Far and Away - two families exchange homes, leading to unforeseen drama and chaos.

The Holt Family lives in a large, ultra-modern home in Dallas. Lucy is the mother of teenage Jack and daughters Alice and Zoe. Her husband, Mason, is in New Mexico for six months, living in a NASA biosphere. Just before high school graduation, Jack is expelled for participating in an ill-advised activity, and his acceptance to MIT is rescinded. Once beloved members of a close-knit community, the Holts have become pariahs. They need to get out of town.

Greta and Otto Van Bosse reside in Berlin in a beautiful apartment filled with art and antiques. Greta, an art consultant, had a big career win by securing a previously undiscovered Vermeer for her client. Otto, a foot surgeon, is facing professional challenges and accepts a temporary position in Dallas. Their daughter Emmi wants to become a lawyer.

The two families decide to do a house swap. It seems like a perfect solution, but they rush into the arrangement so quickly that neither family is prepared for what lies ahead. Far and Away is a charming book by the always entertaining Amy Poeppel. Filled with drama and chaos, the story also has humor and warmth, as two very different families adjust to their new circumstances. It's an enjoyable fish-out-of-water story featuring two women searching for something they haven't quite found yet in life.

Many thanks to Atria | Emily Bestler Books for the advance.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars.

Contemporary Fiction.

Publication Date: June 10, 2025.

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