Can't Look Away: A Novel

Molly Diamond meets Jake Danner, the front man of a Southern rock band, and they fall in love. Ten years later, Molly is teaching yoga in a Connecticut suburb and is lonely until she meets Sabrina, a newcomer who has her own secrets.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 448 pages
Publication date: 12 February 2024
Publisher: St Martin's Press

In the bustling city of Brooklyn, 23-year-old barista Molly Diamond caught the eye of Jake Danner, the charismatic front man of a rising Southern rock band. Their connection was instantaneous, and their love blossomed into a vibrant future filled with creativity, passion, and endless adventures. However, nearly a decade later, Molly found herself living a quiet life in a picturesque Connecticut suburb with her husband, Hunter, and their young daughter, Emily. While her life appeared perfect on the surface, deep down, Molly felt a sense of loneliness and longing for the days when she was swept up in the excitement of Jake's music.

One day, a new face entered Molly's life, a newcomer named Sabrina. Sabrina had her own reasons for seeking out Molly, and their friendship quickly blossomed into something more. As they spent more time together, Molly discovered that Sabrina had a hidden past and a complicated personality. She was mysterious, enigmatic, and sometimes even manipulative.

Molly's curiosity grew, and she couldn't resist the urge to dig deeper into Sabrina's life. She started to notice strange behavior and inconsistencies, and she began to suspect that there was more to Sabrina than meets the eye. As their friendship continued to evolve, Molly found herself caught up in a web of deep-rooted secrets, lies, and manipulation.

One day, as Molly was teaching a yoga class in her studio, Sabrina walked in. She was dressed in a sleek black outfit, her hair perfectly coiffed, and her eyes sparkling with confidence. Molly couldn't help but be drawn to her, and they spent the rest of the class chatting and laughing together.

However, as the weeks went by, Molly began to notice that Sabrina was becoming increasingly possessive and controlling. She started to micromanage Molly's life, insisting on knowing where she was at all times and who she was with. Molly tried to brush it off, thinking that Sabrina was just being protective of their friendship, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

One night, as Molly was getting ready for bed, she received a text message from Sabrina. It was a picture of a woman, and the message read, "This is the woman I'm sleeping with. You can have her if you want."

Molly was stunned. She had never suspected that Sabrina was involved with anyone else, and she couldn't believe that she would be so brazen as to send a picture of her lover to Molly's phone. She felt a mixture of anger, betrayal, and confusion.

She decided to confront Sabrina about the text message, but she was hesitant to do so. She didn't want to lose their friendship, but she also couldn't ignore the fact that Sabrina had been lying to her.

When Sabrina saw Molly, she was surprised and defensive. "What are you talking about?" she asked. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Molly tried to explain what had happened, but Sabrina refused to listen. She accused Molly of being jealous and paranoid, and she told her to stop interfering in her life.

Molly was devastated. She had lost the trust and respect of her best friend, and she didn't know how to move forward. She felt like a fool for believing that Sabrina was a genuine person, and she couldn't understand why she had been so blinded by her own desires.

As the days passed, Molly struggled to cope with the loss of her friendship. She felt lonely and isolated, and she couldn't shake the feeling that Sabrina was still watching her every move. She tried to move on with her life, but the wound of betrayal was still fresh, and it was difficult to forget.

One day, as Molly was walking in the park, she saw a flyer for a local music festival. She had always loved music, and she thought that it might be a good way to get her mind off of her troubles. She decided to go to the festival, and she was excited to see what kind of music was being played.

When she arrived at the festival, she was amazed by the energy and excitement of the crowd. She danced and sang along to the music, and she felt a sense of joy and freedom that she hadn't felt in a long time.

As she was walking back to her car, she saw a familiar face in the crowd. It was Jake Danner, the front man of the Southern rock band that had once captured her heart. He was standing alone, watching the music, and he looked like he had never been happier.

Molly couldn't believe her eyes. She had thought that Jake was long gone, that he had moved on with his life and forgotten about her. But here he was, standing in front of her, looking as beautiful as ever.

She approached him, and he was surprised to see her. "Molly?" he asked.

Molly took a deep breath and nodded. "Jake," she said. "It's been a long time."

Jake smiled. "It has," he said. "But I never forgot about you."

Molly felt a rush of emotions. She was happy to see Jake again, but she was also sad that their relationship had never been able to work out. She had always loved him, but she had been too young and too inexperienced to understand the complexities of their relationship.

They spent the rest of the night talking and catching up on old times. Molly told Jake about her life in Connecticut, and he told her about the band's new album and upcoming tour. They laughed and joked, and they felt like they had never been apart.

As the night drew to a close, Jake asked Molly if she would like to go out with him again. She hesitated for a moment, but then she nodded. "Yes," she said. "I would love that."

Jake smiled. "I've missed you," he said.

Molly felt the same way. She had missed him too, and she knew that they had a chance to make things right this time. They hugged each other tightly, and Molly felt a sense of hope and possibility that she hadn't felt in a long time.

As they walked away from the festival, Molly knew that her life was about to change. She had lost her best friend, but she had also found a new love. She was excited to see what the future held for her, and she knew that she had the strength and courage to face whatever challenges came her way.

In the end, Molly learned an important lesson about the importance of trust and the dangers of manipulation. She had been blinded by her own desires and had been taken advantage of by someone who had been hiding a dark past. But through it all, she had also found a new sense of strength and resilience, and she knew that she was capable of anything she set her mind to.

As for Sabrina, she continued to live her life in secrecy, never revealing the truth about her past or her actions. She had learned that her lies and manipulation had consequences, and she was determined to never hurt anyone again.

Years passed, and Molly and Jake were married and had a family of their own. They continued to make music together, and their love for each other grew stronger with each passing day. They knew that they had been through a lot, but they had also come out stronger on the other side.

Looking back on their journey, Molly and Jake realized that their friendship had been a blessing in disguise. It had taught
Brooklyn barista Molly Diamond, 23, meets Jake Danner, the frontman of a rising Southern rock band, and they fall in love. Ten years later, Molly lives in a Connecticut suburb with her husband, Hunter, and daughter, Emily. Sabrina, a newcomer in town, befriends Molly, but their friendship leads to deep-rooted secrets, lies, and manipulation.

Molly notices strange behavior and inconsistencies in Sabrina's past and becomes curious. As their friendship evolves, Molly is caught up in a web of secrets, lies, and manipulation. One day, Sabrina sends Molly a picture of her lover, shocking her. Molly confronts Sabrina, but she denies any wrongdoing.

Sabrina accuses Molly of being jealous and paranoid, and she tells her to stop interfering in her life. Molly is devastated and loses the trust and respect of her best friend. She struggles to cope with the loss and feels lonely and isolated.

One day, Molly attends a music festival and sees Jake Danner, the frontman of the Southern rock band. They reconnect, and Molly feels a sense of joy and freedom. Jake tells Molly that he never forgot about her and asks her out again.

Molly hesitates, but they reconnect and spend the night talking and catching up. Jake asks Molly out again, and she agrees. They hug tightly, and Molly feels a sense of hope and possibility.

Molly learns the importance of trust and the dangers of manipulation. She lost her best friend but found a new love. She is excited about the future and has the strength and courage to face challenges.

Sabrina continues to live in secrecy, never revealing the truth about her past or actions. She learns that her lies and manipulation have consequences and is determined to never hurt anyone again.

Years later, Molly and Jake are married and have a family. They continue to make music together, and their love for each other grows stronger. They realize that their friendship was a blessing in disguise, and they are grateful for the lessons they learned.

Weight: 284g
Dimension: 190 x 106 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781250322258