Evening Begins the Day

by Jessica Brilliant Keener

After she discovers her husband’s infidelity, Rachel Cohen, reeling from hurt and shame, escapes to a rental house in the idyllic town of Woodbury, near Boston. She winds up next door to her colleague Cynthia Meyer, who—unlike Rachel—seems to have everything in this town where parents are high achievers, children excel, and problems are sealed inside well-tended houses. Cynthia’s a successful VP in corporate giving, who helped fund Rachel’s latest environmental project for elementary kids. Cynthia’s husband is a pioneering researcher in breakthrough cancer treatments. Their only child, Lauren, is set to graduate high school in the spring. Pretenses shatter the day an ambulance pulls up in front of the Meyers’ house and Rachel watches helplessly as Lauren is carried away on a stretcher. Amid their turmoil, Rachel and the Meyers’ lives begin to intertwine. When they adopt an ancient spiritual practice called the Counting of the Omer, it leads them down unconventional pathways for answers. Evening Begins the Day shines a light on the complexity of two families in crisis and their transformation from isolation to community, loneliness to hope and healing.

Genres: Fiction, Family Drama, Grief, Jewish

312 pages, Paperback

Published March 24, 2026

About the author

Jessica is the author of five books. Her newest novel, EVENING BEGINS THE DAY, came out on March 24, 2026. Her second novel, Strangers In Budapest, was named a Best Book by Entertainment Weekly, Simple.com, and Chicago Review of Books. It was an Indie Next Pick, and a Southern Independent Books Assn bestseller.

Her debut novel, Night Swim, was a national bestseller. This coming-of-age story deals with a family tragedy, set in Boston, 1970.

Her collection of award-winning stories, Women in Bed, was chosen as one of ten winter reads by Shape Magazine; and praised by Publishers Weekly for its "ability to deliver as much exquisite detail as the stories’ brevity will allow." National Book Circle Critics award winner, Edith Pearlman, lauded the collection, calling Keener “a master of immediacy." Her fiction has been recognized in The Pushcart Prize under "Outstanding Writers."

She is the recipient of a Massachusetts Cultural Council Artist's Grant, creative writing scholarships from Wesleyan University and Brown University, and multiple fellowships awarded by the Virginia Center for Creative Arts as well as a fellowship in Women’s Leadership from the Omega Institute in NY. Her feature articles (more than 100) have appeared in The Boston Globe; O, The Oprah Magazine, WBUR's Cognoscenti, Lilith, Design New England, Writer's Digest, and the award-winning anthology, Alone Together, Love, Grief, and Comfort in the time of Covid-19, winner of the Washington State Book Award.

Reviews

[Booksandcoffeemx · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those stories that really makes you stop and reflect about life, at least it did for me.

What starts as a journey of “escape” after a betrayal turns into something much deeper: a story about new beginnings, grief, and unexpected connections.

I especially loved how Rachel’s life intertwines with Cynthia and her family. One of my favorite takeaways is how easy it is to judge from the outside, we think others have everything perfectly put together, when in reality, everyone is dealing with their own struggles and losses.

I also had no idea about the ritual, the Counting of the Omer, and found myself doing a bit of extra research on it.

It’s definitely more of a slow, introspective read rather than a fast-paced one, but if you’re in the mood for something character-driven that explores vulnerability, community, and hope, this one is worth picking up.

[Christy Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had never heard of Counting of the Omer before reading this book, but I loved learning about it. This family drama was written so thoughtfully that I could really grasp most of the characters and feel their frustration, pain, and angst. The retreat seemed like something many women (definitely me included!) could benefit from. It was a safe space to share and be vulnerable, and my heart went out to each woman. And it seems like Andrea had a wonderful gift for facilitating such a personal retreat. I don’t have much experience with teens, but it seemed like Mr. Glickman was a remarkably intuitive teacher, and that the world could benefit from more teachers like him. This was a really meaningful read for me, and I highly recommend it.

[Sammie Voto · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe if I knew more about Counting of the Omer I would have enjoyed this more. Some storylines were more interesting than others, but over all I felt like nothing really happened. She touched on a lot of important topics (family dynamics, suicide, infidelity) but I didn’t have an emotional connection to any of it.

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Köelher Books for my arc

The Counting of the Omer is such an interesting event and a beautiful way to tell a story of growth and healing. I really enjoyed learning about this and honestly could have read a lot more about this element of the book.

Unfortunately, I really did not connect with the characters of this book as much as I would have liked and struggled to really care about them. I really didn’t see much growth throughout and wished that there had just been more communication between characters.

The conclusion of the book was really nothing special for me. Nothing really felt resolved but I know that perhaps this is just reflective of true life and other people may not feel the same way as I did.

I will say that I loved all of the characters on the retreat and found it much easier to sympathise with this group of women than the main characters.

[Melissa (Nissa_the.bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
💔 have ever been betrayed
😠 understand complex mother/daughter relationships
✡️ are Jewish
😢 enjoy emotional reads

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

After she discovers her husband's infidelity, Rachel Cohen, reeling from hurt and shame, escapes to a rental house in the idyllic town of Woodbury, near Boston. She winds up next door to her colleague Cynthia Meyer, who-unlike Rachel-seems to have everything in this town where parents are high achievers, children excel, and problems are sealed inside well-tended houses. Cynthia's a successful VP in corporate giving, who helped fund Rachel's latest environmental project for elementary kids. Cynthia's husband is a pioneering researcher in breakthrough cancer treatments. Their only child, Lauren, is set to graduate high school in the spring.

Pretenses shatter the day an ambulance pulls up in front of the Meyers' house and Rachel watches helplessly as Lauren is carried away on a stretcher. Amid their turmoil, Rachel and the Meyers' lives begin to intertwine. When they adopt an ancient spiritual practice called the Counting of the Omer, it leads them down unconventional pathways for answers.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

While this one was a bit of a tough read in relation to relatability, I really enjoyed the relationships and how the author portrayed them. Each character felt like they could step off the page and be fully formed. I really felt for Rachel and her marriage betrayal. I have felt the sting of betrayal more times than I’d like, and her hurt resonated from the pages. I do have a daughter, but she’s still an infant, so I haven’t yet experienced the complex relationship that Cynthia had with her. I’m certainly not looking forward to it. But overall, I enjoyed learning about this ancient Jewish tradition, The Counting of the Omer. Even though I’m a Christian, I had never heard of it, and was absolutely fascinated. The way it’s used in the story to help heal the characters just added to the overall depth!

[Chelsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a small town near Boston is an ordinary family on the outside and yet behind closed doors they are all struggling in this relationship. Cynthia feels her teenager daughter is doing everything in her power to make her and their lives more complicated. Cynthia cannot seem to do anything right and Lauren seems to lash out at every little thing. Two months and Lauren will be graduating from high school, but she has put that at risk and if she doesn't get her act together she might not graduate. Cynthia is at her wits end and her husband David seems somewhat oblivious to the seriousness of everything going on and allows Lauren to continue her disruptive behavior. Rachel is taking a break from her husband after finding out he has had an emotional affair with another woman and claims it meant nothing but she was giving text messages that shows otherwise. Confessions of love and many charges for meals and coffee. All those late night meetings are now making sense. Renting the house next door to the Meyer's she hopes will help her decide what to do with her marriage. When they agree to let Lauren complete Counting the Omer to graduate, David is all on board and soon is recruiting others to also complete this Jewish spiritual practice as well. As each person works through the 49 days, they each realize things about themselves, why they've done what they've done and how to work on letting things go. I learned a lot from this novel and had not heard of the Counting of the Omer before. I could see this being a very beneficial way to work towards healing and overcoming hardships in life. Thank you to the author for the complementary novel and to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the invite. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

[Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable, slow burn story with themes of family betrayal, healing, faith and spirituality. This story starts with Rachel Cohen's husband betraying her by having an emotional (not sexual) relationship. The hurt and emotions she goes through are raw and she now feels unsure of where they go from here. Rachel escapes to a rental near Boston, near her coworker, Cynthia. Cynthia and her family seem to have a perfect life, until Rachel notices out the window, Cynthia's daughter Lauren being carried away from the home on a stretcher and into an ambulance. From there, they find a connection through an ancient spiritual practice called the “Counting of Omer”. These two families in crisis, go through a process of healing, and find hope and happiness again through community. I had never heard of the “Counting of the Omer” and liked learning about that ritual. The writing and characters were engaging and interesting. If you enjoy literary fiction and family stories that deal with heartbreak and healing, then I'd definitely recommend giving this a try.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and Suzy approved book tours for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

[Julie B. (readingonthebrink) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Queue 🎶music🎵 from Maggie Roger's "Alaska"

A must read.
Sunrise 🌅, Sunset 🌇
QoTD: When does your day begin?

Today is the 9th day of The Counting of Omer: discipline in discipline / Gevurah ShebeGevurah.
(The book centers on the 3,000+ year old Jewish tradition of the counting of the Omer. )

I felt this deeply, as I grew up the only 'Gentile' in an all Jewish neighborhood. Regardless of religion, sex, ethnicity, nationality or age, I feel this book CAN speak to everyone, if you are willing to listen. Keener takes us to Boston to view normal people caught in the undertow of their personal traumas. People we may or may not identify with, but people we all know.

Keener gives us answers and hope through the ancient tradition of The Counting of The Omer, and her guide, Andrea. I must admit, I underlined SO MANY passages! This novel speaks not only to individual issues, but to community and educational issues, to political and environmental issues, to global issues as a whole.

I'm grateful to @jessicakeenerauthor and @suzyapprovedbooktours for my #gifted physical copy. I cannot wait to see if this gets optioned for the big screen.

[Briann Shear · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title Evening Begins the Day speaks to the fact that in the Jewish calendar days begin at sunset, and the book resonates with a philosophical point of view beginning with the "Counting of the Omer," a 49 day ritual of thinking and discussing certain values to be embraced. This exploration is nicely layered over the personal stories of characters who are experiencing difficult life situations that will resonate with the reader. The ancient philosophy is seen to help with communication and navigation of the issues in their lives.

One character, Rachel says,"No matter what people looked like on the outside, no matter what royal garments they donned, everyone had a desert to cross at some point in their life, a difficult passage: the death of a loved one, a disappointment , a lost job, a robbery, a war, a betrayal everyone had choices to make..." This sensitive book allows us to see this clearly, and see how some are able to understand and make changes that can make life better.

[Amy Shook · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thoughts:
There was a lot in this story I could personally relate to—especially Rachel’s marriage. Her experience echoed some of the struggles that led to the end of my own first marriage, which made her storyline feel especially authentic and emotional.
The strained, often tumultuous relationship between Cynthia and Lauren also struck a chord. Mother-daughter relationships can be incredibly complex, and I saw glimpses of that same push-and-pull dynamic I’ve experienced with my own daughter.
While I found myself more drawn to Rachel’s storyline, I appreciated how all three perspectives were woven together. I also enjoyed learning more about the Jewish faith—particularly the significance of the Counting of the Omer—and the exploration of concepts like mate guarding added an interesting layer to the story.
✨ Read this if you enjoy:
• complex mother-daughter relationships
• stories about infidelity and its aftermath
• emotionally layered, character-driven narratives
• learning about cultural and religious traditions
• characters working through adversity and growth

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such a unique journey. An emotional story of two families in crisis, one with a daughter on the path to self-destruction, the other reeling from the betrayal of an emotional affair. Their lives intersect when they seek healing through an ancient spiritual practice called the Counting of the Omer.

I was reading this book at the perfect time, as Passover began. And as so much of the narrative is steeped in Jewish tradition and practices, it felt like the story was unfolding in real time.

As a mother and a wife, my heart went out to both these families. Yet, I was glad these women could find hope and healing in each other and the community of faith. It does address several sensitive topics. They were handled with care and compassion, helping us understand that everyone has struggles and hardships, and that it is wrong to pass judgment.


Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @jessicakeenerauthor for this gifted eBook via @netgalley.

[Holly Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Evening Begins the Day, Jessica Brilliant Keener delivers a deeply layered story that serves as the perfect antidote to our often information-overloaded, tense, uncertain daily lives. The characters are involved in complex relationships (aren’t we all?) that deliver many of the same plotlines you’ll find in other novels, like infidelity and a rocky mom-daughter relationship, that many readers will relate to directly. What sets this beautifully written, emotional novel apart is the way each character undergoes a profound personal awakening as they discover the value of community and transform their lives through deliberate actions. This is a novel that will give you hope for a better world.

[TarHeelReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t you just love this blue soothing cover? Rachel is starting over in a rental house in a cozy, quiet neighborhood, living next door to her colleague, Cynthia, who for all appearances has the perfect life.

One day, as Rachel watches, Lauren, Cynthia’s daughter, is picked up by an ambulance. From there, the families join together in search of hope and healing, and they do this through a spiritual practice.

Evening Begins the Day is a unique family drama featuring strong characters I could imagine in real life. A reflective, unexpected read in great ways.

I received a gifted copy.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

[Debbie Rozier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This drama is told in three parts and has multiple points of view. It centers around Cynthia who has left her husband, Rachel who is Cynthia’s temporary neighbor, and Rachel’s teen daughter, Lauren.

The book has a strong Jewish rep. The Counting of Omer plays a prevalent part in all of these women’s lives.

I loved the way each woman uses the Counting of Omer has a reflective and restorative time. Relationships play a huge part in the plot and I think that every character is pivotal and placed perfectly to carry out that theme.

[Yehudit Levinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Someone told me not to put a price tag on my pain because pain doesn’t have a market value.”

This book deals with all sorts of emotional problems with the different characters populating the novel. What brings it all together is how they each deal with their troubles through the counting of the Omer.
Although some of the thoughts and interpretations were products of this author and not necessarily taken from Jewish sources, it proved to be very thought provoking for me

trauma can be defined as not having a choice.

[Lisa Albright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting story told from several different viewpoints that focuses on healing and the Counting of the Omer. I was unfamiliar with the practice and I enjoyed learning more about the spirituality behind it. I didn't really connect with the characters in the book, but that was okay because they found connections among each other and that made it a very entertaining read.

I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Danielle B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would classify EVENING BEGINS THE DAY as an interesting family drama story. This was a nice break from my typical high octane thrillers that I always gravitate toward. The author did a great job telling a story that felt authentic and deep!

Many thanks to Jessica Brilliant Keener for my gifted copy.

This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the future.

[Mallory Lutz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting concept but the errors in describing Jewish practices early in the book set up an artificial nature to the framework the author is setting up. It’s a shame since the issues that arise are very real.

[Rachel]

Review to come

[Cheryl Sokoloff]

A journey into the tradition of counting the Oner and the kabalistic beliefs involved.

[Sarah W · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not know anything about the Counting of the Omer before reading this book, but that is okay because it is explained clearly and a character participates in the practice. I liked how the lessons and wisdom that can come from it are universal and everyone can gain something from it. Every character was dealing with some type of struggle and the drama that came from it kept the pace moving. The themes of family dynamics, betrayal, and healing all came through at different times and worked well together.

Thank you @jessicakeenerauthor @suzyapprovedbooktours for the gifted copy.

[Kim Wilch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went in not knowing anything about the Counting of the Omer, and ended up learning a lot while following a story centered on growth and healing. The rotating perspectives kept things interesting, especially as each character wrestled with their own baggage—family tension, betrayal, and all the messy in-between. I actually connected more with the retreat participants than the main characters, partly because the communication gaps got a little frustrating. Still, it’s a thoughtful, layered read that leans into the process of healing.