Clark and Division by Naomi Hirahara

Aki Ito is excited to join her older sister, Rose, in Chicago after being interred in Manzanar by the U.S. government because she has Japanese ancestry. However, when Aki and her parents arrive in Chicago in 1944 they discover that Rose has committed suicide. Aki does not believe that Rose would kill herself and vows to discover what happened to her. Aki also tries to move on with her life, working at the Newberry Library and thinking about fulfilling her dream of becoming a nurse. The mystery Clark and Division immerses the reader in Japanese-American culture in addition to providing a great sense of place for 1940's Chicago.

A Place Like Home by Rosamunde Pilcher

A Place Like Home is a collection of short stories written by beloved author Rosamunde Pilcher that have never been published in book form. In these stories, the reader is transported to Pilcher's cherished Cornwall and immersed in the lives and loves of women of various ages as they seek fulfullment in their personal lives. For readers who like gentle cozy reads.

A Woman of Intelligence by Karin Tanabe

In 1954, Katharina Edgeworth lives on the Upper East Side of Manhattan with her husband, Tom (a surgeon), and her two young sons. Before marrying, college-educated Katharina worked at the United Nations as a translator and enjoyed being single amid the rousing nightlife of New York City. When FBI agent Lee Goldwell approaches her and asks her to feed them information about her old college boyfriend, Jacob Gornev, whom they believe is part of the KGB, she readily agrees, because she is looking for any escape from her home life. However, she has to hide what she is doing from Tom, who believes she should be spending all of her time with the children. This puts a strain on their marriage and causes Katharina to think again about what kind of life she wants for herself. A Woman of Intelligence is a great read-alike for those who've enjoyed the books of Beatriz Williams.