The Girl Who Waited in Chicago is a heartfelt, humorous contemporary American novel about love, loss, and starting over in the Windy City.
For five years, Abigail Hayes faithfully returns every Saturday to the same lakefront bench, waiting for screenwriter Jake Marlowe, who promised to come back after chasing Hollywood dreams. When he doesn’t appear, but carpenter Cal does—carrying Jake’s unfinished script and a long-overdue apology—Abby’s ritual of waiting begins to crack open.
Through Chicago’s iconic streets, deep-dish nights, and quiet lakefront moments, Abby learns that sometimes the person who shows up is exactly who you need. Warm, witty, and deeply human, this is a story of letting go, showing up, and finding new beginnings amid the city that never quite lets you go.
