The Country Life

Stella Benson travels to the quaint Sussex village of Hilltop to become an au pair for the unpredictable Madden family, leaving her London life and severing ties with her past behind. As she navigates her new environment, her story explores themes of embarrassment, social awkwardness, loneliness, and the varied forms of love. Rachel Cusk's novel delicately examines the complexities of family, connection, and self-discovery in a richly nuanced narrative.