This masterful story explores a lifelong friendship between two contrasting women, set against the backdrop of the 20th century. Celebrated children's book author Agnes Lee is determined to secure her legacy by completing the final volume of her Franklin Square novels and protecting the stunning Maine peninsula known as Fellowship Point. To donate the land to a trust, Agnes must persuade shareholders to dissolve a long-standing partnership, including her best friend, Polly Wister. Polly, a well-off married woman devoted to her family and her philosophy professor husband, finds herself torn between Agnes's wishes and her sons' desires. As she navigates her loyalties, she grapples with her own desires. Complicating matters further, a young book editor, Maud Silver, encourages Agnes to write her memoirs, prompting the resurfacing of long-buried memories and secrets with significant consequences. The narrative unfolds like a classic 19th-century novel, rich in detail and complexity, while addressing contemporary themes such as women's lives, class differences, environmental protection, and the intricacies of intimacy, history, and legacy. This work is a profound exploration of friendship, identity, and the choices that define us.
