Lucy's ex-husband William begs her to leave New York and escape to a coastal cottage he has rented in Maine in March 2020. Lucy hesitantly agrees, leaving the dishes in the sink and promising to return in a week or two. Weeks slip into months, and Lucy, William, and their complicated past are alone in a small house snuggled against the sea. Lucy by the Sea, rich in empathy and startling clarity, depicts the fragility and uncertainty of the recent past, as well as the possibilities that those long, peaceful days might inspire. The profound personal connections that sustain us even when the world appears to be breaking apart are at the heart of this amazing story.