The Way Life Should Be by Christina Baker Kline

Thirty-three year old Angela Russo is an event planner at a contemporary art museum in New York. Her life is at a crossroads—she’s bored with her job and doesn’t have a boyfriend. In essence, her life lacks passion. Angela has always had fond thoughts of Maine even though she’s never been there, so when she meets a guy online from Maine she decides to relocate. Mount Desert Island, Maine is a quiet place in the off-season and not exactly what she expected, but slowly she finds her niche—making friends, getting a job, and maybe finding love. Angela uses the skills her Italian grandmother taught her—creating delicious food as a road to happiness. Christina Baker Kline is one of my favorite authors. It’s been far too long since her last novel (1999). Her descriptions of cooking and island life along with the memorable characters make this novel one of the best books about women’s lives that I’ve read all year.