Heirlooms: A Novel


Answering a woman’s desperate call for help, young Navy widow Helen Devries opens her Whidbey Island home as a refuge to Choi Eunhee. As they bond over common losses and a delicate, potentially devastating secret, their friendship spans the remainder of their lives.

After losing her mother, Cassidy Quinn spent her childhood summers with her gran, Helen, at her farmhouse. Nourished by her grandmother’s love and encouragement, Cassidy discovers a passion that she hopes will bloom into a career. But after Helen passes, Cassidy learns that her home and garden have fallen into serious disrepair. Worse, a looming tax debt threatens her inheritance. Facing the loss of her legacy and in need of allies and ideas, Cassidy reaches out to Nick, her former love, despite the complicated emotions brought by having him back in her life.

Cassidy inherits not only the family home but a task, spoken with her grandmother’s final breaths: ask Grace Kim―Eunhee’s granddaughter―to help sort through the contents of the locked hope chest in the attic. As she and Grace dig into the past, they unearth their grandmothers’ long-held secret and more. Each startling revelation reshapes their understanding of their grandmothers and ultimately inspires the courage to take risks and make changes to own their lives.

Set in both modern-day and midcentury Whidbey Island, Washington, this dual-narrative story of four women―grandmothers and granddaughters―intertwines across generations to explore the secrets we keep, the love we pass down, and the heirlooms we inherit from a well-lived life.

  • The Reviews are In...

    “Four women discover that family comes in many forms in this gorgeous saga from Byrd… Lush and vivid prose brings the setting to life … and Helen and Eunhee’s friendship will melt hearts. This is a gem.”

    PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, Starred Review, PW Picks

  • “Byrd delivers a crossover hit ... This is women’s fiction as it is meant to be written with intriguing characters making decisions that ripple through generations. “

    LIBRARY JOURNAL, starred review

  • “Bestselling author Sandra Byrd blends romance, laughter, community, and family secrets in her novel Heirlooms, a delightful story of uplifting female friendships... Readers will marvel at the strength found in community and the deep connections that can exist between generations.”

    BOOKPAGE, Starred Review

  • “Sandra Byrd’s novels draw me in, hold me tight, and before I even realize it, I am changed in my own story because of the story she has written. HEIRLOOMS is the kind of novel that connects, and weaves change and hope into your heart.”

    ANNIE F. DOWNS, New York Times bestselling author of That Sounds Fun

  • “With the enchanting Puget Sound as a backdrop, Sandra Byrd deftly explores the meaning of family, the great power of love, and the intrinsic worth of each one of us. Here is a compelling story that underscores why we treasure the past and value its echoes. I loved it!”

    SUSAN MEISSNER, bestselling author of The Nature of Fragile Things

  • “Byrd’s riveting intergenerational story of mystery, culture, romance, and hope demonstrates God’s hand in families and his expert care for each aspect of their lives. As a Korean American, I connected to the Korean cultural details and characters.”

    TINA CHO, author of The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story

  • “HEIRLOOMS is one of those beautifully written novels that you’ll want to savor with a mug of hot tea, relishing the gardens on Whidbey Island and every morsel of wisdom passed down through the generations. Sandra Byrd’s past and present-day characters are full of heart and courage as secrets slowly unfold and friendships are restored. Like the sweetness of son-mat in her story, HEIRLOOMS was crafted with great care and creativity in Sandra’s hands. An absolute delight to read!”

    MELANIE DOBSON, award-winning author of The Winter Rose and Catching the Wind

  • “A poignant exploration of the ties that bind us through family and friendship, HEIRLOOMS has it all—secrets, romance, mystery, recipes, a lovely island setting, and far more. At its heart, this unique, well-researched novel is about the legacy we leave moment by moment, day by day, heirlooms that are both timeless and beautiful, if we are willing to embrace the best of the life we’ve been given and gift others along the way.”

    LAURA FRANTZ, Christy Award–winning author of A Heart Adrift

  • “HEIRLOOMS is the kind of story that begs readers to linger. I loved the attention to detail in the historical story line and felt fully transported to Helen and Eunhee’s world, and the modern-day story was equal parts intrigue and charm. From secrets uncovered to relationships gently explored, the richness and depth in this story is meant to be savored. Sandra Byrd delivers a poignant, beautiful read!”

    MELISSA TAGG, USA Today bestselling, Christy Award–winning author

  • “Thoughtful, poignant, and so sharply written you can smell the sun-warmed strawberries, HEIRLOOMS honors friendships that transcend culture and family bonds that transcend time. Sandra Byrd’s memorable characters remind us that we are forged by the lives of generations past and called to plant seeds of hope for the future.”

    STEPHANIE LANDSEM, author of In a Far-Off Land