First published 2011
Lisa takes a temporary job selling cocktail frocks at F. G. Goode department store while she waits for her Leaving Certificate results. The Christmas shopping season brings chaos to the second floor, where she works alongside seasoned staff members. Patty Williams struggles with her difficult husband Frank. Sweet Fay faces her usual streak of bad luck. Mrs Jacob measures customers with professional dedication. Across the sales floor, Lisa discovers the elegant world of Model Gowns, presided over by Magda, a sophisticated European refugee who has made Australia her home. The summer unfolds with gentle comedy as these women navigate their daily routines, personal troubles, and small triumphs. St John captures the rhythms of retail work and the bonds that form between colleagues during busy seasons. Lisa's temporary position becomes a window into adult life, revealing both its disappointments and unexpected pleasures.
Genres: fiction, family-life, 20th-century, contemporary, adult-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, slice-of-life
Setting: Australia, F.G. Goode Department Store
Period: Christmas, Leaving Certificate
208 pages · Paperback · Abacus