In Pembrokeshire's suffocating summer of 1976, life on the North Court Estate is a constant struggle, but the real battle is happening at home. Richie's father is at war with the bottle while his mother unravels under a silent illness. All he wants is a normal family, a life without the fear and uncertainty that clings to him like smoke. He finds brief moments of escape in the streets and with his friends, but he knows their shared laughter and carefree lives are a reality he can never fully join. Even his older brother, Bernard, provides little refuge as a family's chaos begins to pull him under, too. When a moment of recklessness brings his two worlds crashing together, Richie is forced to confront a truth more painful than any lie. With the summer heat building to a breaking point, Richie must learn to navigate his broken world while holding on to the hope of a better life.
Second Edition: Revised and Expanded
