None of This Is True: A Novel

Josie and Walter have a roast for dinner on Sunday, and Josie purees it for Erin and leaves it outside her daughter’s bedroom door. She resolves to clean Erin’s room next week. After dinner, as she walks Fred toward Alix’s house, she sees Alix and her sisters walking down the street and admires their casual, open style. As they go inside, Josie gets a glimpse of Nathan before the door shuts. She imagines what is happening inside and crosses the street. She picks a flower from the planter in Alix’s front wall and puts it in her pocket.

Josie and Alix meet at the council estate where Josie grew up. She introduces Alix to her mother, Pat O’Neill, and Alix is surprised at Pat’s put-together style and confidence. Pat admires Alix’s podcast but wonders why Alix is interviewing Josie, and as they talk, Alix realizes that Pat hates her daughter. During the interview, Pat becomes angry, claiming to have had no idea what was going on between Josie and Walter when they first met.