At Hourglass Vintage in Madison, WI, three women bond through a love of vintage clothing and find their friendship to be a source of strength at a time when they need it most. Violet, the store's proprietress, believes in second chances for people as well as clothing. April, the store's teenage intern, vows not to let her unexpected pregnancy, canceled wedding, or recently deceased mother get in the way of her college plans. And Amithi, a dutiful wife, comes to the store to sell some of her possessions after she finds out her husband has been engaged in a long-term affair. When Violet learns of her impending eviction from the building she and her business call home, she will need the support of all those around her to find a solution to the upheaval. VERDICT Similar in theme to Stephanie Lehmann's Astor Place Vintage, but without the historical aspect, this novel is sure to please fans of women's fiction who enjoy an engaging story filled with plucky characters and second acts.-Karen Core, Detroit P.L. (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Violet Turner, owner of Hourglass Vintage, a store in Madison, Wisconsin, anchors this debut about the transformative power of female friendship. Each item of clothing in the shop has a rich history, which is why Violet loves vintage clothing so much; her own past, however, with a failed marriage to an alcoholic man, she's happy to forget. Two other women rotate around Violet and Hourglass Vintage: Amithi, from India, who has just learned of her husband's affair, and April, a pregnant 18-year-old, mourning the loss of her mother. Both assist Violet as she attempts to raise enough money to buy the shop and prevent developers from converting the building into condos. At the start of each chapter, a vintage item is described for instance, White nightgown with the tags still on it. Flutter sleeves. Rosebud embroidery along the square neckline which is then woven into the upcoming narrative. Swap the vintage-clothing device for knitting, and you have Kate Jacobs' The Friday Night Knitting Club (2007), which means Gloss should have a built-in fan base for this book-club-worthy story of redemption, healing, and love.--Kelley, Ann Copyright 2014 Booklist