“Sometimes other people do have problems dealing with a strong personality, especially if it comes in a girl, which seems unfair, but I'm afraid it's true.”

“It's [marriage] about two people compromising, said Fee. It's about two people caring for each other and wanting to do as much as they can to make each other happy while still maintaining their own self-respect, which can sometimes get complicated . . . .”

“Don't get me wrong: a happy marriage is wonderful-it's one of the greatest blessings that life can bring. But it's also true that a very great deal of it is tedious and repetitive, and if we women aren't very careful, the best of us can find ourselves turning into a drudge.”

“But that's the problem with causing offense, isn't it? You don't always know when you do.”

“And if you havea good heart . . . then the rest of the world will start to be aware of that, and it'll become more important to them. And the people who are worth having around will like you accordingly. And as for the others, quite frankly, screw'em.”

“Of course we all want to make compromises for our spouse. That’s part of the bargain of marriage, after all. But when compromise gets into sacrifice, then that’s when the territory becomes dangerous, because that’s when resentments build up. And the problem with navigating this territory is that there is no map, because what’s compromise for one person might be the most terrible sacrifice for another.”

“Nice for Freddie," she said. "Whoever he is. I'm Sophie, Lulu's sister." "Nice for you," he said. "Are you the sister who's getting married?" "No, I'm the one who is still available." She perched herself on the counter and swung her legs. "So, it's your lucky day, isn't it?" "Do you know," he said slowly, "I'm beginning to think it is." It was the sort of thing that men were always saying to Sophie, but not, thought Lulu crossly, the sort that generally made her gape and goggle at Lulu like a demented hen who had just won the lottery ticket, It was a couple of moments before she realized that Liam was looking, not at Sophie, but at her.”