Book Spotlight: Out of the Crash by Susan Poole

About Author Susan Poole…

Susan Poole enjoys delving into the moral gray area, developing a passion for exploring both sides of a situation while attending law school at the University of Buffalo. After leading a nonprofit social services agency for almost a decade, a breast cancer diagnosis gave her the courage to finally pursue her dream of becoming a writer. She lives in Cleveland, Ohio where she and her husband raised their three children and remain empty nesters with two dogs to keep them company. Her essays have appeared on the popular parenting websites Grown and Flown and Scary Mommy, and she has published two nonfiction pieces: a memoir in Literary Cleveland’s Neighborhood Voices and a story about her days as a wrestling mom in Grapple Alley. Her debut novel, Out of the Crash, won the 2023 Rising Star Award from the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, as well as honors from Kirkus, Literary Titan, Pencraft, and Firebird. Her second novel, A Deadly Dose of Reality, will hit the shelves in 2027.

This is a spotlight on “Out of the Crash” by Susan Poole…

Out of the Crash Blurb

After a fatal hit-and-run devastates their close-knit community, author Caroline Beasley and high school senior Ethan Shawver find themselves at a crossroads as their lives intertwine in unexpected ways. Both are left reeling as they try to make sense of the tragedy that has irrevocably changed their families forever. Caroline struggles with the dark implications of her son’s role in the crash, feeling the weight of guilt and despair. Meanwhile, Ethan grapples with the sudden loss of his mother and stumbles upon a disturbing secret that threatens to upend everything he believes. As they each search for truth and healing, they must confront their deepest fears and regrets to find a way forward.

What Readers can expect from Out of the Crash

Genre:Women’s/Book Club Fiction.

Themes: Close-Knit Community, Life-Altering Tragedy, Complex Family Dynamics, Finding Forgiveness, and There Are Always Two Sides to a Story (at least).

Expect the unexpected in Out of the Crash. Told through opposing points of view, this novel begins with the aftermath of a tragedy and evolves into a complex family drama. As the characters navigate their fractured world, they’re forced to confront long-ignored relationships and difficult truths. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult and Celeste Ng, this book invites readers to sit in the eye of the storm, explore the moral grey area, and spark thoughtful debate. A great book club pick!