Skunk Cabbage

After the sudden, tragic loss of her parents, Alissa Quillen is drowning in grief. No amount of love from her aunt or support from her closest friends can ease the constant ache. But when she discovers a box of her mother’s journals, something stirs—a spark of curiosity, of purpose. Guided by her mother’s words, Alissa leaves Boston behind and hits the road, letting each stop unfold with spontaneity and heartache in equal measure.

At her first stop, a run-down bowling alley in a small town, she has a tense run-in with Alec Shivel—a brooding stranger carrying grief of his own. Despite a rocky start, the two form an unexpected connection. But Alissa isn't looking for distractions. This trip is about healing, not falling in love.