What I know now about life is this: your mother is a part of everything you do and everything you are.

It’s a promise ring,” he said solemnly. “The lady at the store said it’s what you give the girl you love. It means I want to marry you someday.

We women make choices for others, not for ourselves, and when we are mothers, we...bear what we must for our children. You will protect them. It will hurt you; it will hurt them. Your job is to hide that your heart is breaking and do what they need you to do.

Nina knew the power of black and white images. Sometimes a thing was its truest self when the colors were stripped away.

It's not a date. I bought my own drink and I didn't shave my legs.

Alice started to cry. It came with no sound, no shuddering, no childlike hysterics, just a soul-deep release that turned into moisture and dripped down her puffy pink cheeks. She touched her tears, frowning. Then she looked up at Julia and whimpered two words before she fell asleep. ‘Real hurts.’

One thing I can tell you for sure is this: we only regret what we don't do in life.