The beginning of everything

a closeted secretary in 1960s chicago. a fearless activist in san francisco. a love so powerful it dares to change the world.betty is determined to live a quiet, respectable life-steady job, polite smile, and maybe one day, a husband her mother can approve of. but behind that picture-perfect façade is a longing she's never dared to name.joan has no interest in quiet or respectable. she's bold, outspoken, and proud of who she is-even if that means risking everything in a world that sees her love as a crime. in the heart of san francisco's tenderloin district, she's fighting for her right to exist and love openly.when betty visits california, one stolen glance across a smoky bar pulls her into joan's orbit-and into a world she never imagined. what begins as a flirtation becomes something far deeper, spanning three time zones, four decades, and the growing fight for lgbtq+ rights.the beginning of everything is a sweeping sapphic love story about coming out, holding on, and changing history-one heart at a time.