Lists and Suggestions
List: Kindness and Community Fiction
The Switch
O'Leary, Beth, author.
Leena is too young to feel stuck. Eileen is too old to start over. It's time for the switch? O... More
Leena is too young to feel stuck. Eileen is too old to start over. It's time for the switch? Ordered to take a two-month sabbatical after blowing a big presentation at work, Leena escapes to her grandmother Eileen's house for some overdue rest. Newly single and about to turn 80, Eileen would like a second chance at love. But her tiny Yorkshire village doesn't offer many eligible gentlemen? So Leena proposes a solution: a two-month swap. Eileen can live in London and look for love and Leena will look after everything in rural Yorkshire. But with a rabble of unruly OAPs to contend with, as well as the annoyingly perfect - and distractingly handsome - local schoolteacher, Leena learns that switching lives isn't straightforward. Back in London, Eileen is a huge hit with her new neighbours and with the online dating scene. But is her perfect match nearer to home than she first thought? Less
It's Not All Downhill From Here
McMillan, Terry, author.
Loretha Curry’s husband Carl whisks her away for a weekend getaway in Palm Springs, Calif., to cel... More
Loretha Curry’s husband Carl whisks her away for a weekend getaway in Palm Springs, Calif., to celebrate her 68th birthday, only to die of a heart attack while they are staying at the resort. Loretha’s friends rally around her as she tries to recover from the devastating loss. Loretha also contends with her own health issues after her doctor diagnoses her with diabetes. Though Loretha is filled with loneliness after Carl’s death, the wit and candor of her friends lessens the blow as Loretha weathers the angst of a difficult relationship and considers selling her beauty products business. Less
The Thursday Murder Club
Osman, Richard, 1970- author.
In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet weekly in the Jigsaw Room to discuss un... More
In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet weekly in the Jigsaw Room to discuss unsolved crimes; together they call themselves the Thursday Murder Club. When a local developer is found dead with a mysterious photograph left next to the body, the Thursday Murder Club suddenly find themselves in the middle of their first live case. Less
The Dirty Girls Social Club
Valdes, Alisa.
In the years after graduating from Boston University, six Latina friends from widely varied backgro... More
In the years after graduating from Boston University, six Latina friends from widely varied backgrounds meet every six months to dine, share the stories of their everyday lives, and offer advice to one another. Less
The House in the Cerulean Sea
Klune, TJ, author.
Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and... More
Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. But his quiet life is about to change. Linus is summoned by Extremely Upper Management and given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to an orphanage on a distant island and determine whether six dangerous magical children are so dangerous, in fact, that they're likely to bring about the end of days. When Linus arrives at the strangest of islands he's greeted by a series of mysterious figures, the greatest mystery of which is Arthur Parnassus, master of the orphanage. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, Linus discovers the master would do anything to keep the children safe, even if it means the world has to burn. Or worse, his secret comes to light... Less
Anxious People
Backman, Fredrik, 1981- author.
Taken hostage by a failed bank robber while attending an open house, eight anxiety-prone strangers-... More
Taken hostage by a failed bank robber while attending an open house, eight anxiety-prone strangers--including a redemption-seeking bank director, two couples who would fix their marriages, and a plucky octogenarian--discover their unexpected common traits. Less
Real Men Knit
Jackson, K. M., author.
Jesse Strong is known for two things: his devotion to his adoptive mom, Mama Joy, and his reputation... More
Jesse Strong is known for two things: his devotion to his adoptive mom, Mama Joy, and his reputation for breaking hearts. When Mama Joy unexpectedly passes away, he and his brothers have different plans for what to do with Strong Knits, their neighborhood knitting store. Jesse wants to keep the store open. His brothers want to tie off loose ends and close shop. Part-time shop employee Kerry Fuller has kept her crush on Jesse a secret. When she overhears his impassioned plea to his brothers to keep the knitting shop open, she volunteers to help. Less
The Supremes Sing the Happy Heartache Blues
Moore, Edward Kelsey, author.
When a late life love affair blooms between Mr. Forrest Payne, the owner of the Pink Slipper Gentle... More
When a late life love affair blooms between Mr. Forrest Payne, the owner of the Pink Slipper Gentleman's Club, and Miss Beatrice Jordan, famous for stationing herself at the edge of the club's parking lot and yelling warnings of eternal damnation at the departing patrons, their wedding summons a legend to town. Mr. El Walker, the great guitar bluesman, comes home to give a command performance in Plainview, Indiana, a place he'd sworn--and for good reason--he'd never set foot in again. But El is not the only Plainview native with a hurdle to overcome... Less
Elevation
King, Stephen, 1947- author.
In the small town of Castle Rock, Scott is engaged in a low grade—but escalating—battle with the... More
In the small town of Castle Rock, Scott is engaged in a low grade—but escalating—battle with the lesbians next door whose dog regularly drops his business on Scott’s lawn. One of the women is friendly; the other, cold as ice. Both are trying to launch a new restaurant, but the people of Castle Rock want no part of a gay married couple, and the place is in trouble. When Scott finally understands the prejudices they face—including his own—he tries to help. Unlikely alliances, the annual foot race, and the mystery of Scott’s affliction bring out the best in people who have indulged the worst in themselves and others. Less
The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen
Groen, Hendrik, author.
Hendrik Groen may be old, but he is far from dead and isn't planning to be buried any time soo... More
Hendrik Groen may be old, but he is far from dead and isn't planning to be buried any time soon. Granted, his daily strolls are getting shorter because his legs are no longer willing and he has to visit his doctor more than he'd like. Technically speaking he is ... elderly. But surely there is more to life at his age than weak tea and potted geraniums? Hendrik sets out to write an exposé: a year in the life of his care home in Amsterdam, revealing all its ups and downs--not least his new endeavor, the anarchic Old-But-Not-Dead Club. And when Eefje moves in--the woman Hendrik has always longed for--he polishes his shoes (and his teeth), grooms what's left of his hair and attempts to make something of the life he has left, with hilarious, tender and devastating consequences. Less
Things You Save in a Fire
Center, Katherine, author.
Cassie Hanwell was born for emergencies. As one of the only female firefighters in her Texas firehou... More
Cassie Hanwell was born for emergencies. As one of the only female firefighters in her Texas firehouse, she's seen her fair share of them, and she's a total pro at other people's tragedies. But when her estranged and ailing mother asks her to give up her whole life and move to Boston, Cassie suddenly has an emergency of her own. The tough, old-school Boston firehouse is as different from Cassie's old job as it could possibly be. Hazing, a lack of funding, and poor facilities mean that the firemen aren't exactly thrilled to have a "lady" on the crew - even one as competent and smart as Cassie. Except for the infatuation-inspiring rookie, who doesn't seem to mind having Cassie around. But she can't think about that. Because love is girly, and it’s not her thing. Less
The Altogether Unexpected Disappearance of Atticus Craftsman
Sánchez, Mamen, 1971- author.
Atticus Craftsman never travels without a supply of Earl Grey, an electric kettle, and a teacup—s... More
Atticus Craftsman never travels without a supply of Earl Grey, an electric kettle, and a teacup—so he makes sure he has packed all three after his father, distinguished publisher of Craftsman & Co., sends him to Madrid to shut down a failing literary magazine, Librarte. But when nobody has heard from him in three months, his father knows something must be very wrong. Fortunately, Inspector Manchego is on the case. Manchego gets to work unraveling the mystery of the Englishman’s disappearance, but there to block him at every turn are the five fiery and close-knit Spanish women who run Librarte and who will do anything to keep their jobs. Less
Bring on the Blessings
Jenkins, Beverly, 1951-
Bernadine Brown is a woman with money to spend. Henry Adams is a town in desperate need of cash. But... More
Bernadine Brown is a woman with money to spend. Henry Adams is a town in desperate need of cash. But after Bernadine puts up the money, she has some ideas about how the town should be run. Will the townspeople be willing to shake up their comfortable lives to share the gift they’ve been given with others who really need it? Less
Natural Born Charmer
Phillips, Susan Elizabeth.
Taking to the road between seasons, attractive Chicago Stars quarterback Dean Robillard meets the b... More
Taking to the road between seasons, attractive Chicago Stars quarterback Dean Robillard meets the beautiful and infuriating Blue under unusual circumstances and draws on his competitive skills to overcome her wariness of relationships. Less
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Shaffer, Mary Ann.
As London is emerging from the shadow of World War II, writer Juliet Ashton discovers her next subj... More
As London is emerging from the shadow of World War II, writer Juliet Ashton discovers her next subject in a book club on Guernsey--a club born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi after its members are discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island. Less
The Story of Arthur Truluv
Berg, Elizabeth, author.
Making daily visits to the grave of his beloved late wife, Arthur forges unexpected relationships wi... More
Making daily visits to the grave of his beloved late wife, Arthur forges unexpected relationships with a nosy neighbor and a troubled teen who dubs him "Truluv" before the trio discovers healing and family together. Less
The Lido
Page, Libby, author.
Kate is a 26-year-old riddled with anxiety and panic attacks who works for a local paper in Brixton,... More
Kate is a 26-year-old riddled with anxiety and panic attacks who works for a local paper in Brixton, London, covering small stories. When she's assigned to write about the closing of the local lido (an outdoor pool and recreation center), she meets Rosemary, an 86-year-old widow who has swum at the lido daily since it opened its doors when she was a child. It was here Rosemary fell in love with her husband, George; here that she's found communion during her marriage and since George's death. The lido has been a cornerstone in nearly every part of Rosemary's life. But when a local developer attempts to buy the lido for a posh new apartment complex, Rosemary's fond memories and sense of community are under threat. Less
The Reluctant Fortune-Teller
Frost, Keziah, author.
Norbert Zelenka has always lived life on the sidelines. It's how at seventy-three years old he... More
Norbert Zelenka has always lived life on the sidelines. It's how at seventy-three years old he finds himself broke and alone. But when Carlotta's Club--three strong-willed seniors with a flair for drama--decide to make Norbert their latest project, he reluctantly agrees to their scheme. Less
The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend
Bivald, Katarina, 1983-
Broken Wheel, Iowa, has never seen anyone like Sara, who traveled all the way from Sweden just to m... More
Broken Wheel, Iowa, has never seen anyone like Sara, who traveled all the way from Sweden just to meet her pen pal, Amy. When she arrives, however, she finds that Amy's funeral has just ended. Luckily, the townspeople are happy to look after their bewildered tourist--even if they don't understand her peculiar need for books. Marooned in a farm town that's almost beyond repair, Sara starts a bookstore in honor of her friend's memory. All she wants is to share the books she loves with the citizens of Broken Wheel and to convince them that reading is one of the great joys of life. But she makes some unconventional choices that could force a lot of secrets into the open and change things for everyone in town. Less
Friendship Bread
Gee, Darien.
Still reeling from a personal tragedy that left her estranged from the sister who was once her best... More
Still reeling from a personal tragedy that left her estranged from the sister who was once her best friend, Julia Evarts remains at a loss as to how to move on with her life until she receives an anonymous gift of Amish Friendship Bread with instructions on how to make the bread herself, and a request to share it with others. Less