In the grip of the 1970s, Diane Aziz's descent into depression marks a turning point for her family as she enters a state hospital in California, leaving behind her role as a single mother. The novel unfolds the lives of her children in her absence; Walter, at the cusp of adulthood, embarks on a struggle between his newfound passion for architecture and the financial precarity that threatens his academic aspirations. His sister Lina battles societal boundaries and personal endeavors, dreaming of an Ivy League future while toiling in an ice-cream parlor. And then, there's Donny, the youngest, who finds himself on a treacherous path of drugs and disconnect on LA's beaches. 'Commitment' delves into the essence of family duty, friendship, and the enduring impact of a mother's dreams for her children in a testament to the resilience of those facing the challenges of parental illness.