When Antonia's (Toni) mom, Evie, suffers a massive stroke, Toni runs to be by her side even if things have not always gone smoothly between them. Back in her childhood home Toni discovers secrets about her past connected to Evie's sister Annabelle who disappeared fifty years ago the night before her wedding. Toni also discovers the little black dress and its magical element that changes their family drastically but finally reunites them.

I read this book in two days, quickly becoming engrossed in the two stories it tells: Antonia's and Evie's. It's a story about forgiveness, acceptance and the complicated love between mothers and daughter and between sisters. The story is told in alternating chapters between Antonia and Evie. Both were interesting, but I liked Evie's story more because it was in the past, uncovering the details of what truly happened that shaped all of their lives and ultimately also Antonia's. I did not mind the back and forth, actually it made me want to read faster to get back to the other time period.

McBride created a cast of characters beautifully and almost effortlessly. I could see them very well in my mind's eye, especially the mysterious and unrestrained Annabelle. We get to know Evie through her own story from childhood to motherhood, but also through her daughter Toni's eyes. McBride is a gifted storyteller that infuses her work with subtle magical elements while keeping the drama real and believable. There were times where you could clearly see where it was heading, a foreboding of what was to come, sad as it was because of mental illness, yet it was filled with promised hope. It's essentially a feel-good book about the power of family bonds and a little black dress, of course.

The author begins her book with a quote from Coco Chanel, “A woman without a little black dress has no future.” Once I finished the novel I noted that this quote truly summarizes the book perfectly! The little black dress really symbolized what we secretly desire and what we will do to make it happen. After all, what woman has not donned her little black dress and not felt special, exuding what we love to think of as girl power? After reading this book, you will never see your little black dress in the same way.

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