Nicola Kraus was only 24 when she teamed up with a former NYU classmate to write a book that became a phenomenon: an international #1 bestseller that sold more than six million copies and was turned into a film starring Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Alicia Keyes and Laura Linney: The Nanny Diaries.

Twenty-five years later, writing on her own, Kraus has moved on from social satire to produce a powerfully serious novel about families and the weight of their secrets, the choices we make and the reverberations of decisions made for us.

The Best We Can Hope For tells the tale of a teen runaway who realizes that she can’t be a decent mother and gives her three children to her older sister. The blended family thrives . . . until Mom reappears. Years later, the children are left trying to put together the pieces and solve the mystery that has long haunted them: Who were their parents? Who is ultimately to blame for the destruction? And will the answers they seek set them free — or lead to something far more damaging than anyone imagined?

A #1 New York Times bestselling author with over 6 million copies of her books in print in 32 languages, Nicola Kraus is also a creative coach for authors.