He lost her on September 11th.
Nothing ever felt right again.
On the morning of September 11, 2001, Jack Almanti was planning to propose.
By the end of the morning, the woman he loved was gone.
He never recovered.
IndieReader Approved: “An emotionally compelling exploration…”
Reedsy Discovery: “Lived-in, raw, and painfully human.”
In the years that follow, Jack spirals into alcoholism, fractured relationships, and a life he no longer recognizes. Grief does not fade. It follows him, shaping every decision and pulling him further from the man he once was.
But Sarah is not entirely gone.
Her identical twin sister, Emily, is still here.
And she understands him in ways no one else can.
As their connection deepens, Jack is forced to confront the past he cannot escape and the future he no longer believes in.
Seven Years in Chicago: Part I: Survival is a character-driven literary novel about grief, addiction, memory, and the long shadow of loss in the years after 9/11.
This is the beginning of Jack’s journey.
Perfect for readers of Ann Patchett and emotionally immersive novels like The Kite Runner, The Lovely Bones, and A Little Life.