Frances Ollenfield is a thirty-five year old housewife who returns to college to finish her degree. In her literature class, she meets Mary Baker (known as "Bake"), who introduces Frances to a world she never knew existed. She falls in love with Bake quickly, but their relationship is plagued with problems.

It's hard to rate old pulp novels from the 1950s and 60s. On the one hand, they're historically significant and (some are) even groundbreaking. On the other hand, they're filled with old stereotypes and misogyny - which, really, is just a sign of the times.

I liked this one. I could understand Frances' confusion, especially given the time period, and I could also understand the ending (no spoilers). The author tends to skip over large blocks of time with only a sentence or two for explanation (Frances getting a job, Frances dropping out of university, etc), but the book is readable and, even fifty years later, still somewhat relatable. I'd recommend it for those who enjoy these kind of novels; they're not for everyone, and they tend to be very depressing, but they're still gems in our history. ( )