"It is 1961 and the rural Dutch province of Overijssel is quiet. Bomb craters have been filled, buildings reconstructed, and the war is truly over. Living alone in her late mother's country home, Isabel knows her life is as it should be, led by routine and discipline. But all is upended when her brother Louis brings his graceless new girlfriend Eva, leaving her at Isabel's doorstep as a guest, to stay for the season. Eva is Isabel's antithesis: she sleeps late, walks loudly through the house, and touches things she shouldn't. In response, Isabel develops a fury-fueled obsession, and when things start disappearing around the house--a spoon, a knife, a bowl--Isabel's suspicions begin to spiral. In the sweltering peak of summer, Isabel's paranoia gives way to infatuation, leading to a discovery that unravels all Isabel has ever known"--
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About the author
Yael van der Wouden
Author
Yael van der Wouden is a Dutch writer. Her first novel, The Safekeep, was shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize, and in 2025, she won the Women's Prize for Fiction.
The Safekeep
by Yael van der Wouden
Books Like The Safekeep
If you're looking for books similar to The Safekeep, here are some recommendations based on themes, tone, and narrative style.
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