Women Within

by Anne Leigh Parrish

With themes of reproductive rights and feminism, this multi-generational novel presents three women whose paths cross at the Lindell Retirement Home. Constance Maynard, fierce, independent and proud, reflects on her long life promoting women’s rights through her career as a professor of history. Eunice Fitch, the perfect caregiver, is often unlucky in love, yet even in middle age refuses to give up searching for the perfect man. Sam Clark is a young aide with a passion for poetry, and small beautiful things, but at war with her own large, ungainly physique. All together they weave a tapestry as rich and complex as the female experience itself.

Genres: Fiction, Amazon, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Adult Fiction, Feminism

224 pages, Paperback

Published September 7, 2017

About the author

Award-winning writer Anne Leigh Parrish's fourth collection of poetry, THE BANISHED AND THE DEAD, arrives March 10, 2026 from Unsolicited Press. Her ninth novel, A BROKEN WINDOW, published on June 20, 2025 as part of Unsolicited Press's Year of Womxn. Her third poetry collection, DIARY OF A FALSE ASSASSIN, arrived right before Christmas, also from Unsolicited Press. Other Recent titles are THE HEDGEROW, a novel; A SUMMER MORNING, a novel; IF THE SKY WON'T HAVE ME, poems; AN OPEN DOOR, a novel; A WINTER NIGHT, a novel; and THE MOON WON'T BE DARED, a poetry collection. She is the author of eight other books, most notably MAGGIE'S RUSE, and THE AMENDMENT, both novels. She has recently ventured into the art of photography and displays her work at www.laviniastudios.com. She lives among the evergreen trees in the South Sound region of Washington State. Find her online at her website, Medium, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, Bluesky, and Goodreads.

Reviews

[Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

FirstLine ~ The Lindell Retirement Home was lovely.

This book is so rich in characters that you will immediately be sucked in. In a setting that builds upon the characters and their unlikely connection, Parrish writes a story that every woman will be able to relate to. You will be moved by this story and it will stay with you long after you are fished with this book.

[Corinne B · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a multigenerational book about three women, whose paths converge at Lindell Retirement Home. Constance is a fierce, independent woman, who is also a mother but never married. The novel begins with her reflects on her long life promoting women's rights through her career as a professor and the barriers she encountered in the field of academics as a woman. Eunice is a caregiver at Lindell, who has never experienced true, lasting love, but doesn't want to give up on the possibility. Through terrible relationships and being taken advantage of, Eunice has a spirit that cannot be broken. Sam is the youngest caregiver, who has always been bullied and referred to as the "big girl." She works hard and defends the people she loves, despite the costs to herself.

Through the book, you get to know each woman independently from the other, as they share their experiences and reflections on being a woman in the 20th century. Despite the advancements that women had made during that time, equality was far from achieved. If you love character-driven novels with lots of girl power and feminism, this book is for you.

Anne Leigh Parrish has a strong voice, that carries throughout the entirety of the novel. I loved each of the characters and their unique stories of strength, passion, and a love for life.

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a free copy!

[Michele Benchouk · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could not get into this book. It goes through the lives of three women in different generations, but their lives are so hard. None of the female characters are particularly likable, and the men they get involved with were pretty pathetic. In addition, there is so much detail that the story gets bogged down and doesn't really flow like a book you get pulled into.

The best thing about this book was the tapestry, its history, and its working by several women -- a shared testimony. I also love needlework and can understand Constance's fascination with the weavings.

Despite some better moments, the book was too sullen for me to enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for a free copy of this book to read and review. All opinions above are my own.

[Lex Nuttall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating read from different angles.

This book definitely strays away from my normal genres of reading but that being said I enjoyed it enough to get through it in a day. It was fascinating to read about life as women from different times in both life and society - however with the underlying theme of feminism and being a strong, smart, independent and fiercely capable woman, in what can be a difficult world staying the overall same. It was great to read of the career successions of some characters, but also at the cost which it personally cost. I would have loved to experience more through Constance’s eyes, although this didn’t effect the story much it’s just a personal preference.

Also, I did spot a small mistake within the book. When discussing the name of Beau, it says ‘same’ rather than ‘name’.

Other than that my complaints about this story are very little and it’s a different read from normal novels for me. Enjoyable and thought provoking.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the Kindle version, but don't see that as an option here.

5 stars

What a wonderful book!

Constance Maynard lives in a retirement home. She is fierce, independent and outspoken. She is a woman after my own heart. (When I get to be her age, if I am fortunate, I want to be like her.)

Her caregivers are Sam Clark and Eunice Fitch. Sam is what is euphemistically said to be “a big girl.” ((Oh, I hate that term.) Eunice is kindly and generous, but seems to be rather doomed at love – or so she believes.

Constance never married, but has a daughter. But we learn far more about that in the novel. “Oh, what a tangled web we weave…” She was a professor of history and an ardent defender and promoter of women’s rights. This is a very important theme in the book and makes it sing with promise.

I really liked this book. It was well written, almost lyrical in its wording. The plotting was very fine. The characters were believable and likeable. These three women forge a bond that is heartwarming and made me smile.

I want to thank Reagan Rothe / Creator, Black Rose Writing for forwarding to me a copy of this most wonderful book to read and enjoy.

[Carmen Blankenship · Rating 5 out of 5]

Women Within by Leigh Parrish is one of the books that take you by surprise. It's not a heart pounding grab by the throat novel but a novel rich in characters.

Women Within is is about three very different women at the Lindell Retirement Home. Constance, who is in her eighties, reflects back on her life as a scholar and fierce advocate of women and women's rights. This is all at a time in history when strong women were still consist threat.

Sam and Eunice both work at the retirement home. We follow both women as they try and find there way to self acceptance and happiness.

I was a little confused at first that Eunice and Sam became central characters since the beginning of the novel is so focused on Constance, her daughter, and her step mom Lois. Regardless I enjoyed the book and the writing was so smooth I hardly noticed the time fly by. I will definitely be seeking out other books by the author.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book

My mother is 92 and I recently toured a few retirement communities like the one in this book, and the writer described them perfectly — down to the smell of the carpet!

The characters were absolutely believable and very different from each other and that was the gist of the story. From a woman in her 90s, to a woman in her 50s, to a woman in her 40s, to a woman in her 20s, she covered every generation beautifully. How she wove those characters together and crafted a story about them as a group was masterful. The prose, from narrative to dialogue was extremely well written. I found myself 75% through the book and wanting to know how she would put a bow on everything.

The cool thing is she really didn’t, yet kind of did.

You’ll have to read it yourself to understand.

I had to finish it so the 75% to 100% took me four hours. On a workday. Shame on me.

[Tenisia Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books like this!

I love Books that really take time for you to get to know the characters.
The Lindell retirement community is where we start with three women Constance, Eunice and Sam.
The women are - Constance is an elderly woman, her care taker Eunice and Sam.
Constance is a retired feminist professor. Eunice is a natural caregiver who has bad taste in men and Sam is a “big boned” insightful young woman.

[Debbie Shoulders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parrish explores the uniqueness of woman focusing on three characters whose lives (and choices) have left them mostly alone. Constance, a history professor chose work and embroidery, independent of men until she retires to assisted living. There is she is taken care of by Eunice and Sam. While Eunice is good at taking care of others, she is less so with herself, often taken in by manipulation. Sam, told she was a child of rape, is scorned by her grandparents and take refuge in poetry.

Parrish makes clear that each character is influenced by the circumstances of their childhood but upon entering adulthood, it is the choices they make that reflect their life. Underlying all of this is the idea of womanhood in the society: equal respect in the work place, the taint of unmarried pregnancy, and being used for men's needs rather than love are but a few of the issues.

[Barbara Ginsberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

I borrowed from the library on a lark. I wanted to read the author’s book, The Amendment, but it wasn’t in circulation. Not a bad read. I just expected more. Characters were interesting but the plot was flat.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t have much to say on this book. It was just ok. It tells the story following three women who are connected by one single place (2 work there and one is a resident). I thought he first story was well written and put together, but then it just went kind of off track. I didn’t find a connection. It was an easy read, but I do not recommend it.

[Kathleen Kane]

Three strong women who were not likable people. The men in their lives were not likable either. The only thing that held these 3 women together was the tapestry and the retirement home. The storyline was rather weak in my opinion.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about 3 women who meet in a Retirement home. This is not the kind of book you finish and say that was a inspiring read. The book overall is depressing, one women is intelligent with no social skills, another makes extremely poor choices in boyfriends and the last women has low self esteem. Just not a celebration of women.

[M.M. Schreier · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the worst kind of Women’s Lit in my opinion. On the surface it’s about gender roles and empowerment and complicated women who overcome adversity, but when you interpret the subtext it reinforces a whole bunch of societal programming.

Constance is strong, independent, and continuously bucks gender roles—to the point that she specifically chooses to adopt her younger half-sister and claim her as daughter in a time where single motherhood is a stigma in order to thumb her nose at society. Yet, there’s a strong undercurrent of unhappiness and lack of fulfillment and regret that she didn’t have the husband, family, white picket fence “ideal.”

Eunice completely defines her self-worth by her relationship with men, and only finds a meager sense of happiness by settling for a one who provides some sense of companionship, if not the romantic love and full connection she longs for. The author presents a “happy ending” for her by giving her the opportunity to start her own business. However, the only way that happens is for the same said man to provide the cash and become a partner—rescued by the white knight.

Sam is also a deeply unhappy character, with self-esteem issues. There is a strong correlation that her “happy ending” is the direct result of a boost in confidence brought on by a new friend—who has the potential to become something more—which leads to her reaching out to her biological father. Ironically, this is where her story ends, without giving us any insight into a situation that has the potential to be emotionally complicated. It leaves the whole tale feeling unfinished and unsatisfying.

[Shannon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yeah...not great. Had we parsed out all the references and discussion of sex...that for no apparent reason had to be in there, it may have some reasonable plot points. The only ending that was any fun to read was Sam's. The rest are just sad. Not every book has a happy ending, I get it, but the astronomical levels of hopeless stupidity and stuck-in-life problems were hard to get through. And for as many people that feel stuck in their lives, many more make choices to change life for themselves.

[Paula · Rating 1 out of 5]

It just ended

Liked it all the way through. . Then I turned a page and it said "The end" kind of disappointing

[Ryley (Ryley Reads) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was less of a strongly-plotted novel about women and feminism, and more a character study of women over the decades. I didn't necessarily dislike this difference, but I found it a bit slow and lacking in a plot or direction. Ultimately, I wasn't able to finish this book.

Thanks so much to Book Sparks for sending me a copy of this book for an honest review, as always, all opinions are my own.

As I mentioned, this book follows a bunch of women from the turn of the century onward. From an elderly patient to a young health care aide and everything in between, the women of the story are all related and connected to one another. They examine their own lives, from adopting a child without a husband, making strides in a male-dominated career, fighting against the oppression of being a mother, and proving themselves capable of living without a man to help them. Each of the three main characters interacts with additional women who add their own stories and insight to their problems.

I found the writing of this book to be fairly well done. It wasn't anything too lyrical, but it flowed nicely enough where I could read it fluidly. Each of the three characters perspectives is told in the third person, so it didn't really matter too much if they sounded similar, because you saw their name every few lines. The narrative wasn't so personal as it was telling the story on a larger scale, so third-person POV worked in this case.

I'm not quite sure I agree with Parrish's portrayals of feminism. I was really excited to read a book like this because it heralds itself as a champion of feminism but I think there were a few flaws in that. I know there are different waves of feminism (thank you, English class!) and I suppose this book looks at some of them over a more modern viewpoint of feminism. The characters seemed to think that just because you were doing something that wasn't socially accepted as a woman, that was feminism. There's manipulation, meanness to other women, and unbelievably, one point where one character threatens to claim sexual assault to get her way. Not only is this deeply problematic and something we are still working hard to fight against today, but has no place in a book that calls itself a feminist text.

In the end, I was unable to finish this book. I think it was a combination of the story itself and the way the issues were presented. I made it to page 112, so maybe things get better after that? I'm not sure.

Overall, while I wanted to enjoy this book, I was not able to finish it because of the issues I had with it.

[Mary Latela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anne Leigh Parrish and her Stunning Exploration of Three Women
Reviewed by Mary E. Latela @LatelaMary

Anne Leigh Parrish is the brilliant story-teller who brings the reader into the depths of deep emotion, particularly regret and bitterness. Women Within is her latest book, a gem woven together on many levels, and nicely connected by a mysterious tapestry sewn by at least four distinctive hands, some stitches even and tight, others ragged and mismatched. Constance, Meredith, and Sam live or work at the Lindell Home and their lives intertwine in ways too intense to describe in simple sentences. Constance is proud of her independence, and seems to have forgotten that women’s power was obtained slowly, deeply, and painfully. Readers over fifty may remember that you could not obtain a credit card unless your husband lent you his surname.

In academia, a woman could push too hard, only to be pulled back by an advisor who prevented her from fulfilling her dream of excavating her master’s work the fifteenth century queen, who promised to offer bright parallels to the struggles of women through the past several centuries. Constance studied in Providence, then Boston, but when her doctoral advisor put limitations on the study, she readily obeyed and spent those precious years trying to please a man who was constrained by lack of discipline and resentment toward his female colleagues.

Eunice is a caregiver in personality, but in her profession there are few steps to excellence. She enjoys working with women patients, but she gives so much you wonder when burnout will pull her apart. The youngest, Meredith, is big, bold, and flashy. She confronts Constance – why have you never referred to our common history as the abandoned daughter of a mentally ill mother, visiting days in an institution, parceled out to “good people,” afraid to go out into the world. And yet, together they expect a better tomorrow.

Anne’s book sharply awakened in me the realization that what made it so hard to live as a feminist is that we did not talk to one another. We did not honor our stories, and learn from them.

[Lynda Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a tricky one to score for me. The story was an interesting one but sort of petered out rather than ended and it did have some pretty crashing errors within its pages !
The three women featured were all very disparate and had led very different types of lifestyles, therefore. If I had to select one word to describe each it would be as follows: Constance-funny, Eunice-horny and Sam-liar. This made Constance my particular favourite of this trio, she had some terrific lines that had me chuckling away. I had to laugh too about Eunice's square-dancing chap.
There were some disappointing mistakes, however.....she wrote lady's and not ladies' quickly followed by gentleman's and not gentlemen's then she wrote Dashiki and then dashiki......though the real "gasp out loud" ones were writing passed not past, died not dyed, site not sight then dying and not dyeing.
Then she manages to spell one of her own character's names wrong.....Gabrielle turned into Gabriella....yet it was also written correctly on the very same page, so I can't understand how or why an editor or a proofreader didn't spot it, nor the other mistakes I've highlighted. Pretty sloppy of them.
This sentence dropped a word, "...a careless driver or gripped in the jaw of huge, savaging dog" and so did, "...when she saw that he being completely serious." Then this line I believe needed a comma as opposed to a fullstop to make sense: "Her eyes were brown, almost beady, and looking at them. Sam disliked her all of a sudden." See what I mean ? Maybe I've got it wrong but I did read it back to myself a few times....
I would maybe try another book by this author, though I'd not rush to get one.

[Debi Stout · Rating 3 out of 5]

As part of the BookSparks book tours last year, I was provided with several books to read and share with my readers.  Today's post is about Women Within, a novel by Anne Leigh Parrish. For an unknown reason, I had failed to post this review before, so after reading it today, I wanted to make sure and get it out there.  I had never previously heard of this author, but as it turns out, she has written several other books and at the moment, I have another book from this same author in my "TBR" (to be read) stack titled The Amendment, which I expect to read soon.

This author tells a great story that brings the lives of three very different women whose paths come together at Lindell Home, an assisted living facility/retirement home.  When readers meet an elderly woman, Constance Maynard, who lives at Lindell Home and is cared for by her caretaker, Eunice Fitch, who is in her 50's, and health aide, Sam Clark, who is in her 20's.

Most of the story follows Constance as she remembers her past, while interacting with the other women she comes into contact with. In addition to Eunice and Sam, readers learn about Maeve, Lois, Meredith, and many other women.

I really liked this book. It was well written, and moved quickly with well written and believable, likable characters. These three women forge a bond that is heartwarming to readers.

I received a complimentary paperback copy of this book from the publishers and BookSparks in exchange for this post.  A positive review was not required.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed the book. Constance, Eunice, and Sam are three women who were developed very well in the book. They all had dysfunctional families that they eventually managed to overcome. Their lives were below par until they awoke to their own strengths. They all had to fight society's limits on women, to a certain extent. They were all a generation apart, but met in the Lindell assisted living facility, where Constance was forced into a life of dependence by her weakening body. Sam and Eunice worked to care for Constance. All of them had circumstances that held them down from their dreams, yet they managed to move forward in ways they had not originally recognized. Constance ended up raising her own baby sister because her mentally ill mother abandoned this baby, in the same way that she abandoned Constance. Constance had a Grandmother who was her guiding light. She provided what Constance's mother was not able to provide. Meredith is the sister that Constance raised. It did disturb me that she seemed to have a touch of a mean streak toward Meredith. It might be a resentment coming out that raising Meredith may have interfered with what she wanted to do in life. Eunice was taken advantage of by a con man and lost the inheritance from her Grandmother, who made up for her inadequate parents. Sam had a constant battle trying to overcome the degrading way her Grandparents treated her. She had a mother who was irresponsible. It seemed Constance had to be the adult in relation to her parents. The ending hinted at a better life for Eunice and Sam. Constance led a successful life before she died. She raised her sister as if she were her child, but seemed to weaken at the end and wanted everyone to know that Meredith was not her child by birth. Eunice, in the end, is on her way to having her dream. Meredith seems to have found a friendship that she always wanted. Sam seems to have met someone that could be a good friend, if nothing else. It seems the door is being left open for a continuation of the lives of Eunice and Sam. There's enough to hint at better days, but not a neat finish with everything definitely in place. It seems to ask the reader to think of the ending the reader would like best. Either that, or read a book to follow.

[Wilma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was depressing. It was about a nursing home, some of its residents, some of its employees. The first woman introduced was Constance who was raised in an unusual way. Her mother went mad and was sent to an institution. Her father sent her to live with her Grandmother. Her mother got out of the institution and got remarried and had another child. The mother went mad again and gave the child to Constance to raise and Constance was a single parent under scrutiny by those around her.

Next we have Eunice who has absolutely no self esteem. Her family hate her and she hates herself. She gets a large inheritance from her Grandmother and blows it on shady real estate deal.

Then we have Sam who is overweight but has pretty good self esteem. She loves poetry but has little else talent.

Several lives that are worse as they come. And just when something was about to happen the book ended. I suppose there is a follow-up story but I'm not sure I want to read it.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book and started to like the first character, Catherine, but she just faded out and there was Eunice. Huh?
Maybe there will be more to connect them later, but I was too bored to bother to find out. I skimmed the descriptive yet non-essential stuff, which was a lot.
The book never really took off, though I read just over half of it.
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest opinion.The best I can say is that I liked the cover

[Shari Broyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

An Aimless Ramble

While Anne Parrish has generally good writing skills, enough to pull me into this story and keep me reading, I found the story itself to be depressing and disjointed, much like the tapestry that Constance kept picking up and putting down. I kept hoping for some true resolution of the story, to find a real thread of emotional connection among all the "women within", but it never materialized, and the ending was spectacularly disappointing, as if Anne suddenly grew tired of working on it and stopped.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually write a review because first I would have to find my password. And reading some of the other reviews I sometimes find it hard to believe that I am reading the same book as the others.
In this case I'm right in the middle. I found the first half rather tedious and didn't care for the characters at all - until I crossed the midline and they all suddenly became more interesting and I wanted more. Authors don't believe in happy endings anymore and in this case it's fine because she leaves us with HOPE.

[Loretta · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started out fine, but as it shifted the focus on each of the other two main characters I got a little lost. Too many people to keep track of and it was confusing to keep all the stories straight as they continued to interact with each other. First time to read this author and I got this book free on BookBubs.

[Nancy M · Rating 2 out of 5]

A story of 3 women whose only connection is the retirement home. I found the women weak, and their choices in men poor. The tapestry was poorly explored and I thought it would have played a larger plot line weaving these women together but sadly no. Would not be a book I recommend, read it for book club .

[Anjana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to qualify that my rating does not directly reflect on the quality of the book, just on my reaction to it. Please read the whole review on my blog
https://superfluousreading.wordpress....

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book free from the publisher via netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

Please see my full reviews available at www.coffeeandtrainspotting.wordpress.com.

For requesting arcs and books to review, please visit www.netgalley.com.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmmmmm

This book was different than I expected. The first section was tough to follow, but served as valuable foundation for the remainder of the book. It makes me think of the old adage of six degrees of separation.