The Best We Could Hope For

A Novel

By: Nicola Kraus

Narrated by: Helen Laser

From a #1 New York Times bestselling author comes a powerful novel about family, the weight of secrets, the choices we make, and the repercussions of the decisions made for us.

When Bunny Linden abandons her three children with her older sister, Jayne, in 1972, she knows Jayne will be the perfect mother. The mother Bunny, a teen runaway, could never be.

As months turn into years without word, Jayne and her husband, Rodger, a rising journalism star, strive to give the children the opportunity to flourish and feel loved. When Jayne and Rodger finally have a child of their own, a seemingly stable home is built. But then, after nearly a decade, Bunny resurfaces and sets a chain of events in motion that detonates all their lives.

As adults, their children try to reassemble the pieces and solve the mystery that has always haunted them. Who were their parents? What really happened between them? And who is ultimately to blame for the destruction? But will the answers they seek set them free—or lead to something far more damaging than anyone imagined?

©2025 by Nicola Kraus. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“An anguished investigation of the way memories can warp lives.”—Kirkus Reviews

“The touchstones the book shares with Dylan Farrow’s life are bound to provoke conversation around this powerful, tragic tale.”—Booklist

“Writing with grace and intelligence, Kraus explores the complex intersection of memory and loyalty in a sweeping story about a broken family and the women who knit together the remains. Perfect for book clubs.”—Sarah Pekkanen, #1 New York Times bestselling author of House of Glass

JUST OK, GRAPHIC SEX

The writing was good, the performer was good, the story was mediocre. I stopped reading at the graphic sexual encounter. It did not improve the book.

Family trauma

I enjoyed this book, but boy did it deep dive into family, trauma, and how deep it can be buried I would recommend this listen for anyone who do not have triggers to family trauma.

The realistic description of growing up with dysfunctional family that has long term effects.

The organization of the characters’ journeys was interesting and suspenseful in a good way. Life is never a straight line and this author has done a masterful job of bringing the reader on a captivating and entertaining way.

You gotta finish it...

I am very torn with this book. Maybe reading the physical book instead of listening to it would be helpful. With the dates, I couldn't ever remember one chapter to the next what time we were in. But it doesn't get good until the 9th chapter and then after that it's a series of WTF!

Great characters well written

Excellent story, very relatable characters well for me anyway this could have been my family. Author had a very good grasp of complex family dynamics.