“Life takes us on different paths... It's not up to us to evaluate or judge them, merely respect and embrace them.(Lara Lington - to Sadie Lancaster)”

“When I was your age, if a boy behaved badly, one simply scored his name out from one's dance card.(Sadie Lancaster - to Lara Lington)”

“Your father always tries to see the good side of people; to find the excuse. But sometimes there isn't a good side. There isn't an excuse.(Mom - to Lara Lington)”

“There are moments in life that the white-chocolate Magnum ice cream was invented for, and this is one of them.”

“You looked like you wanted to jump his bones right there!""Jump his bones?" Sadie frowns. "What do you mean?"..."It's like a pajama party. Except you take off your pajamas.""Oh that." Her face clicks with recognition. You call it 'jumping his bones'?""Sometimes." I shrug."What an odd phrase. We used to call it sex.""Oh." I say, discomfited. "Well we do too-""Or barney-mugging," she adds.”

“Our whole family thrives under pressure. It's like our family motto or something.Apart from my brother Peter, of course. He had a nervous break down. But the rest of us.”

“Have you ever thought about the grid of Manhattan?'It's like...a metaphor for life. You think you have the freedom to walk anywhere. But in fact... you are strictly controlled. Up or down. Left or right. Nothing in between. No other options.'Life should be like an open space...you should be able to walk in whatever direction you choose.”