Six decades in the lives of five women who grew up in poverty during the depression years. although they never attain wealth and fame, their lives are enriched because they learned to laugh instead of cry, to make lemonade when life handed them sour lemons. alex, shy and introverted carries a secret of sexual abuse until she sheds the demon of fear with the support of her friends. mavis and eve hardly remember the father who left them in their early years. although the abandonment hardens eve, mavis relies only on herself, swearing no man will ever control her. all her life, ruby tries to suppress the terrible temper that threatens to overwhelm her. striving for perfection, she comes to learn there is no perfect world. josie vowed to live the all american life even though the man she marries drives her insane with his wild schemes.