Synopses & Reviews
In this poignant and transformative novel, bestselling author Kris Radish weaves a tale of five women yearning for change—and the potential for happiness that lies within every heart.
Free-spirited psychologist Dr. Olivia Bayer suspects she’ll need a miracle to help the four wildly different women in her anger management class. Grace, a single working mother, can barely find a moment’s rest. Jane, a high-profile real estate agent, is struggling in the recession. Kit, in her fifties, has had it with her taunting older brothers. And Leah, a young mother of two, is starting over after ending a troubled relationship. All have reached a crossroads, and Dr. Bayer has an unconventional plan to steer them on the right track. As the class gets taken everywhere from a bowling alley to a shooting range, the women’s Tuesday meetings transform from tense, reluctant gatherings into richly rewarding experiments in female bonding. As Grace, Jane, Kit, and Leah open up—revealing secrets, swapping stories, and recovering long-lost dreams—old wounds begin to heal, new friendships are forged, and miracles manifest in the most surprising ways.
About the Author
Kris Radish is the author of Hearts on a String, The Shortest Distance Between Two Women, Searching for Paradise in Parker, PA, The Sunday List of Dreams, Annie Freeman’s Fabulous Traveling Funeral, Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn, and The Elegant Gathering of White Snows. She lives in Florida.
Reading Group Guide
1. The four women in this book who are ordered into anger management treatment crossed an invisible "anger" line for what is acceptable. Have you ever been close to or crossed the line?
2. Does society have different anger rules for men and women?
3. Olivia's treatment plan is far from traditional but she seems to do a good job of helping these women move forward. How do you feel about the way she handled this special class?
4. Many themes were addressed in this book beyond anger, including letting go of a child, domestic violence, family drama, unrealistic personal expectations, guilt and possible incest. Do any of these important issues stand out in your life or in the life of someone you know?
5. Developing adult anger coping methods is an important aspect of all of our lives. How do you cope with anger?
6. Grace is having a difficult time juggling her life's load and letting go of her younger daughter. How difficult is it to balance your expectations against those of someone you love?
7. People are often critical of domestic violence victims like Leah for not leaving a physically or emotionally abusive relationship. Why do you think it's so hard for some women to leave?
8. Olivia works hard to infuse some frivolity into her unique treatment plan. How important is it for you to have balance in your own life?
9. Have you ever known a career- and success-obsessed woman like Jane who finds it nearly impossible to connect on an emotionally true level?
10. Kit has kept a deep, dark secret for most of her life. Do you think society is more open to revelations like hers now?
11. It's clear that Olivia is working hard to show these women how much they have to lose if they don't move forward and address the issues that drove them to cross the line. Have you ever thought about what you might lose if you crossed the same line?
12. Female friendship is an important underlying theme in this novel. Is it possible to find commonality with women in your own life who at first glance might not seem to have anything in common with you?
13. Olivia's best friend and confidant is her remarkable dog, Phyllis. How do you feel about the importance of animals in our lives?