Mallena has become the point of reference of Norolani, a small village in inland Sardinia. She is a llevadora: she helps all the women in labour by applying age-old knowledge inherited from her mother. She asks for nothing in return, except a couple of slices of cheese or a loaf of bread. But everything changes when her husband Jubanne returns from the front, injured in both body and soul. In order to be able to afford to pay for the treatment of this man, who married her to shield her from a fate that hovered over her like a sentence, Mallena urges the mayor to remunerate her for her work. Not only is she is denied this subsidy, but, in compliance with a royal decree, a qualified obstetrician is employed, intended to replace her. Angelica Ferrari arrives from the mainland. Although she is young, she has long fought to be here, defying social convention and the disapproval of her father, who wanted her to be a wife and a mother. Now, however, she must face the wariness of the village women: despite the official prohibition, women still choose Mallena, partly because the new obstetrician uses modern methods like the forceps and doesn’t speak their language. The women of Norolani rebel and obtain permission for Mallena to continue practising, even without formal recognition. Mallena and Angelica should be rivals, and yet they are two sides of the same coin: both are driven by a desire for freedom and independence, both are victims of the daily injustice the world serves women.

Found likes rules. She has never broken any except for one: a pendant shaped like a fawn she conceals under her blouse, because in her Amish community jewels are considered vanity. And yet her perfect, quiet life is shaken by the arrival of Noam, a young journalist. Found finds herself charmed by the young man’s provocations despite considering him nosey and a trouble-maker. For the first time in her life, she finds someone who truly understands her, so Noam becomes her second exception. Only he is on the lookout for a secret. A secret with roots in the past, linked to her pendant. A secret that forces her to make a choice that will change her life.

It all begins with young and determined Beata, who decides to go and work at the royal cigar factory, where her wondrous talent suddenly emerges: a mysterious abundance that gives her work supernatural productivity and helps her roll cigars at an inconceivable speed. This unique gift is echoed in her female descendants: her daughter Clarice, who makes a large number of clothes almost without realising it, and her granddaughter Antonia, who extends people’s lives long enough for them to depart in peace. Each woman has her own strength and fragility, each woman is destined to experience the miracle and burden of this abundance. But this gift does not last for ever. This abundance can vanish when faced with fate’s cruel blows, and the women in this family suffer many sorrows: wars, loss, and history’s looming violence that turns everything upside down, from Nazi Occupation to Fascism, to the early years of the economic boom. However, these women are able to tackle and overcome all their difficulties, and that is partly thanks to another blessing: the pure and unconditional love of their husbands.

Ameya Canovi explores the human paradox of unhappiness: we long for change and peace of mind, but too often cling to what distresses us because we fear actual change. Using direct language and sensitive instructions, Canovi takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery and exploration of our vulnerabilities, during which our wounds become the key to a more genuine and fulfilling life. An enlightening manual that reveals that self-love is at the root of all true happiness.