Cocktails from the Chi explores the life of a small town girl moving to the big city while cohabitating with an extensive array of personalities. Her weekend bestie turned roommate Ava adds to these urban adventures with her witty repertoire and princess persona.

Just because Ava and Nissa graduated at the top of their honors classes at NIU does not mean they have the street smarts to survive and thrive in an up and coming neighborhood previously known for gang violence and pimps. This is proven throughout the book via tales of what to do when your apartment might explode, how to tell if that person peeing from the deck above you is really a girl and how to afford rent and crazy nights on the town after receiving a pink slip one month into living on your own.

Also joining the roomies in this tale of self-discovery post graduation is a cast of characters who only mix well together in such a big city environment. Josie, a naïve college acquaintance, attempts to navigate her way out of the restraining suburban closet and into the freewill, love yourself for who you are annual parade on Halsted Street. Sal adds to the mix a stereotypical Sicilian twenty-something freeloading from mom & pops while finding a way into Nissa’s heart; or at least the other end of her empty margarita glass.