by Carole King
First published 1978
The characters in this collection navigate the complexities of human connection across different walks of life. King presents ordinary people facing moments when they must choose between self-interest and loyalty to others. A woman decides whether to help a neighbor in crisis. Friends from childhood reconnect after years apart, testing whether their bond survived the changes time brought. Another story follows someone learning to trust again after betrayal. The tensions arise from the gap between what people want for themselves and what they owe to those who care about them. King examines how friendship demands sacrifice, forgiveness, and the courage to be vulnerable. The emotional core lies in the recognition that genuine connection requires people to show up for each other, especially when it costs them something.
Genres: fiction, family-life, friendship, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, second-chance
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
61 pages · Paperback · Blue Mountain Press