathy. And so begins Zelda’s dramatic roller-coaster ride in step-parenting (aka “stepping”), marked by joyous highs and tear-stained lows. As Zelda struggles in her new role, the young girls are constant reminders of Charlie’s past life. Further, Charlie’s shrill ex-wife is a demanding presence Zelda cannot ignore.

Fast-forward thirteen years, and Zelda and Charlie now have two children of their own. A Fulbright scholarship sends the family to Finland, where Charlie lives out his academic dream and Zelda must once again put her own aspirations on hold. But then an attractive man from her past enters the picture, offering the enticing prospect of an entirely different life. Given the opportunity to choose the road not taken, Zelda must evaluate her life and at last decide where her heart truly lies.

Praise for the novels of Nancy Thayer

“The queen of beach books.”—The Star-Ledger

“Thayer has a deep and masterly understanding of love and friendship, of where the two complement and where they collide.”—Elin Hilderbrand

“Thayer’s gift for reaching the emotional core of her characters [is] captivating.”—Houston Chronicle

“One of my favorite writers.”—Susan Wiggs

“Thayer portrays beautifully the small moments, inside stories and shared histories that build families.”—The Miami Herald

“Thayer’s sense of place is powerful, and her words are hung together the way my grandmother used to tat lace.”—Dorothea Benton Frank