Told from the perspective of four friends who call themselves The Saving Graces, we get a story of friendship that endures through the ups and downs of life. That seems so trite as I write it but, as we all know, the ups and downs are far from trivial and what they experience touches on some of the hardest things women have to go through. Each chapter is told by one of the graces points of view, so we get a close up look at all of them, but it's what they say when the other one is speaking that tells the most.

The Saving Graces is about friendships all women want. Like Rudy, Lee, Isobel and Emma we have this deep need for friends who understand us, like us just as we are, forgives us when are not likable, wont judge us, be happy when we succeed, and will stand up for us and encourage us when we dont, and in the end, be the ones standing with us when everyone else has left. In other words, know us on a soul level. (Not that we don't long for a very real soul connection with our men- as evidenced by the continued popularity of the too often unrealistic romance novels- we do, but what we long for with women is something different.)

This book was given to me by a friend during a time when as much upheaval was happening in my life, as what was going on in the lives of the characters. She knew I could empathize and knew that it would ultimately be my friendships that saw me through it. Now, as I think on it, I realize what she read in the pages is something she longs for as well- and really, don't we all?

4.5 out of 5.