This is the story of three women - Lucy, Charlotte and Iris - living through a time in American history when the Manson gang held the country in its thrall. When their parents die unexpectedly, Lucy and Charlotte are adopted by Iris, their much older half sister who becomes a mother to them. Iris has led a lonely life until the girls enter her life. Her childless marriage was based on an unusual premise, but she was bereft when her husband died. The girls grow to love Iris for her kind, generous nature. A teen-aged Lucy leaves town with William, a teacher and lover twice her age, leaving no notice of her whereabouts. This is a decision she begins to resent when she is isolated from other people due to Michael's fear of incarceration if he is caught with an underage girl. When their relationship ends horrifically, Charlotte is left to pick up the remaining pieces. Caroline Leavitt writes convincingly about the people and their relationships in this engaging novel. My thanks to Library Thing for the opportunity to review this book.

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