Therese Belivet works as a temporary shop assistant in a Manhattan department store when she meets Carol Aird, an elegant suburban mother purchasing a doll for her daughter. Therese sends Carol a card, sparking an intense relationship that pulls both women away from their stifling domestic obligations. As they travel across the American Midwest together, a private investigator hired by Carol’s husband tracks their movements to secure evidence for a custody battle. The narrative focuses on the material realities of their flight, including the constant threat of social ruin and the specific legal consequences of their attraction in the 1950s.
This book is for readers of lesbian literature and mid-century fiction who value realistic character development over tragic tropes. It attracts those interested in the historical intersections of motherhood, divorce law, and queer identity. Readers walk away with a depiction of a relationship that survives societal pressure, offering a rare perspective from that era where the protagonists find a way to live together rather than being punished or separated by the plot.
Inward-looking and contemplative; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Empathetic Explorer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1952
- Language
- EN
