Sweet Charity

In this delightful short story, Monica McInerney, internationally bestselling author of The Alphabet Sisters, returns to one of her warmest, wisest, and most memorable characters: the irrepressible Lola Quinlan, quick with a smile and spot of tea, who always has a generous dose of mischief up her sleeve.

Lola Quinlan’s small secondhand shop in the Clare Valley, Australia, is more than just a store—it’s a loving community, a place to feel at home. In her golden years but still young at heart, Lola is delighted when the local teenagers start dropping in, browsing for outfits and gossiping about the upcoming school dance. Yet amid the flurry of excitement, Lola overhears some troubling news: One boy is planning a mean-spirited prank on a group of girls, and Lola does not intend to let him get away with it. With her dear friends by her side, she whips up a plan that will have the whole school talking, and will prove that nice guys—and girls—can finish first.