We Were the Universe: A novel BY Kimberly King

In We Were the Universe, the highly anticipated debut novel by Kimberly King Parsons, a young mother named Kit grapples with desire, guilt, and grief following the death of her sister, Julie. Kit, who once reveled in a life of wild independence, now feels trapped by the responsibilities of motherhood and the suburban routine. A weekend trip to the Montana mountains, intended to be a carefree escape with her best friend, only deepens her sense of loss, reminding her of the vibrant life she once led and the irreplaceable bond she shared with Julie.

Returning to her Dallas home, Kit struggles to maintain her composure while caring for her lively daughter, navigating the strained relationship with her well-meaning husband, and dodging her mother's concerned phone calls. Her mind, however, often drifts to her past—memories of playing in a band, indulging in psychedelics in the desert, and her vivid, escapist fantasies involving her child's gymnastics teacher and a charismatic playground mom.

As Kit's grasp on reality becomes increasingly tenuous, she finds herself questioning everything, including whether Julie is truly gone. Her spiraling thoughts reveal a deep yearning for connection and an unhealed wound from her sister's death, blurring the lines between her past and present, reality and fantasy.

We Were the Universe is a neon-bright exploration of the complexities of sisterhood, motherhood, and self-discovery. Parsons' darkly comic and sharply insightful prose paints a portrait of a woman caught between worlds, searching for meaning and solace in the chaos of her emotions. This ambitious novel delves into the transformative power of grief and the strange, transcendent ways love can manifest, marking Parsons as a revelatory new voice in American fiction.