Little Milestones: A Novel

Olivia Dawson's life is spiraling out of control. It’s her thirty-second birthday, and her colleagues are singing “Happy Birthday” to her at the same time divorce papers land on her desk. Working as an event planner for a struggling travel magazine and living in a small studio apartment in New York City, Olivia is concerned about her future. On a Labor Day weekend trip, Olivia returns to St. Michaels, Maryland to visit her grandmother, Nan. With the help of her mom, dad, and Nan, she decides to take her grandmother up on her offer to leave the city and live in St. Michaels for a while.With Nan’s help, Olivia secures a job at the local bookstore, planning events and working at the store. She also reconnects with Nan’s contingent of friends, a lively and spry bunch, most of whom she remembers from spending her summers in St. Michael’s as a young girl and teenager. These friendships with a group of seniors help Olivia realize what’s been missing in her own life: enduring friendships that last a lifetime and a strong sense of herself. Additionally, when she meets Miles Channing, a local author who arrives at the store for a book signing, she is charmed for sure, but is she ready for something new?Told in the voices of Olivia, Nan, and Miles, Little Milestones weaves together the experiences of all three characters, including their heartbreaks, challenges, loves, and friendships that endure.