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June 5th
Can I Get An Amen? by Sarah Healy
When the last thing you want is the one thing you need, you've got to have a little faith.... Growing
up, Ellen Carlisle was a Christian: She went to Jesus camp, downed
stale Nilla Wafers at Sunday school, and never, ever played with Ouija
boards. Now, years later, when infertility prevents her from giving her
ambitious attorney husband a family, she finds herself on the brink of
divorce, unemployed, and living with her right-wing, born-again
Christian parents in her suburban New Jersey hometown. There the schools
are private, the past is public, and blessings come in lump sums. Then
Ellen meets a man to whom she believes she can open her heart, and she
begins to think that maybe it’s true that everything happens for a
reason—until all that was going well starts going very badly and Ellen
is finally forced to dig deep to find her own brand of faith.
At twenty-two, Eleanor Bee is sure about three things: she wants to move to London and become a literary superstar; she wants to be able to afford to buy a coffee and croissant every morning; and after seeing what divorce did to her parents—especially her mum—she doesn’t believe in happy endings. Elle moves to London. She gets a job at Bluebird Books, a charmingly old-fashioned publisher. She falls out of bars, wears too-short skirts, makes lots of mistakes, and feels like she’s learning nothing and everything at the same time. And then, out of the blue, she falls in love, and that’s when she realizes just how much growing up she has to do. Ten years on, Elle lives in New York, and you could say she has found success; certainly her life has changed in ways she could never have predicted. But no matter where you go and how much you try to run away, the past has a funny way of catching up with you.
Spring Fever by Mary Kay Andrews
Annajane Hudgens truly believes she is over her ex-husband, Mason
Bayless. They’ve been divorced for four years, she’s engaged to a new,
terrific guy, and she’s ready to leave the small town where she and
Mason had so much history. She is so over Mason that she has absolutely
no problem attending his wedding to the beautiful, intelligent,
delightful Celia. But when fate intervenes and the wedding is called to
a halt as the bride is literally walking down the aisle, Annajane
begins to realize that maybe she’s been given a second chance. Maybe
everything happens for a reason. And maybe, just maybe, she wants Mason
back. But there are secrets afoot in this small southern town. On the
peaceful surface of Hideaway Lake, Annajane discovers that the past is
never really gone. Even if there are people determined to keep Annajane
from getting what she wants, happiness might be hers for the taking,
and the life she once had with Mason in this sleepy lake town might be
in her future.
The Color of Tea by Hannah Tunnicliffe
After moving with her husband to the tiny, bustling island of Macau, Grace Miller finds herself a stranger in a foreign land—a lone redhead towering above the crowd on the busy Chinese streets. As she is forced to confront the devastating news of her infertility, Grace’s marriage is fraying and her dreams of family have been shattered. She resolves to do something bold, something her impetuous mother would do, and she turns to what she loves: baking and the pleasure of afternoon tea. Grace opens a café where she serves tea, coffee, and macarons—the delectable, delicate French cookies colored like precious stones—to the women of Macau. There, among fellow expatriates and locals alike, Grace carves out a new definition of home and family. But when her marriage reaches a crisis, secrets Grace thought she had buried long ago rise to the surface. Grace realizes it’s now or never to lay old ghosts to rest and to begin to trust herself. With each mug of coffee brewed, each cup of tea steeped and macaron baked, Grace comes to learn that strength can be gleaned from the unlikeliest of places.
There Goes the Bride by Holly McQueen
Polly Atkins, a Londoner living in New York City, is headed back across the pond for her wedding, a grand affair that has her older sister, Bella, in a whirlwind of excitement. Bella can’t wait to take over the wedding plans—and neither can Polly’s best friend, Grace, whose life as a wife, housekeeper, and mother is making her feel older than her twenty-eight years. She’s desperate to see Polly settle down in the same city—and the same life. The only one who isn’t bursting with enthusiasm is Polly, which is why, before things can get any more chaotic, she calls the whole thing off and lets go of the most perfect man on the planet. There’s no way that Polly is going to tell anyone why she’s changed her mind. Some secrets are best kept hidden. But Grace and Bella are determined to get Polly and her fiancé back together if it’s the last thing they do. After all, solving someone else’s problems has got to be better than dealing with your own.
After moving with her husband to the tiny, bustling island of Macau, Grace Miller finds herself a stranger in a foreign land—a lone redhead towering above the crowd on the busy Chinese streets. As she is forced to confront the devastating news of her infertility, Grace’s marriage is fraying and her dreams of family have been shattered. She resolves to do something bold, something her impetuous mother would do, and she turns to what she loves: baking and the pleasure of afternoon tea. Grace opens a café where she serves tea, coffee, and macarons—the delectable, delicate French cookies colored like precious stones—to the women of Macau. There, among fellow expatriates and locals alike, Grace carves out a new definition of home and family. But when her marriage reaches a crisis, secrets Grace thought she had buried long ago rise to the surface. Grace realizes it’s now or never to lay old ghosts to rest and to begin to trust herself. With each mug of coffee brewed, each cup of tea steeped and macaron baked, Grace comes to learn that strength can be gleaned from the unlikeliest of places.
Polly Atkins, a Londoner living in New York City, is headed back across the pond for her wedding, a grand affair that has her older sister, Bella, in a whirlwind of excitement. Bella can’t wait to take over the wedding plans—and neither can Polly’s best friend, Grace, whose life as a wife, housekeeper, and mother is making her feel older than her twenty-eight years. She’s desperate to see Polly settle down in the same city—and the same life. The only one who isn’t bursting with enthusiasm is Polly, which is why, before things can get any more chaotic, she calls the whole thing off and lets go of the most perfect man on the planet. There’s no way that Polly is going to tell anyone why she’s changed her mind. Some secrets are best kept hidden. But Grace and Bella are determined to get Polly and her fiancé back together if it’s the last thing they do. After all, solving someone else’s problems has got to be better than dealing with your own.
Wallflower in Bloom by Claire Cook
Deirdre Griffin has a great life; it’s just not her own. She’s the
around-the-clock personal assistant to her charismatic,
high-maintenance, New Age guru brother, Tag. As the family wallflower,
her only worth seems to be as gatekeeper to Tag at his New England
seaside compound. Then Deirdre’s sometime boyfriend informs her
that he is marrying another woman, who just happens to be having the
baby he told Deirdre he never wanted. While drowning her sorrows in
Tag’s expensive vodka, Deirdre decides to use his massive online
following to get herself voted on as a last-minute Dancing with the Stars replacement.
It’ll get her back in shape, mentally and physically. It might even get
her a life of her own. Deirdre’s fifteen minutes of fame have begun. Irresistible and offbeat, Wallflower in Bloom is an original and deeply satisfying story of having the courage to take a leap into the spotlight, no matter where you land.
June 7th
The Little Women Letters by Gabrielle Donnelly
A novel that explores the imagined lives of Jo March’s descendants—three sisters who are both thoroughly modern and thoroughly March. With her older sister, Emma, planning a wedding and her younger sister, Sophie, preparing to launch a career on the London stage, Lulu can’t help but feel like the failure of the Atwater family. Lulu loves her sisters dearly and wants nothing but the best for them, but she finds herself stuck in a rut, working dead-end jobs with no romantic prospects in sight. When her mother asks her to find a cache of old family recipes in the attic of her childhood home, Lulu stumbles across a collection of letters written by her great-great-grandmother Josephine March. In her letters, Jo writes in detail about every aspect of her life: her older sister, Meg’s, new home and family; her younger sister Amy’s many admirers; Beth’s illness and the family’s shared grief over losing her too soon; and the butterflies she feels when she meets a handsome young German. As Lulu delves deeper into the lives and secrets of the March sisters, she finds solace and guidance, but can the words of her great-great-grandmother help Lulu find a place for herself in a world so different from the one Jo knew?
June 7th
A novel that explores the imagined lives of Jo March’s descendants—three sisters who are both thoroughly modern and thoroughly March. With her older sister, Emma, planning a wedding and her younger sister, Sophie, preparing to launch a career on the London stage, Lulu can’t help but feel like the failure of the Atwater family. Lulu loves her sisters dearly and wants nothing but the best for them, but she finds herself stuck in a rut, working dead-end jobs with no romantic prospects in sight. When her mother asks her to find a cache of old family recipes in the attic of her childhood home, Lulu stumbles across a collection of letters written by her great-great-grandmother Josephine March. In her letters, Jo writes in detail about every aspect of her life: her older sister, Meg’s, new home and family; her younger sister Amy’s many admirers; Beth’s illness and the family’s shared grief over losing her too soon; and the butterflies she feels when she meets a handsome young German. As Lulu delves deeper into the lives and secrets of the March sisters, she finds solace and guidance, but can the words of her great-great-grandmother help Lulu find a place for herself in a world so different from the one Jo knew?
June 8th
Is any relationship strong enough to survive a string of secrets? With a great job at a reputable magazine and a man who's the perfect match, Serenity Holland thinks she's laid the foundation for an ideal London life. When a routine assignment uncovers a shocking secret threatening her boyfriend's company, Serenity decides to leave nothing to chance, taking matters into her own hands. Soon, though, she realises keeping secrets isn't as easy as she thought and the consequences are far worse than she ever imagined.
June 12th
Between You and Me by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
What happens when you are followed by millions . . . and loved by none? Twenty-seven-year-old
Logan Wade is trying to build a life for herself far from her unhappy
childhood in Oklahoma. Until she gets the call that her famous cousin
needs a new assistant— an offer she can’t refuse. Logan hasn’t seen Kelsey in person since their parents separated them as kids; in the meantime, Kelsey Wade has grown into Fortune Magazine’s
most powerful celebrity. But their reunion is quickly overshadowed by
the toxic dynamic between Kelsey and her parents as Logan discovers
that, beneath the glossy façade, the wounds that caused them to be
wrenched apart so many years ago have insidiously warped into a
show-stopping family business. As Kelsey tries desperately to
break away and grasp at a “real” life, beyond the influence of her
parents and managers, she makes one catastrophic misstep after another,
and Logan must question if their childhood has left them both too broken
to succeed. Logan risks everything to hold on, but when Kelsey unravels
in the most horribly public way, Logan finds that she will ultimately
have to choose between rescuing the girl she has always protected
and saving herself.
Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead
Winn Van Meter is heading for his family’s retreat on the pristine New England island of Waskeke. Normally a haven of calm, for the next three days this sanctuary will be overrun by tipsy revelers as Winn prepares for the marriage of his daughter Daphne to the affable young scion Greyson Duff. Winn’s wife, Biddy, has planned the wedding with military precision, but arrangements are sideswept by a storm of salacious misbehavior and intractable lust: Daphne’s sister, Livia, who has recently had her heart broken by Teddy Fenn, the son of her father’s oldest rival, is an eager target for the seductive wiles of Greyson’s best man; Winn, instead of reveling in his patriarchal duties, is tormented by his long-standing crush on Daphne’s beguiling bridesmaid Agatha; and the bride and groom find themselves presiding over a spectacle of misplaced desire, marital infidelity, and monumental loss of faith in the rituals of American life.
Winn Van Meter is heading for his family’s retreat on the pristine New England island of Waskeke. Normally a haven of calm, for the next three days this sanctuary will be overrun by tipsy revelers as Winn prepares for the marriage of his daughter Daphne to the affable young scion Greyson Duff. Winn’s wife, Biddy, has planned the wedding with military precision, but arrangements are sideswept by a storm of salacious misbehavior and intractable lust: Daphne’s sister, Livia, who has recently had her heart broken by Teddy Fenn, the son of her father’s oldest rival, is an eager target for the seductive wiles of Greyson’s best man; Winn, instead of reveling in his patriarchal duties, is tormented by his long-standing crush on Daphne’s beguiling bridesmaid Agatha; and the bride and groom find themselves presiding over a spectacle of misplaced desire, marital infidelity, and monumental loss of faith in the rituals of American life.
June 14th
Ellen O’Farrell is a bit unusual. She’s a hypnotherapist. She’s never met her father. And she can’t seem to keep a relationship going (okay, that’s more normal than we want to admit). When Ellen meets Patrick, she’s hopeful nevertheless. But when he says he needs to tell her something, she fears the worst. However, when Patrick reveals that his ex-girlfriend is stalking him, Ellen thinks, Is that all? Actually, that’s kind of neat. She’s more intrigued than frightened. What makes a supposedly smart, professional woman behave this way? She’d love to meet her. What she doesn’t know is that she already has.
June 19th
A Place in the Country by Elizabeth Adler
Fifteen-year-old Issy, and her newly-single mother, Caroline Evans, are struggling to find their way alone, as well as together. At thirty-eight, Caroline is coming to terms with this new life, even though she has little money and all the responsibility for the two of them. When she decides to leave their well-off lives in Singapore (and her cheating husband and his long-time mistress and powerhouse), she ends up living in an English village pub, cooking dinners to earn enough to get by on; meeting unexpectedly quirky people, and making friends. But Issy still adores her father and secretly blames her mother for their change in life. When Caroline’s dream of restoring an old barn into a restaurant finally begins to come true, her chance at happiness hangs in the balance as whispers of murder and vengeance find their way to her. When Issy, hovering in that limbo between girl and young woman, begins to make some dangerous choices, the stakes are raised even higher.
Fifteen-year-old Issy, and her newly-single mother, Caroline Evans, are struggling to find their way alone, as well as together. At thirty-eight, Caroline is coming to terms with this new life, even though she has little money and all the responsibility for the two of them. When she decides to leave their well-off lives in Singapore (and her cheating husband and his long-time mistress and powerhouse), she ends up living in an English village pub, cooking dinners to earn enough to get by on; meeting unexpectedly quirky people, and making friends. But Issy still adores her father and secretly blames her mother for their change in life. When Caroline’s dream of restoring an old barn into a restaurant finally begins to come true, her chance at happiness hangs in the balance as whispers of murder and vengeance find their way to her. When Issy, hovering in that limbo between girl and young woman, begins to make some dangerous choices, the stakes are raised even higher.
Debut novel about one woman’s journey back to happiness after an affair splinters her perfect marriage and life—what it means to be loved, betrayed and to love again. When Amanda Blick, a young mother and kindhearted San Francisco heiress, finds her gorgeous French chef husband wrapped around his sous-chef, she knows she must flee her life in order to rebuild it. The opportunity falls into her lap when her (very lovable) mother suggests Amanda and her young son, Max, spend the summer with her at the St. Regis Resort in Laguna Beach. With the waves right outside her windows and nothing more to worry about than finding the next relaxing thing to do, Amanda should be having the time of her life—and escaping the drama. But instead, she finds herself faced with a kind, older divorcee who showers her with attention… and she discovers that the road to healing is never simple. This is the sometimes funny, sometimes bitter, but always moving story about the mistakes and discoveries a woman makes when her perfect world is turned upside down.
The Meryl Streep Movie Club by Mia March
Two sisters and the cousin they grew up with after a tragedy are
summoned home to their family matriarch's inn on the coast of Maine for a
shocking announcement. Suddenly, Isabel, June, and Kat are sharing the
attic bedroom--and barely speaking. But when innkeeper Lolly asks them
to join her and the guests in the parlor for weekly Movie Night--it's
Meryl Streep month--they find themselves sharing secrets, talking long
into the night--and questioning everything they thought they knew about
life, love, and one another. Each
woman sees her complicated life reflected through the magic of cinema:
Isabel's husband is having an affair, and an old pact may keep her from
what she wants most... June has promised her seven-year-old son that
she'll somehow find his father, who he's never known... and Kat is
ambivalent about accepting her lifelong best friend's marriage proposal.
Through everything, Lolly has always been there for them, and now
Isabel, June, Kat--and Meryl--must be there for her. Finding themselves.
Finding each other. Finding a happy ending.
What Women Want by Fanny Blake
Bea, Kate, and Ellen have always known that they can depend on each other no matter what. And it’s a good thing, too, because each is finding the latest phase in life... challenging. Bea’s contending with a new boss, power-hungry colleagues, and a difficult teenage son, not to mention the anxieties of returning to the dating game. Stressed-out doctor Kate is coping with an empty nest and the growing realization that her marriage has lost its shine. But when Ellen, a widow who has devoted herself to her children and her art gallery for the last ten years, falls head over heels in love with Oliver, the long-term bonds of these three friends is put to the test. Bea and Kate are driven away from their friend and from each other as they react differently to this unfamiliar stranger in their midst. Fanny Blake's What Women Want is a novel about love and life and the challenges of female friendship that women face as they try to decide what they want—and come to realize what they really need.
Bea, Kate, and Ellen have always known that they can depend on each other no matter what. And it’s a good thing, too, because each is finding the latest phase in life... challenging. Bea’s contending with a new boss, power-hungry colleagues, and a difficult teenage son, not to mention the anxieties of returning to the dating game. Stressed-out doctor Kate is coping with an empty nest and the growing realization that her marriage has lost its shine. But when Ellen, a widow who has devoted herself to her children and her art gallery for the last ten years, falls head over heels in love with Oliver, the long-term bonds of these three friends is put to the test. Bea and Kate are driven away from their friend and from each other as they react differently to this unfamiliar stranger in their midst. Fanny Blake's What Women Want is a novel about love and life and the challenges of female friendship that women face as they try to decide what they want—and come to realize what they really need.
June 26th
The town of Yorktide, close to Maine's beautiful beaches and the city of Portland, seems like the perfect place to raise a family. For Jane Patterson, there's another advantage: her best friend, Frannie Giroux, lives next door, and their teenaged daughters, Rosie and Meg, are inseparable. But in the girls' freshman year of high school, everything changes. Jane always felt lucky that she was able to work from home, to be there to nurture and protect Rosie. But has she been too protective? Rosie - quiet, shy, and also very pretty - attracts the sneers and slights of a clique of older girls. Over time, the bullying worsens. When Meg betrays their friendship, fearful that she too will be targeted, Rosie suffers an emotional breakdown. Blaming both Meg and Frannie, Jane tries to help Rosie heal while dealing with her own guilt and anger. In the months that follow, each struggles with the ideas of forgiveness and compassion, of knowing when a friendship has been shattered beyond repair - and when hope can be salvaged, one small moment at a time...
Summerland by Elin Hilderbrand
A warm June evening, a local tradition: the students of Nantucket High
have gathered for a bonfire on the beach. But what begins as a
graduation night celebration ends in tragedy after a horrible car crash
leaves the driver of the car, Penny Alistair, dead, and her twin brother
in a coma. The other passengers, Penny's boyfriend Jake and her friend
Demeter, are physically unhurt - but the emotional damage is
overwhelming, and questions linger about what happened before Penny took
the wheel. As summer unfolds, startling truths are revealed
about the survivors and their parents - secrets kept, promises broken,
hearts betrayed. Elin Hilderbrand explores the power of community,
family, and honesty, and proves that even from the ashes of sorrow, new
love can still take flight.
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