Friends, Women, Floridians

By Julie Duffin
March 2025 View more Books

In honor of Women’s History Month, here’s a book about a group of women supporting and empowering each other though different phases of life. Everything You’ve Ever Known—the debut novel by Plainfield resident Jess Ames—introduces us to Paige, a 55-year-old divorcée who is struggling with becoming an empty nester. When given the opportunity to make a fresh start in Florida, Paige decides it’ll be the perfect chance to find out who she is—and who she can become—in this new stage of life. In Clearwater, Paige meets a diverse circle of women (dubbed the Sensational Six) who help her embrace her second act and shine in her new role.

“The story focuses on the struggles women face,” Ames says. “A lot of the things we go through are universal—feelings of loss, confusion, or sadness. They are things that we can all identify with no matter what phase of life we are in. It’s the friendships and relationships we build along the way that give us strength.”

Ames will be focusing on a different member of the friend group in her subsequent books. The second book in the aptly named Clearwater Dreams series, Everything You’ve Ever Wanted, will be released March 25.

Photos: Jess Ames