What Remains

by Maxine Roel

Meet Sophie Gold, an eight-year-old girl living in Queens with her parents and three sisters. As the third daughter, Sophie often feels on the not the adorable youngest, like Jane (five), and not a teen like Amy (twelve), and Hannah (fourteen).

When her parents get in a fatal car crash, causing her mother's death, her father is riddled with guilt and spends decades suffering from severe PTSD. Her grandparents move in to help care for the girls, but Sophie is acutely aware that the grown-up world around her is withholding something.

Sophie tries a ballet class at the behest of her best friend and neighbour, Chloe. She's immediately hooked. At ballet Sophie immerses herself in fine tuning every shape shown. Every position becomes an opportunity to perfect her imperfect reality. An obsession is formed. A sanctuary found.

350 pages, Paperback

Published November 30, 2023

Reviews

[readers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maxine Roel knocks it out of the park in her debut novel. An absolute must read for all kinds of readers, a deeply emotional and personal story that demands your attention from start to finish. I can not recommend this book enough!

[Reader]

Loved it ! What remains after the death of the protagonist’s mother , at eight year’s old...I was drawn deeply into her sanctuary of dance, complicated family relationships, best friend betrayal and love not quite right. . . I couldn’t put it down. . . The writing is so good and the story so captivating

[Michael Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maxine Roel's What Remains is a poignant exploration of Sophie Gold's life, marked by early loss, a passion for dance, and complex family dynamics. The novel captivates with its realistic portrayal of Sophie's struggles and growth, avoiding a predictable, fairy-tale ending. Roel’s writing is fluid and evocative, creating vivid imagery and relatable characters that kept me turning the pages.

What truly stood out was the novel's impact; it prompted me to revisit and reframe my own past experiences. What Remains is more than just a page-turner—it’s a thought-provoking tale that encourages reflection and discussion.

Highly recommended for those who enjoy deeply emotional narratives that resonate long after the last page.

-MLT

[Paulina · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "What Remains," Maxine Roel writes a beautiful and intimate story about Sophie's life as she struggles with loss, grief, love, and friendship. The novel delves into the complexities of family dynamics as Sophie and her three sisters navigate their roles after their mother's unexpected death. Amidst her grief, Sophie discovers the comfort and meaning of dance. However, her seemingly perfect romantic relationship is shattered when she is betrayed in an unexpected way. "What Remains" is a relatable and captivating story that draws the reader in from the beginning.

[Amy Contreras · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lost some hours of sleep because I couldn’t put this book down! The characters are sympathetic despite their dysfunction. Following the span of Sophie’s life a decade at time highlights the poignant reality of familial relationships both in their stubborn repetition of deep-seated patterns and in their hope in the possibility forgiveness, healing, and change. Sophie is equal parts inspiring and infuriating and is so relatable and believable. I was left wondering what the next decade would reveal.


Highly recommend!

Amy C