Now I See You

A woman recounts what happened after she was told she had only ten to fifteen years of vision remaining in this “laugh-out-loud memoir” (Booklist).

“Hilarious and profoundly heartwarming, Now I See You will change the way you see the world.” —Kimberly McCreight, New York Times–bestselling author of Reconstructing Amelia

At nineteen years old, Nicole C. Kear's biggest concern is choosing a major—until she walks into a midtown Manhattan doctor’s office and gets a life-changing diagnosis. She is going blind, courtesy of an eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa, and has only a decade or so before Lights Out. Instead of making preparations as the doctor suggests, Kear decides to carpe diem and make the most of the vision she has left. She joins circus school, tears through boyfriends, travels the world, and through all these hi-jinks, she keeps her vision loss a secret.

When Kear becomes a mother, just a few years shy of her vision's expiration date, she amends her carpe diem strategy, giving up recklessness in order to relish every moment with her kids. Her secret, though, is harder to surrender—and as her vision deteriorates, harder to keep hidden. As her world grows blurred, one thing becomes clear: no matter how hard she fights, she won’t win the battle against blindness. But if she comes clean with her secret, and comes to terms with the loss, she can still win her happy ending.

Told with humor and irreverence, Now I See You is an uplifting story about refusing to cower at life’s curveballs, about the power of love to triumph over fear. But, at its core, it’s a story about acceptance: facing the truths that just won’t go away, and facing yourself, broken parts and all.

“Hilariously inspiring . . . Kear’s book is a showstopper.” —People

“Her story is spunky and full of a zest for life that will open the eyes of readers to the little joys of the world. A tender memoir about love, life, and going blind.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Nicole Kear has a story we are wise to absorb. Now I See You will have you rethinking every detail of your day. And she can write. She can really write.” —Kelly Corrigan, New York Times–bestselling author of Glitter and Glue