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Dani, Hannah, and Avery first meet as part of West Point's class of 2004, and while they don't become friends immediately, their bond grows as they navigate the challenges of the high-pressure environment. After graduation, they grow apart: Dani, whose dreams of playing professional basketball are derailed by chronic pain, takes a high-pressure marketing job in London; Hannah is frequently separated from her husband, a fellow army officer, by deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq; and Avery's string of dead-end relationships leaves her doubting her self-worth. When tragedy strikes, the women set aside their differences and rekindle their friendship. Debut novelist Gibson doesn't dwell too long on any of the segments of her characters' lives, choosing instead to provide snapshots of daily life and key events. While the focus is solidly on each of the women's coming of age in the unique environment of the U.S. military, deeper themes, such as racism, sexism, and sexual assault, are also explored. Readers of women's fiction will appreciate the strength and determination of the trio, as well as the insider's view of West Point culture.--Nanette Donohue Copyright 2019 Booklist

Publishers Weekly
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In Gibson's debut, friendship and ambition buoy three young women through life as female cadets at West Point in the late 1990s and through the realities of adulthood in a post-9/11 world. Dani McNalley is known for her remarkable athleticism at West Point, but finds that her abilities in the classroom make her more of a threat to the male-dominated culture. Hannah Speer's drive for excellence leaves her little time for a typical college experience. Talented and beautiful Avery Adams doesn't take well to being sidelined-from the basketball court or her lively social life-and breaks many of the strict rules to vent her frustrations. Though each's competitive nature batters down the first blooms of the threesome's friendship, shared adversity cements a bond that lasts beyond graduation. Deployments, failed relationships, and unsuccessful attempts at careers outside of the military separate the women, and though they try to stay in touch, their fleeting interactions are not enough to sustain the friendship. Just when they feel they no longer really know one another, tragedy strikes, and suddenly they must remember the values that brought them together in the first place. The real-world experiences of the women of West Point come across in realistic dialogue delivered often in the form of email and instant message conversations. This heartening and heartbreaking story is an ode to the strength of friendship. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.