Just Jennifer

The Invisibles by Cecilia Galante (William Morrow)

Nora has living a quiet life the past fifteen years since she left her three best friends and Turning Winds home for girls: she lives alone but in the same town, works as a librarian and takes the same walk everyday with her dog Alice Walker.  On the morning of her 32 birthday, she receives a call from Ozzie, the most outspoken of their group, dubbed the Invisibles, out of the blue.  She has not spoken with Ozzie, nor Grace nor Monica since they left Turning Winds fifteen years ago.  Ozzie has received a call from Grace’s (now Petal) husbands asking that the three women travel to Chicago to help Grace who has recently given birth and since attempted suicide.  Nora is reluctant to go, but Ozzie is persuasive.  When the women reunite in Chicago, Nora is surprised to see that Monica has remade herself physically, but her insecurities from the past still linger.  Grace is a talented artist with a caring a supportive husband and beautiful baby girl but continues to battle depression.  Ozzie, who was the one who always spoke her mind and seemed so sure of herself has three young children but an abusive husband.  When the women realize that not only is Grace in distress but Monica is in trouble with the law, they take a road trip to New York City where they renew their bonds and face the anger toward each other each has held onto and learn to accept not only each other for what they are, and to forgive each other, but to accept themselves and forgive themselves.