Making It Over The Tobin Bridge: A Love Story About Friendship, Grief, and Finding Yourself

A Different Kind of Love Story

When I first started writing Making It Over The Tobin Bridge, I wanted it to be a love story. But as I wrote, I realized I didn’t want a typical "happily ever after" because it didn't quite fit the truth of the lives many women my age actually lead. What I discovered, both on the page and in my own life, is that for many of us, the most profound, soul-sustaining love doesn't always come from a romantic partner. It comes from our friendships. 

This personal discovery came to me while writing because I was still in immense grief from my best friend of forty-one years, who had passed away in 2022. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to walk through life with women who knew me before I even knew myself. Beyond my childhood roots, I’ve formed long-lasting friendships from every corner of my journey. From college campus, office jobs, and Boston neighborhoods. 

While writing, I hit a wall with my protagonist's character arc. Then, it clicked. Her "happily ever after" was the realization that the love she had been searching for was already in her life. I believe this resonates so deeply with women fifty and older because we’ve reached a point where we stop looking for someone to complete us and start honoring the women who have been making us whole all along. 

Not to give too much away, I want to share an excerpt from Making It Over The Tobin Bridge, where the protagonist recognizes the love she has been looking for:

“As I gaze at the stars twinkling above, I think about my journey to this point in life—the risks I took, the experiences I have had. In my twenties, I was so desperate for a guy to want me, to choose me, that I didn’t even know what I wanted for myself in a relationship. It’s a powerful lesson to learn that it’s not about being chosen, but about knowing your standards and choosing someone who aligns with you.

I no longer feel the need to receive a man’s love to feel worthy. I realize my friendships are what have kept me going all these years. With each experience or job I have had, I have gained lifelong friends. My friends have been the external love that has helped me feel safe in myself, allowing me to be vulnerable and be loved. In the end, my friends have been—and will be—my life’s greatest loves.” 

The reviews I have been receiving are that Making It Over The Tobin Bridge is a fun read. I like to say it is a great beach read. It is light enough to throw into your beach bag, and short enough to read in two full days at the beach. 

Link to purchase: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=gVprnYCTkCdvPNVf9nbmFopJCKzTNyHbNIli7N1fber