The Boys by Katie Hafner

Quiet and introverted, Ethan is thrilled when co-worker Barb is interested in him too. They soon marry and, in the months before the pandemic, Barb brings home twins Tommy and Sam to become part of their family. Both Ethan and Barb had decided they wanted children, so the boys are a welcome addition. Ethan takes to fatherhood almost obsessively--homeschooling the boys, worrying about their eating habits, and then taking them on vacation without Barb. We, as the reader, know from the first page of the book that something happened on that vacation to cause Ethan to be banned for life from travelling ever again with the company that organized the tour. What could have occurred? The Boys recounts Ethan and Barb's relationship, along with that fateful trip, in a quirky story of love, acceptance, and forgiveness. A great read-alike for Kevin Wilson.

Where the Sky Begins by Rhys Bowen

In wartime London, Josie finds herself homeless after her home is destroyed by German bombs. Her husband, Stan, has already been called up and is headed to Africa. As she recuperates from a broken collarbone, Josie ends up in the small village of Sutton St. Giles, living at the estate of a woman named Miss Harcourt. At first, Miss Harcourt makes Josie feel quite unwelcome, but as Josie makes herself useful helping out around the house and eventually opening up a tea room for the local residents and the soldiers who live at the local military base, Miss Harcourt's resentments begin to ebb. In addition, Josie finds herself becoming part of the community and realizes that she is quite enjoying country life. Josie also begins to develop feelings for a pilot stationed at the base, but, being a married woman, she must put them aside--even though her marriage is not a good one. Where the Sky Begins is another enjoyable historical novel by Bowen and and is a great read-alike for those missing the novels of Maeve Binchy.

My Sister's Grave by Robert Dugoni

It's been twenty years since Seattle police detective Tracy Crosswhite's younger sister, Sarah, disappeared. Edmund House was convicted of the crime and sits in prison, even though Sarah's body was never found. Tracey has a lot of doubts about House's guilt, even though he served time before Sarah went missing. She has also spent a lot of time going over the documents from House's trial. Then Sarah's remains are discovered and Tracy figures this is the perfect time to try and find out who killed her--except that there are those who would like the case to stay closed. My Sister's Grave is the first book in Dugoni's Tracy Crosswhite series. It's been 15 years since I've read a book by Dugoni (Damage Control) and after reading this one, I wonder why it's been so long.

A Season for Second Chances by Jenny Bayliss

When Annie discovers her husband, Max, is having an affair with Ellie, a young waitress who works at their restaurant, it's the last straw. Done with turning a blind eye to his philandering, Annie tells Max she wants a divorce and moves to the seaside village of Willow Bay. Annie will be the winter tenant at Saltwater Nook, a home right on the beach. Saltwater Nook is owned by Mari, an older woman who cannot care for the property anymore. It will probably be sold soon by Mari's nephew, John, to make room for new flats, which has drawn the ire of some in the village. John is also worried about Annie living there, even more so when he sees that Annie has opened up the shuttered tearoom on the property, which is now doing a brisk business. Anger and sparks fly between Annie and John, but a relationship would be complicated, since Annie decides she would like to buy Saltwater Nook. Can Annie counter the high offer the developers have made? A Season for Second Chances is a charming novel, with a great sense of place, humor, and memorable characters. A great read-alike for the recent Nora Goes Off Script and for those who enjoy books about small English villages.

The Candid Life of Meena Dave by Namrata Patel

Meena is a photographer who travels around the world for stories and doesn't have a permanent home. When Meena inherits a lovely old apartment in the Back Bay of Boston from someone she doesn't know, she wonders why she was given this generous gift. Meena, still struggling with the unexpected deaths of her parents who adopted her when she was a baby (even though they passed away many years ago), sees the apartment as something to sell and move on. The other inhabitants of the building, though, won't let her go that easily. As Meena learns, everyone in the building descends from men who came from India to study at M.I.T. in the early 20th century. The Candid Life of Meena Dave is filled with loads of Indian culture and history. A delightful, multi-layered story of learning to belong and heal.

Hatchet Island by Paul Doiron

Maine game warden Mike Bowditch accompanies his girlfriend, Stacey Stevens, to Baker Island. Stacey received a message from her friend, Kendra, who is the project manager for the Maine Seabird Initiative on the island. When Mike and Stacey arrive, they find Kendra and her two interns, Garrett and Hillary, weary and concerned. The head of the research on the island, Maeve McLeary, has been missing for two days. In addition, they are being threatened by several locals. It's not long after that violence comes to the island and Mike finds himself trying to unravel who's responsible. Hatchet Island is another solid addition to the Mike Bowditch mystery series, featuring a great sense of place on the islands of Maine.