Beyond the Point

March 1, 2019
Dani, Hannah, and Avery first meet as part of West Point's class of 2004, and while they don't become friends immediately, their bond grows as they navigate the challenges of the high-pressure environment. After graduation, they grow apart: Dani, whose dreams of playing professional basketball are derailed by chronic pain, takes a high-pressure marketing job in London; Hannah is frequently separated from her husband, a fellow army officer, by deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq; and Avery's string of dead-end relationships leaves her doubting her self-worth. When tragedy strikes, the women set aside their differences and rekindle their friendship. Debut novelist Gibson doesn't dwell too long on any of the segments of her characters' lives, choosing instead to provide snapshots of daily life and key events. While the focus is solidly on each of the women's coming of age in the unique environment of the U.S. military, deeper themes, such as racism, sexism, and sexual assault, are also explored. Readers of women's fiction will appreciate the strength and determination of the trio, as well as the insider's view of West Point culture.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)

November 15, 2018

Three women at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point before 9/11 are really bonding. Soon, however, superstar Dana, a nationally ranked point guard; faith-driven Hannah, whose grandfather was a famed army general; and Avery, an evidently heedless Homecoming Queen whose self-doubt steers her toward trouble find their relationship tested by the challenges of love, work, and war. Debut author Gibson was born and raised at West Point; with a 50,000-copy trade paperback and 25,000-copy hardcover first printing.

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.