The Melting of Molly

In 1912, when a young widow named Molly Carter learns that her former crush is returning after years abroad, she makes a bold decision: she will remake herself before he sees her again. With the help of the kindly local doctor, Molly embarks on a weight loss regimen that proves both hilarious and genuinely moving, a journey that forces her to confront who she was in her marriage, who she wants to be, and whether any of it matters to the man she remembers. Maria Thompson Daviess writes with startling directness about a woman's right to want things, to reinvent herself, to choose happiness on her own terms. The romantic triangle that develops between Molly, the returning Alfred, and Doctor Moore crackles with period-appropriate tension, but the real pleasure lies in watching Molly shed not just pounds but the weight of other's expectations. It's a gem of early feminist fiction disguised as a romantic comedy, with sharp observations about beauty, worth, and the courage it takes to start over.