Lucia

Lucia is one of the main protagonists and narrators of the novel. Throughout Everything Here is Beautiful, Lucia struggles to maintain control over her unpredictable mental illness.

After her pregnant mother flees China with Miranda, Lucia is born in America. When the girls' mother falls ill, Miranda assumes Lucia's care. As a young girl, Lucia is vivacious, free-spirited, and markedly intelligent. After attending NYU, studying and working abroad, Lucia begins working at a company in Connecticut. Despite her academic and professional successes, Lucia's sporadic psychic episodes, threaten her stability. After a brief hospitalization, Lucia loses her job and moves in with Miranda.

Not long after moving back to New York, Lucia meets and marries an older Russian Jew, Yonah. They move into Yonah's small apartment adjacent to his health food store. Though Miranda disapproves of their relationship, Lucia seems genuinely happy and in love.

Not long into the...