In Lace and Judgement is a lyrical, quietly devastating coming-of-age novel that explores the weight of silence, the performance of perfection, and the ache of unmet expectations passed down through generations.

Raised in a world of Southern etiquette and Baptist guilt, Gladys learns early that good girls don't ask questions—they smile. They serve. They don't speak of what stings. But beneath the polished surface of her family's legacy lies a growing fracture—one that widens with every whispered omission and carefully folded napkin.

As the women in her life retreat behind lace curtains and hushed tones, Gladys begins to see through the cracks. With the help of a sketchbook, an observant heart, and a quiet defiance she can't yet name, she begins to unravel not just her mother's secrets—but the rules that bind them both.

This is a story about the cost of appearances and the courage it takes to confront what lingers unspoken. In the tradition of Southern gothic fiction, In Lace and Judgement is a slow-burning exploration of love, control, and the strength it takes to begin again.