Girls Only: Sleepovers, Squabbles, Tuna Fish, and Other Facts of Family Life

by Alex Witchel

"What I learned from my father was the boys' lesson of dealing in the world -- trust no one and win the first time. What I learned from my mother was the girls' lesson -- trust no one and win the first time, but just in case you don't, come home, eat something, talk about it, have a drink, cry a little, then go back out there and try again."

Armed with these family tenets, Alex Witchel goes soul-searching and shopping with the ever-present help of her mother, Barbara, the "human Swiss Army knife who can do it all," and her sister, Phoebe, Alex's perpetual rival and best friend. These three form a family within a family, and with a passionate unity they offer each other sharp, witty, and (occasionally exasperating) insights on everything from men, pedicures, and careers to sibling rivalry, the challenges of stepparenting, and the pains of aging and loss.

Insightful, poignant, and hilarious by turns, Girls Only is a memoir that celebrates the one thing that remains "for women only"...mother/daughter/sister love.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Alex Witchel is a staff writer for The New York Times Magazine and also writes "Feed Me," a monthly column for the Times Dining section. The author of the novels The Spare Wife and Me Times Three, she lives in New York City with her husband, Frank Rich.

Reviews

[Lilli Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a good book, but I also found out by reading it that I’m not the biggest fan of memoirs

[Magda · Rating 3 out of 5]

the book is so much different than my relationship with my mom was and still is.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An "OK" read. Not a thriller or screaming laughter, just lots of observations on family dynamics between sisters and mothers.

[Valissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Plenty of time to be spirited later on. But when is later? And how fine a line is there between spirited and dangerous?"

[Rusty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a light read about relationships between two sisters and their mother. Fun, quick and relaxing read. Makes one think about one's own relationships with sisters and her mother.

[Sarah Draheim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book made me think about my mom quite a bit. I miss her, so it was a nice way to connect with her again.

[Sue Kozlowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Manhattan. Alex, her mom Barbara, and sister Phoebee.