My Mrs. Brown by William Norwich

Widow Mrs. Brown has lived in Ashville, Rhode Island her whole life. She leads a very simple existence, working at a beauty salon and spending evenings at home, but her life changes when she sees a Oscar de la Renta black dress and decides she must have one just like it, even though buying one is beyond her means. Starting a plan of taking on extra work and economizing, she's joined in her quest by Alice (her twenty-something neighbor) and a few new female friends who become like fairy godmothers.  My Mrs. Brown is cozy, gentle read similar to Emily Alone by Stewart O'Nan and Mrs. Bridge by Evan S. Connell.