An insightful and moving account, The Heart Moves in a Circular Direction tells the story of Ingeborg Gubler Casey, nicknamed "Biby," who must come to terms with her mother's mental illness even as she battles fears that she will succumb to the same disease. While growing up, Biby shares her mother's delusional world but as a teen, conversations with her mother leave her in turmoil. After entering college, Biby tries to focus on her future. She cuts off contact with her mother, and, in her attempts to ward off guilt and anxiety, pretends she has no mother. When her older sister returns for a visit, they decide to visit their mother together. After an absence of ten years, Biby must summon all her courage to face her mother. Despite becoming a psychologist, she has little understanding of her own emotions, especially her conflicting feelings about her mother. After her father's death, as Biby re-engages with her mother, she finds herself embarked on a turbulent journey of self-discovery. She emerges more whole, and, as she begins to truly understand the depth of her legacy, she is brought closer to her mother.