If I Knew You Were Going to Be This Beautiful, I Never Would Have Let You Go

“A wise, clear look at what it was to be a young woman at a singular time in our country…a beautiful, accomplished book.”—Katie Crouch, New York Times bestselling author of Girls in Trucks

It is 1972, and America is losing its innocence.  So are the girls of Elephant Beach, a working-class town on the edge of Long Island. Families come here from the city to escape, to protect their kids, but even with the smell of the sea in the air and the quaint bungalow houses lining the streets, trouble can be found if you’re looking for it: drinking and drugs, racial tensions and bar fights, alluring young men back from Vietnam with damage that is not always visible. Soaked in the atmosphere of a once idyllic place undergoing tumultuous change, observant and wise about the struggles young women face, these are beautiful portraits of mothers and daughters, men and women, haves and have-nots that capture the eternal struggle between holding on to what we have, and daring to hope for something more.

READERS GUIDE INSIDE

While major retailers like Amazon may carry If I Knew You Were Going to Be This Beautiful, I Never Would Have Let You Go, we specialize in bulk book sales and offer personalized service from our friendly, book-smart team based in Portland, Oregon. We’re proud to offer a Price Match Guarantee and a streamlined ordering experience from people who truly care.

We’re trusted by over 75,000 customers, many of whom return time and again. Want proof? Just check out our 25,000+ customer reviews—real feedback from people who love how we do business.

Prefer to talk to a real person? Our Book Specialists are here Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST and ready to help with your bulk order of If I Knew You Were Going to Be This Beautiful, I Never Would Have Let You Go.