Did You Ever Have a Family

"Bill Clegg’s polished, deeply compassionate debut novel digs through the ashes of a tragic fire that wipes out a woman’s nearest and dearest on the eve of her daughter’s wedding to explore how guilt and regrets fan the flames of scorching grief — and how human connection helps calm them. Yes, the title is mawkish and the sensational setup feels like the stuff of tabloids. But the novel, shifting between various survivors, shines as it sifts through everything that went up in smoke that night to reveal what actually happened. It also salvages the solace and hope to be found in connecting with others."