First published 2012
Mary Ann thought she had found her place among the misfit family at 28 Barbary Lane. The former small-town girl has learned to navigate San Francisco's peculiar social landscape, where grocery stores double as cruising spots and underwear contests can destroy relationships. But this Christmas brings unsettling revelations that shake her understanding of her new world. DeDe's brief joy crumbles around her. Mrs. Madrigal faces the pain of losing someone close. Most disturbing of all, Mary Ann stumbles upon a truth about her neighbor that changes everything she believed. The residents who seemed like such an unlikely but loving family now harbor secrets that threaten their bonds. Mouse continues his search for romance while Mona maintains her cynical outlook, but even their familiar patterns feel different as hidden truths emerge. In this sixth episode, the golden city of 1976 San Francisco reveals its shadows, testing whether the unconventional household can survive when illusions fall away.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, secrets
Setting: 28 Barbary Lane, San Francisco
Period: 1976
500 pages · Kindle Edition · Transworld Digital