First published 1987
A solitary woman boards a train to an unknown destination. An elderly woman who never married reflects on choices that brought her to this moment. A wife discovers her husband's infidelity and must decide what comes next. These women and others populate Kate Grenville's collection, each facing moments that will reshape their understanding of themselves. One woman prepares to meet her boyfriend's mother for the first time, while another reconnects with college roommates after years apart. A cherished aunt becomes the center of family drama. Two strangers begin an affair that neither expects to last. Each story captures women at crossroads, whether they involve matters of the heart, family obligations, or the simple courage required to move through the world alone. Grenville reveals how ordinary encounters can become turning points and how women find strength in situations that might otherwise diminish them.
Genres: short-stories, literary-fiction, contemporary, womens-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-driven, found-family
Period: 21st-century
168 pages · Paperback · University of Queensland Press