Despite being the older child, Petra has grown up in the shadow of her sister, Caroline. More precocious, more popular, more perfect, Caroline has always stolen everyone’s attention away from Petra.

Now, as Petra and her mother set out to Caroline’s, Petra is overcome with memories of their diverging paths: Petra fading into the background of her own life as Caroline embarked on an exciting career; Petra dating the wrong men as Caroline surrounded herself with interesting people; Petra settling for a conventional marriage while Caroline jetsetted around the world.

Having never truly found her way, Petra had settled into the discontent of her unfulfilled life – always surpassed by her distant younger sister. Their relationship, fraught with missed connections and sporadic visits, unravelled – leaving Petra to wonder how she had failed again.

But upon arriving at Caroline’s, Petra is forced to assess how well she really knows her sister. Her car, her friends, her lifestyle are nothing like Petra imagined – it all seems rather empty, and Petra begins to wonder whether Caroline’s life is as glamorous as it seemed from the outside.

Air and Angels was originally published in 1987.