Noisy New York is left behind. Alice leaves work and follows her husband to a quiet suburb. And now she stands on the threshold of a large house, which she will soon hate for the endless feeling of loneliness.But it was not always like this. Nellie used to live here. She talked to roses, smoked strong cigarettes, and read articles about saving a marriage while pouring cold lemonade into her glass.Years later, Alice will find her predecessor's cookbook, but the recipes will not be the most valuable. "Brown did it! Fans of modern old-fashion stories will read the novel in one day. – Library Journal“This is the story of how patriarchy affected the lives of women in the 1950s and how it continues to do so today.” – Kirkus