In Boston’s North End, four immigrant women leave childhood behind—but never one another.
For four young immigrant women living in Boston’s North End in the early 1900s, escaping tradition doesn’t come easy. But at least they have one another and the Saturday Evening Girls Club, a social pottery-making group offering respite from their hectic home lives—and hope for a better future.
Ambitious … future.
Ambitious Caprice dreams of opening her own hat shop, which clashes with the expectations of her Sicilian-born parents. Brilliant Ada secretly takes college classes despite the disapproval of her Russian Jewish father. Stunning Maria could marry anyone yet guards her heart to avoid the fate of her Italian Catholic mother, broken down by an alcoholic husband. And shy Thea is torn between asserting herself and embracing an antiquated Jewish tradition.
The friends face family clashes and romantic entanglements, career struggles and cultural prejudice. But through their unfailing bond, forged through their weekly gathering, they’ll draw strength—and the courage to transform their immigrant stories into the American lives of their dreams.
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Great coming-of-age story in a time where standing up for what you want is nearly impossible.
It was a great read
Really enjoyed the book but a little disappointed that the ending was very quick. But really enjoyed the characters and the story.
This piece of historical fiction gives an informative and entertaining picture of young women’s lives in Boston in the early 1900’s.
Easy read. Good character development.
A lovely story of friends at the turn of the last century in Boston
Very inspirational story of immigrant women & high society interacting to make the true American dream become a reality.
Great way to best understand life in the North End of Boston more than a century ago and the many ways we are still the same
I thought it was a little slow moving. Some things seemed to be added just as filler. The characters were interesting. The ending was disappointing.
Pleasant reading about a challenging time for women to find their passion. Nothing earth-shattering. Decent writing.
Loved every minute. it sounds like where I grew up a few years later. Delightful.
Very readable. Loved the character development.
Interesting study of group of women.
I enjoyed the story, the character development, and the time period of this book. I listened to the Audible version, and liked the narration as well.
Loved the story. Very interesting time for these women. Parents are living the old ways from their country and these women are trying to live an American new time life.
I come from just outside of Boston. A lot of the places mentioned were very familiar to me. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Interesting characters
and an inside look at how friendships were affected by war.