In the opening scene of Linda Holmes's novel Evvie Drake Starts Over, the protagonist is packing her car with the things she will need to start a new life without the man to whom she has been romantically linked since the age of 15. Before she can enact her escape plan, however, Evvie receives a call from the hospital notifying her that her husband has just been in a terrible car accident and that his survival looks unlikely. Over the course of the narrative, Holmes deals with themes such as control, self-reflection, hope, and transformation.
