The ladies of the Book Club finish their study of The Tale of Genji and, leaderless, the ladies wonder how they can keep their book club vital and what they can study. After much debate, the ladies take on the study of Romeo and Juliet. In their close study of the filmed versions of the play, the ballet and musical comedy and then their close study of the text itself, they find themselves meditating on decision making, on the nature of tragedy, and on their own domestic lives. Franny, confronted with a straying husband, ill health, and estranged children tries to plan her next step. Katherine finds herself traversing the maze of decisions about the treatment of breast cancer. She is not alone as Annie and Claire make up the gal posse that helps her. All of the ladies and their gentlemen who are part of their lives are part of this latest crises. Always, the book club provides a refuge from the problems of their everyday lives as well as illumination about the same problems.