First published 2009
Jeffrey Zaslow chronicles the true story of eleven women who grew up together in Ames, Iowa. Karla, Kelly, Marilyn, Jane, Jenny, Karen, Cathy, Angela, Sally, Diana, and Sheila formed deep connections as children that persisted as they scattered across eight states in adulthood. Zaslow documents how their friendship endured through college years, career changes, marriages, motherhood, divorces, and personal crises. The group faced serious challenges including a child's serious illness and the unexpected death of one member. Now in their forties, these women share a collection of memories that span generations and reflect common experiences many women recognize. Through photographs and personal stories, Zaslow explores how female friendships influence major life decisions, self-perception, romantic relationships, family dynamics, and parenting choices. The book reveals how sustained commitment to friendship creates lasting rewards and demonstrates the ways close relationships among women can provide strength during difficult periods.
Genres: family-life, american-fiction, friendship, non-fiction, biography-memoir, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family
Setting: Ames, Iowa
Period: 21st-century
297 pages · Hardcover · Gotham