Libby Harper's husband dreams over his collection of road maps from across the country, but it is Libby who ultimately leaves town. Waking up one summer morning to the restlessness accumulated from two children and eighteen years of marriage, she packs her light blue Tourister bags and heads for Hollywood to rediscover her long-abandoned fantasies. Left behind in tiny, run-down Holly, Massachusetts, is her husband, Tom, who has adored Libby since high school; their daughter, Dana, who has just shaved a peace sign on her scalp; and their son, Troy, searching for the ultimate tattoo.Into the void brought about by Libby's absence steps free-spirited Renata Handy, who, prompted by the diagnosis of her illegitimate daughter's tragic illness, has just exchanged her frenetic waitressing job and fifth-floor walk-up in New York City for the reassuring familiarity of Holly, her hometown. Facing change and absence, the two heartbroken families come together in search of the tenuous balance that sustains family life, while Libby drives off cross-country in what she considers a last-chance search for herself.Places to Stay the Night is the bittersweet story of an unlikely union that transcends the sadness and idiosyncrasy of its beginnings. Powerful, heartfelt, and peopled with unique and endearing characters, it is an extraordinary foray into the lives of two very different families torn apart and brought together by the forces of change and loss. With Ann Hood's characteristic grace and compassionate insight, this sparkling novel reinforces her reputation as one of the best young writers in the world of contemporary fiction. Read Less