While .22 ammo is certainly cheap for practicing, 9mm is also pretty cheap, and if you went with something like a walther pps, you would probably enjoy shooting it, more than a ladysmith. The Walther PPS is also MA compliant.
I have a PPS, and could shoot it all day long. I also have a Smith & Wesson 642, and even changing the trigger spring, my hand gets tired after about forty rds. The Walther, I can go seventy rds before my trigger finger is exhausted.
Or you could just buy both guns because one isn’t really enough...
Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions. Since the Beretta Neos is a non-starter here in MA, I’m now leaning toward the Walther P22 as a “starter” and then will probably upgrade to a 9mm of some sort.
But as I’m still a neophyte at this, I want to start with something I know I can handle, and really learn how it works in a practical way. Also, I have a very small hand, even for a woman, so the smaller guns are virtually a necessity for me...