Whether it's a walk down memory lane or a tentative peek into the future, this novel makes for a rich and rewarding read. They were four friends and they had their lives all planned out, until the stream of life engulfs them each in a separate torrent, leading them in ways they never dreamed of. Strong, well-drawn characters, a hard-hitting and realistic plot, and the gentle sensitivity and wisdom woven throughout this delicious novel provide an entertaining, page-turning experience. This story echoes the universal hopes we all share, the delicate and complex threads of friendships that bind us together, and the events that conspire to keep us apart. How can it be that popular, pretty, sweet Nava is still single? Shifra can't answer that question properly; she's struggling to keep her head above water as her marriage becomes mired in disillusionment and unmet expectations. Always the intellectual, Bracha begins to question where she's holding in life and what she's really achieved, while Chana Rivka waits longingly for the day when the cries of a child will fill her beautiful apartment. Satisfying and enjoyable with just the right blend of light-heartedness and the trials and tribulations of real life.