Georgia Walker is a survivor. Born and raised in rural
Pennsylvania, Georgia relocated to New York City after college to
start a career in publishing. There she finds career success,
friendship and even love. But when an unexpected pregnancy enters
the picture, Georgia's boyfriend turns tail and runs, leaving her
to raise their daughter alone. Georgia doesn't give up and head
back to her parents, though; instead, on the advice of a nurturing
acquaintance, Anita, Georgia takes her talent and passion for
knitting and turns it into a career. She starts by knitting
projects on commission and eventually raises enough money to start
her own yarn shop.

Fast forward to the present. Georgia and her preteen daughter,
Dakota, live upstairs from their popular knitting store, Walker and
Daughter. Business is good thanks to some recent publicity, and
Georgia is content, even if she admits that she's sometimes lonely.
In the course of a few short months, though, Georgia's world is
about to turn upside down.

First, Dakota's father James, who has been living and working
abroad, returns to New York, wanting to get involved in his
daughter's life for the first time. Georgia resists at first, but
soon acknowledges the positive effect James's presence has on
Dakota's life. James, who is African American, offers Dakota not
only expensive gifts but also a connection to a part of her
heritage that Georgia just can't provide. But what can she do when
James seems to want to rekindle his relationship with Georgia, too?
Can she forgive his betrayals and long absence?

Second, Cat, a high school friend of Georgia's who is now a primped
and toned trophy wife in Manhattan, contacts Georgia to knit a very
special evening gown for a very spicy commission. Can Georgia
overcome her bitterness following Cat's betrayal from decades
before, and even find room for renewed friendship with her somewhat
self-centered former friend?

Finally, Georgia, who has always resisted close friendships, finds
herself drawn into the lives of the knitters who comprise Walker
and Daughter's newly formed Friday Night Knitting Club. At first,
Georgia simply hangs around the margins of the group, but almost
before she knows it, she grows to regard these very different women
as true friends --- friends who will be there to support her when
she needs it most.

Debut novelist Kate Jacobs, who has had a long career in women's
magazine publishing, certainly taps into the Zeitgeist with this
accessible novel about friendship and love first, and knitting
second.

Hardcore knitting enthusiasts might scorn the numerous mistakes
that litter Jacobs's interludes about knitting techniques. But
that's not really the point here; as one club member points out,
knitting group is often really more about conversation and
friendship than it is about the knitting. That's kind of how the
novel is, too. Readers who enjoy stories about the complexities of
women's lives, and the structure and resilience of women's
friendships, will enjoy what they find here.

Georgia's character is particularly well developed; she is by no
means perfect, and many female readers will identify with her
romantic dilemmas, her self-doubts about parenting, and her
ambivalent attitude toward her sometimes obnoxious old friend, Cat.
However, her survival instincts and genuine compassion make her an
inspiring, winning character. It's no wonder that real-life knitter
Julia Roberts will be producing and starring in a film adaptation
of THE FRIDAY NIGHT KNITTING CLUB, set for release in 2008.