A young woman seeks ways to distract herself after her mother’s death. An intelligent liberal arts student looks to guidance from her favorite authors to move past heartbreak. Two Taiwanese-American best friends continue to find themselves drawn to each other, despite the passage of time, distance, and shame. Ella Baxter’s New Animal, Elif Batuman’s Either/Or, and Jean Chen Ho’s Fiona and Jane are all intimate depictions of what it means to be women growing upwards, in search of love, a purposeful existence, and human connection. Moderated by Ilana Masad (All My Mother’s Lovers).