Two women. One promise. A lifetime of love in all its forms. Clara Sullivan and Amanda Collins never planned for a fairytale ending. Growing up in the chaos and charm of New York City, they weathered the storms of adolescence, college nights that never ended, heartbreaks that left scars too deep to speak of, and marriages that shattered in ways neither could have imagined. Clara, sharp-witted and fiercely independent, lost the man who held her heart—a sudden death that left her a widow with twin toddlers and a grief so profound she couldn't see a way forward. Amanda, soft-spoken but unshakable, watched her marriage unravel into betrayal and silence when the man she trusted stole everything and disappeared. Disillusioned by love but unwilling to face the world alone, they made a pact: to walk through the rest of life together—side by side, through laughter, grief, and everything in between. As years pass and the world continues to change, Clara and Amanda build a home on the shores of the Hamptons, raise their children as one family, and discover a love that defies every expectation. But even the deepest bonds must face the inevitable. In the final, breathtaking pages, with only one left behind, a whispered promise—"Wait for me"—becomes the love story that lingers beyond goodbye. Hold on To Me is a soul-stirring novel about the beauty of chosen family, the pain of love lost, and the power of human connection. Caren Cross delivers a masterclass in emotional storytelling that will stay with you long after the final page. For fans of Kristin Hannah, Elizabeth Strout, and Alice Hoffman. You will cry. You will feel. You will remember.