The World as We Know It

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What to expect

From the author of the acclaimed novel Eternal on the Water, whose style is described as "Henry David Thoreau meets Nicholas Sparks" (Publishers Weekly), comes a novel about two brothers who save a girl from drowning when they are young—an experience that intertwines their destinies and changes their lives forever.

On an early spring afternoon in rural New Hampshire, two brothers, Ed and Allard, are ice skating when they discover a girl who, with her dogs, has broken through thin ice and is caught in the river's eddy. They are able to rescue her, and as a result, a special bond forms among all three—but particularly between Allard and Sarah.

As they grow up, the brothers remain close, creating their own film production company to shoot nature footage in the wild. Sarah, gaining success on her own as a writer, always manages to remain a part of their lives. In the days before Allard's wedding, tragedy strikes during a bachelor's outing in the remote mountains of Wyoming. The heartbreaking incident puts the grief-stricken Allard and Sarah on separate trajectories that will test the bonds of their relationship and time's unremitting power to heal.

Set against the sweeping natural backdrops of rural New England and Wyoming, The World as We Know It is subtle, heartrending, and transformative—a love story of friendship, nature, and the surprising twists that can alter our destinies forever.

Critics Review

  • “Joe Monninger beautifully captures the essence of childhood adventure and the sweet innocence of falling in love for the first time. Fans of John Irving, you have a new author to love.”

    Lisa Genova, New York Times bestselling author

  • “A tender, gentle, achingly beautiful tale that is impossible to put down.”

    Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author

  • “The beauty and brutality of nature unfolds in The World as We Know It—a touching tale of love, the wounds of loss, and the fragile complexities with the human heart.”

    Beth Hoffman, New York Times bestselling author

  • “The combination of romantic love with adventure and bone-deep understanding of the wild is both compelling and transcendent…With echoes of Hemingway, The World as We Know It is nothing short of brilliant.”

    Luanne Rice, New York Times bestselling author

  • “Monninger’s imagery resonates long into the night, while your lamp burns oil because you cannot put the book down until the last page is turned.”

    Romantic Times (four stars)

  • “Critically acclaimed Monninger, known for outstanding character development and lavish landscapes, does it again with this tale of young New Hampshire brothers and the world they construct…Monninger presents a fascinating exploration about true love, fate, and the roads taken in life.”

    Publishers Weekly

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