In award-winning author Novey’s latest novel, she traces the lives of Jean and her estranged stepdaughter Leah, who returns to her rural upbringing in the Allegheny Mountains of Appalachia when Jean dies. The journey unlocks a side of Jean that Leah never knew. Leah discovers Jean’s ramshackle home is filled with giant sculptures she created, and Leah also meets the young man who played a role in the final years of Jean’s life. Take What You Need (Viking-Random House) highlights the joys, difficulty, and mystery that surround family dynamics.
