Olympia (or Pia) - an events coordinator at a museum and single mum to Lola - is the artistic and beautiful one. Imperia (or Perri) is married with three children and runs a home organisation company. She's the perfect one. Then there's lawyer Augusta (or Gus), the lesbian and political one. These three sisters have always played the roles set down by their domineering mother. But with Perri contemplating a fling with her college ex; Pia wondering about the mysterious man who signed up to be her sperm donor; and Gus finding herself drawn not only to a guy - but the brother of her brother-in-law, it seems the sisters are about to shake things up. This is an accomplished story, which nicely demonstrates women coming to terms with themselves and their family dynamics.
Wendy and Daphne have been best friends for 15 years. During that time, Wendy has always been there for Daphne, offering a shoulder for Daphne to cry on and giving her much-needed advice when she gets in over her head. And the truth is that Wendy likes it this way. She prefers to be the strong one in the relationship, always coming to the rescue of her overly dramatic wreck of a best friend. However, when Daphne's life begins to turn around and she marries the perfect husband, renovates her dream brownstone in the best part of Brooklyn, and becomes pregnant with the child that Wendy can't seem to conceive, Wendy finds herself having a very hard time being happy for her best friend. In fact, she realises that she is downright jealous of Daphne and the way her life is moving forward, while Wendy seems to be stuck in a dead-end job with a slacker husband in a run-down apartment. The author does an excellent job of exploring the often tenuous relationships between best friends and the surprising feelings that come to light as their lives begin to travel down different paths. At times during the book, you will find yourself sympathetic to both Daphne and Wendy, always aware that there is sometimes a fine line between love and hate in female friendships. Anyone who has ever had a hard time being happy for a friend's good fortune when your life seems to be stuck will relate to this story. (LEK)
