Winner of the GLCA New Writers Award A smoldering debut novel about a young mother in an Orthodox Jewish community of Los Angeles whose quest for authenticity erupts in a passionate affair following a night of wife swapping Rina Kirsch is a young mother and Modern Orthodox Jew in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood of Los Angeles. Dutifully keeping to the formidable expectations of a traditional household connects Rina with generations past and those to come. But a contradiction burns at her center: Rina is an atheist. She is also stymied in her life and marriage. Hoping to reinvigorate their relationship, Rina’s husband convinces her to partake in a night of wife swapping with other Orthodox couples. Rather than preserve her marriage, however, the swap plunges Rina down a heady path that begins with a rekindled passion for painting and culminates in an intoxicating affair with Will Ochoa, her married art teacher. Clandestine rendezvous and stolen moments of ardor awaken Rina to an existence beyond the confining parameters of tradition, offering a glimpse at the possible life she left behind in the olive groves of her youth. As the blush of erotic thrill comes into sharp contrast with the complications of living a secret life, Rina must decide if it’s worth sacrificing everything she’s ever known to fully inhabit the uncharted landscape unfolding before her, one where her needs take precedence. Told in the fevered tenor common to both lust and religious devotion, Olive Days is an unforgettable story of the agonizing choices women make to balance duty against desire. Winner of the GLCA New Writers Award Finalist for the LA Times Book Prize Longlisted for the Reading the West Book Awards Los Angeles Daily News , A Most Anticipated Summer Read Zibby Media , A Most Anticipated Title for Fall/Winter "Emerson’s first novel deftly captures the longings of a woman trapped between passion and obligation." —Becky Meloan, The Washington Post "Stunning, steamy and unique." — People "Immediately provocative and lures you to read more." — Playboy "Emerson’s writing is heavy in detail but never bogs down on the page. Her vivid descriptions of Los Angeles have one eye on greenery and the other on concrete, framing unexpected metaphors and connecting moments of beauty and devotion . . . A clever and brief switch in narration two-thirds through propels Olive Days to its conclusion while also revealing the depths of delusion between the lovers, how deeply they have fallen."—Jessica Blough, Alta "Made my jaw drop . . . If you're tired of the same old same old, I can assure you that Olive Days is unlike anything you've read before." —Marion Winik, WYPR's The Weekly Reader " Olive Days is begging to be discussed among friends . . . Beautiful prose . . . Olive Days is a promising debut novel for fans of Jami Attenberg and Nicole Krauss that I can see being a thought-provoking book club selection." —Sarah Stiefvater, PureWow "[A] smart, steamy first novel." —Phyllis Braun, Arizona Jewish Post " Olive Days is a brilliant exploration of the lasting power of Jewishness, of Jewishness that’s not dependent on belief . . . Emerson is an incredibly acute observer . . . Olive Days is a fantastic debut novel." —Karen E. H. Skinazi, Jewish Journal "If you’re looking for a steamy novel to read around the fireplace this fall involving a Modern Orthodox mother, a night of wife swapping, and an affair with a married art teacher, I have just the book for you . . . Emerson aptly details what it’s like to live a life that was never meant for you—a life molded by traditions and duties over desire." —Bonnie Azoulay, Kveller "Luscious . . . Olive Days forces us to break away from our own lists of tasks and assump­tions, to savor Rina’s story’s lumi­nes­cence. Emer­son is a stun­ning styl­ist whose words burn on the page. Her nov­el is sen­su­ous, yet it’s not just about sex and scan­dal. Rather, Emerson’s heady prose cap­tures the ache of won­der­ing what we tru­ly wor­ship and why." —Jessie Szalay, Jewish Book Council "[A] steamy debut." —Sam Franzini, Our Culture Mag "Skillfully told, Olive Days , is a story of unbridled passion, lust and introspection . . . Olive Days is an intense and profound story that combines religion, tradition and lust . . . Thought-provoking and deep, Olive Days is a fascinating story." —Evie Harris, Fresh Fiction "A very lustful book about sex and religion. What do we want from these things? Can they coexist? Can you be yourself with both or none? The questions tackled in the book are tackled in a careful and sincere manner. A very hot book, indeed." —Adam Vitcavage, Debutiful "Emerson’s first novel is intriguing, particularly with Rina's coarse and profane speech reflecting her jaded view of her religious environment. Rina's struggle to find belonging and self-love while trapped in a suffocating predicament will capture readers who find such journeys meaningful