Joy for Beginners

『美味人生烹飪課』作者艾瑞卡．包曼斯特最新作品！

　　如果，人生有第二次機會，你的心願是？

　　溫暖的八月夏夜，一場親密溫馨的晚宴，七個好朋友齊聚，為大病初癒的凱蒂慶祝！席間，眾人力勸凱蒂把握新生，參與女兒邀請的激流泛舟活動，但凱蒂猶豫不決，直到瑪麗安建議，七個好友都應該在今年完成一件擱置已久的心願，克服心中猶豫恐懼。於是，有人的任務是刺青，友人的任務是清除捨不得放手的過去。這七個女性的故事交錯，編織出一幅幅動人畫像，以及同性友誼的動人……(文/薩蘭嘉德)

　　What would you do with a second chance at life?

　　Having survived a life-threatening illness, Kate celebrates by gathering with six close friends. At an intimate outdoor dinner on a warm September evening, the women challenge Kate to start her new lease on life by going white-water rafting down the Grand Canyon with her daughter. But Kate is reluctant to take the risk.

　　That is, until her friend Marion proposes a pact: if Kate will face the rapids, each woman will do one thing in the next year that scares her. Kate agrees, with one provision – she didn't get to choose her challenge, so she gets to choose theirs. Whether it's learning to let go of the past or getting a tattoo, each woman's story interweaves with the others, forming a seamless portrait of the power of female friendships. From the author of The School of Essential Ingredients comes a beautifully crafted novel about daring to experience true joy, starting one small step at a time.