Five Brides

Working-class Chicago culture comes alive in Everson’s (Unconditional) bird’s-eye view of feminine friendship, faith, family, and romance during the early 1950s. Betty, Joan, Evelyn, Magda, and Inga find themselves gathered under the roof of a fairly small apartment, dreams in hand, career aspirations in their hearts. Their friendship grows out of being together under one roof and flourishes, somewhat, through the heartaches of romance and the pitfalls of a rapidly changing culture. Their journey brings them to a department store one Saturday afternoon, where they find a perfect wedding dress and decide to share it, even though not one of them is yet engaged. Their paths eventually diverge, with each woman finding her own way yet always connected by their garment of hope. Though it’s a touching tale of heartbreak and happiness, the rapidly shifting focus on five different lives gives the narrative a cluttered, rushed air, culminating in a predictable, somewhat disappointing ending. Agent: Jonathan Clements, Wheelhouse Literary Agency. (June)