Perrotta, Tom. The Leftovers.

Ever wonder what life would be like if The Rapture had actually taken place? In The Leftovers, the small town of Mapleton, along with the rest of the world, never have to imagine. On October 14, millions simply vanished, leaving behind family and friends to cope. One family that is not coping very well is that of Mapleton's mayor, Kevin Garvey. Although he did not lose anyone in his family to the rapture, he still finds his life falling apart; his wife has left him to join a cult, "The Guilty Remnant", his previously straight-A student daughter is hanging out with a gang of misfits, and his son has dropped out of college to follow a self-proclaimed prophet around the country. Still, even amongst his personal turmoil, Kevin finds himself drawn to another woman, Nora Durst, who lost her entire family on October 14, and is still struggling to accept her newly-single self. The novel follows Nora, Kevin, and the member's of his family as they attempt to "find themselves" after The Rapture in a world where many things don't make sense anymore.

Even though there is a sci-fi slant to this novel, it is still quintessentially Tom Perrotta. With his trademark style, he introduces us to a community of characters who are finding their own special ways to grieve, all the while infusing their stories with originality and humor.