The Magic Room

The New York Times bestselling journalist takes us to a remarkable small-town bridal shop, where generations of mothers and daughters have shared precious dreams of love and life.

You may not have heard of Fowler, Michigan, much less Becker's Bridal. But for the thousands of women who have stepped inside, Becker's is the site of some of the most important moments of their lives-moments that speak to us all. Housed in a former bank, the boutique owners transformed the vault into a "magic room," with soft church lighting, a circular pedestal, and mirrors that make lifelong dreams come true.

Illuminating the poignant aspects of a woman's journey to the altar, The Magic Room tells the stories of memorable women on the brink of commitment. Run by the same family for years, Becker's has witnessed transformations in how America views the institution of marriage; some of the shop's clientele are becoming stepmothers, or starting married life for a second time. Turning his perceptive eye to the history captured in these lives, beloved author Jeffrey Zaslow explores the shifting roles of women in recent decades, as well as the timeless, universal experiences shared by everyone who has been a Becker's customer. Weaving together secrets, memories, and family tales, The Magic Room rescues this rite of passage from sensationalized "bridezilla" hype and restores its joyful treasures.

"In his powerful book, Jeffrey Zaslow affords readers enough detail to understand what these women's bonds with each other really mean ... and what it has taken to sustain the friendship."-WSJ.com

"Using scrapbooks, photo albums and the women's own memories, Mr. Zaslow chronicles how their close friendships have shaped their lives and continue to sustain them. The role of friendship in their health and well-being is evident in almost every chapter." - Tara Parker-Pope, The New York Times

About the author: Jeffrey Zaslow is the author of the instant New York Times bestseller The Girls from Ames (more than 280,000 copies sold) and co-author of Highest Duty, with Chesley Sullenberger, as well as The Last Lecture, with Randy Pausch. Also a Wall Street Journal columnist, he lives in suburban Detroit with his wife and their three daughters.

CONTACT: Beth Parker - beth.parker@us.penguingroup.com OR Casey Maloney casey.maloney@us.penguingroup.com