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The One Remaining
Hilary Mason is thirteen when her sister Elaine disappears. She fears someone close to the family is involved but represses her suspicions.
As an adult, Hilary becomes a successful novelist. In her fifties, she comes upon a stack of her old diaries, which document the trauma she’s endured. She decides she is ready to face the hidden backstory of her life.
She embarks on writing a memoir, Hilary’s Story, which will take her through her worst years and her best years, through courage and endurance, through friendship and great love.
The One Remaining is a captivating story of overcoming loss, finding the courage to trust those who believe in us, and the self-healing power of writing our stories.
‘The One Remaining is a wise, beautiful and moving novel about the whole of a woman’s life. I lived with the main character Hilary through her griefs, suffering and great joys. I cried as I read, then I wiped my eyes and smiled. McLean shows us how surviving loss and trauma is not linear or clear, but gives a depth and richness to life nonetheless.’ – Sophie Gee, The Secret Life of Books podcast
As an adult, Hilary becomes a successful novelist. In her fifties, she comes upon a stack of her old diaries, which document the trauma she’s endured. She decides she is ready to face the hidden backstory of her life.
She embarks on writing a memoir, Hilary’s Story, which will take her through her worst years and her best years, through courage and endurance, through friendship and great love.
The One Remaining is a captivating story of overcoming loss, finding the courage to trust those who believe in us, and the self-healing power of writing our stories.
‘The One Remaining is a wise, beautiful and moving novel about the whole of a woman’s life. I lived with the main character Hilary through her griefs, suffering and great joys. I cried as I read, then I wiped my eyes and smiled. McLean shows us how surviving loss and trauma is not linear or clear, but gives a depth and richness to life nonetheless.’ – Sophie Gee, The Secret Life of Books podcast
Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 15, 2025
I just read an early release copy of this debut novel. Hilary is writing her memoir and her life leaps of the pages to be the truest, most real character I’ve ever read. She’s not a character but a real woman struggling to overcome trauma and live. The ebbs and flow, the tiny steps forward of sharing past grief and loss and incrementally stepping forward to deep relationships and living is raw and honest.
It doesn’t sound like the plot of a page turner but I couldn’t put it down. I read it in one sitting- interspersed with work travel and family life interrupting my reading time!!
Love this book so much and, like her protagonist Hilary, I hope there are many more novels to come.
It doesn’t sound like the plot of a page turner but I couldn’t put it down. I read it in one sitting- interspersed with work travel and family life interrupting my reading time!!
Love this book so much and, like her protagonist Hilary, I hope there are many more novels to come.
November 7, 2025
This was really well written and I really enjoyed it. The story is the story of a life. Tragic, joyful, content, and dynamic.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews