What a great read over Christmas break! I grew up in Nevada, just east of Ames, and can relate to many of the stories shared by the girls. Dr. McCormack was my pediatrician and I remember his quiet, professional demeanor. When I was little, penicillin shots cured everything. I remember Dr. McCormack telling me when he would give me the shot so I could scream. It never failed, when he told me to scream, the shot was already finished. He also had yummy lollipops in the 3rd drawer as a treat for being good. Dr. McCormack ended up staying in the same Alzheimer's care facility as my grandma prior to their passing.
I would like to hear an update on all of the girls, especially Kelly and Angela.
Your friendship is idolized by many women!

I just finished reading the book and loved it. I picked it up because my best friend went to college at Iowa State and now lives outside of Ames. We are still young and are only in our 11th year of friendship. It has hit some rough spots lately but this book gives me hopes that we will stay strong. We don't see each other as much as we would like (usually only when her and her husband come back to visit their families twice a year) but I know if I ever need her I can always pick up the phone she will be there. I plan on sending her the book for another bonding experience. Thank you for this wonderful gift.

I received the book for Christmas and could not put it down! I cannot wait to have my BFF's read it too. Five of us have been friends for 36 years and keep on going. Reading this book is like a look at our friendship we too have had a roller coaster ride with marriages, divorce, loss of child just to name a few. We cherish the time that we can get together especially our girls only weekend every March. Thank you for showing the world how important and special friendships are for women.

I received this book as a Christmas gift, and could not put it down. I have several friends that I am still in touch with after 25 years, but my oldest friend of over 35 years recently decided that we were no longer friends. This ended with no explanation or anything. I still mourn the friendship and it hurts me more than the deaths I have expierenced.

I just finished The Girls from Ames. It was wonderful and brought back so many memories of Iowa for me. I grew up in Webster City, about 40 miles north of Ames. I remember athletic ompetitions with the junior highs in Ames, Central and Welch. I also believe that Marilyn's children go to Oak-Land Junior High in Lake Elmo. I retired after 38 years of teaching, 31 in Stillwater Area School, last June, but I don't think any of Marilyn 's children had reached 9th grade yet. I taught 9th grade English. My first 7 years of teaching were in DeWitt, Iowa. During my first year at Oak-Land in 1978, there were six other female teachers at Oak-Land and the seven of us have remained in touch for the past 40 years. 5 of us remain in Minnesota, 4 in the Twin Cities and 1 in Rochester. One is in Chicago and one is in Dayton, Ohio. We have stayed close and I truly appreciate the friendship and support that has remained. When we met only 2 were married. One has never married, but the rest of us are married and we have brought 11 children into the world. All of them have graduated from college and are gainfully employed. I laughed and cried with the girls from Ames and identified with so many experiences. Jeffrey Zaslow did an excellent job with the book. Thank you all for sharing your story and thanks to Jeffrey for putting it together so well. I couldn't put it down.

Thank you for this book. I share an almost 40 year friendship with my BFF, Lori. Lori and I are like sisters and I have been a member of her family since 1974. We share an on-going friendship with two other BFF, Teresa and Melissa. The four of us get together at least twice a year. This last time, we stayed in a restaurant talking for five and one-half hours. Yes, we closed them down that day.

This Christmas I am giving my BFF, Lori the book. It doesn't matter that she has already read it. Here is how I want to use this book to honor my long-term friendships. I have signed the front cover, "given to Lori from Laurie, 12/25/09". Now she will pass it on to one of our other long-term friends , and so on. I want to see the beauty of this book and the celebration of women friendships shared from one BFF, to another, by having each successive person sign the book. I have asked that an email alert be sent to me as well when it has been passed on to the next. I can't wait to see the friendships that have grown out of my long-term friendship with Lori.

Sincerely,

Laurie Wiley

I finished the book and loved it. I plan on buying copies for all of my friends. Those I do not buy a copy for I recommend they read it! It was wonderful. I really connected with the girls in many ways. One, I was born in April, 1963 and two, I am a Chi Omega. In the end we are all sisters!
This is a must read for all women!!!

I had heard about this book a little over a year ago. I had read just a small advertisement about it. I had bookmarked it for a later date to buy for my 3 friends. I purchased 4 copies in the last few weeks, without even reading the book. Of course, one copy was for myself. I have since read the book in 3 days. It is a phenominal story and I absolutely loved the book. It is a great book for women to read. Thanks so much for sharing your lives and to the author, for writing this book. My friends will be crying when I give it to them. Of course, I will put my own dedication to them on the first blank page. Thanks again. I would like to know how Kelly and Angela are doing today, please.

I have 8 friends getting this wonderful book for Christmas. We are similiar in many ways as the Ames girls. We grew up and attended school together in Lawson, Missouri. We graduated in 1985. Each Christmas starting with the one right out of high school, we hold a Christmas get together. I have never missed one, and as mentioned in the book, you do not want to they might talk about you! I do believe I have heard that comment with our group through the yrs. About 11 years ago we started trying to get overnight get-aways each summer. These were very hard to fit in as we all are mothers like the Ames girls, but how I needed those and loved every minute. At times reading this book, brought me to tears. Some things just too close to home etc. We have a Kelly, we have a Sheila, and many more of the personalities of this group, but we never had to experience the losses that this group has. Except the loss of the parents.
I see myself when I look in my friends eyes, and I know they know me like very few people can. We were friends back when you didn't feel as if you had to be guarded or reserved, and when I am with them I am truly true to myself. Thank you for the great entertainment and for helping me realize what we have is extraordinary and special and worth all the hard work of keeping those friendships going for another 40 yrs. at least! Thank you. Tricia Letcher Dickens

I just finished reading The Girls from Ames and was moved by the story so like my own. I've bought 10 copies of the book to share with my girls. I feel fortunate to have note one, but two sets of "girls". The first, the girls from KCK or the dotte, have been my friends since grade school/ junior high, and the second, my girls from nursing school. These women know me and although we don't live in the same town, when we get together, we don't skip a beat. We finish each other's sentences, laugh and cry together, and support each other through ups and downs. We all are blessed by our friendships and I am so hoping that I am the first to introduce them to this wonderful book!

I purchased this book for 3 of my very good friends. 4 of us became friends when our children were in preschool together. The 4 kids "graduated" preschool together and although they did not go to the same schools throughout their education, the moms and the kids did remain friends and all graduated high school in May 2009. We had a "preschool reunion" dinner to celebrate. The mom's knew we had a good friendship but it became very obvious to the kids at this dinner how important their friendships had become.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and especially could relate to items discussed on pg 267 ("In their forties, several .....") and pg 269 ("By their mid-forties, women know ....." and "Middle aged women also start to have a clear ....").
I have hosted a "girls weekend" (also in NC) for the past two years and this book really hit home for me.
Thanks for a GREAT read and for pointing out the obvious. My friendships are the best!!!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this book. I have just finished it. It made me laugh and cry. I too was born in 1963 and can relate to all the girls from Ames. I come from Sydney Australia but girls are girls the world over. I have had a best friend since I was 3 years old. We have shared the ups and downs of our lives for the past 43 years. We have been there for the good, the bad/sad and the ugly but we wouldn't change a thing. I have a successful 20 year marriage and three beautiful children. But I agree with Jeffrey Zaslow - there are still things only your girlfriends understand. Sharon knew me when I was a small girl and just Jody - not someone's wife or mother. She is a sharer of childhood memories, teenage memories and present-day memories. I hope that Angela and Kelly stay healthy and go on to lead full and long lives. Thanks for the update on the website. I know that all the girls will support each other just like Sharon and I will always support each other. Thank you again and love and best wishes to all the girls from Ames.

Difficult to know what to write. I am in Melbourne, Australia and although so far from Ames, it is amazing how life,relationships and love are the same the world over. I must say just how much i enjoyed meeting you girls and sharing your life and frienships! Thank you! Stay well and stay beautiful!! Kathy. Age 49.

"The Girls from Denison," yes indeed. I completely concur with Amy Willroth Klein. She was class of '86. I was class of '87. We both are blessed with the magic of growing up in small town Iowa with an amazing circle of friends that are every bit as meaningful as those Mr. Zaslow has written about in his book.

It has been just a few days since I finished the book and met Jeffrey Zaslow in person. I was invited to the book talk by many, many of my friends here in OH who know I am originally from Iowa. They understand that my annual get togethers with my girlfriends I grew up with are my fuel for the year. Especially this year, as we all turned 40.

It was such a pleasure to read this book. It was as if I was able to blow off steam and recharge my battery just like I can do during a Girls Weekend.

Thank you Girls From Ames for sharing your stories. Thank you Girls from Denison for sharing your lives with me. And thank you Mr. Zaslow for writing personal messages in all those books for me. It meant so much to be able to tell you how proud I am to be from Iowa too!

I just finished the book. I enjoyed it. I kept thinking about a couple of my friends that I met in Ames when I was a freshman at Iowa State in 1986. I have only seen Jo & Angie a couple of times since I graduated in 1990. We dont talk or write or email much. But they are often in my thoughts and prayers. I will always be greatful they were part of my life.
Teresa Martinek