The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen by Yuta Takahashi

In a seaside town in Japan there is a place called Chibineko Kitchen. People come to the restaurant to eat a meal that reminds them of someone they were close to who has died. They are also able to see and communicate with that special person for one last time. In the novel, the reader meets Kotoko, whose brother died in a car accident, a boy named Tajii who was unkind to a classmate before she passed, and a widower named Yoshio who longs to see his wife again. With similarities to the Kamogawa Food Detectives series, this novel focuses more on the interpersonal relationships between the characters--including mother and son Nanami and Kai (the owners of the cafe)--and moving their stories forward. A poignant start to the series.

The Cafe with No Name by Robert Seethaler

In 1966, Robert Simon decides to open a cafe near the Karmelitermarkt in Vienna. It's a down-on-its-luck neighborhood that is just waiting for a local meeting place. In The Cafe with No Name, the reader gets up close and personal with Simon, Mila, the cafe's waitress, and the residents who frequent the cafe over the ten years it's in business. Give to readers who enjoyed The Door-to-Door Bookstore.

People of Means by Nancy Johnson

In 1959, Freda Gilroy, loves mathematics and is a freshman at Fisk University in Nashville. From a wealthy black family in Chicago, Freda hadn't thought a lot about what attending college in the south would mean. She's unprepared for the prejudice and, with the civil rights movement heating up, she wonders how she can contribute--and if she even should. Freda is also torn between Gerald, who is strictly focused on his studies and becoming a doctor, and Darius, an inspirational speaker who begins to devote all of his time to the movement. Freda's story alternates with that of her daughter Tulip, who, in 1992, lives in Chicago and is trying to get a promotion at the public relations firm where she works. Tulip is also dating Key, who her parents don't approve of and won't meet because he drives a bus for the city. With the trial of the police officers who beat Rodney King on the horizon, Tulip decides to become involved locally in the cause--but will it come at a personal cost?

We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes

Lila has a full house. Divorced, she lives with her two daughters--Celie and Violet--and her stepfather Bill, who doesn't like being alone after Lila's mother's death. When Gene, Lila's often absent father and semi-famous American actor, invites himself to stay, things get even more chaotic because Bill and Gene don't get along. Add to the mix that Lila's ex, Dan, lives not far away with his new partner Marja. That means that Lila sees Marja almost everyday on the school run. Lila is also on a deadline to hand in the first three chapters of the book she's writing, but she has writer's block. In typical Moyes style, the reader becomes immersed in Lila's life and those around her, hoping they all find the happiness they are looking for.

Yeonnam-Dong's Smiley Laundromat by Kim Jiyun

The Yeonnam-Dong Smiley Laundromat is in an area of Seoul that has undergone gentrification. Gone are most of the single-family homes, which have been replaced with apartments for the many young people attending university or who want to live in the city--yet widower Old Jang still lives in the house in which he and his wife raised his son Daeju. Now retired, Old Jang spends his days with his dog Jindol, and at times he gets lonely. While at the laundromat, he sees a book in which people have written their thoughts and sometimes even their problems. The notebook becomes a way for Old Jang to connect with others in the neighborhood, and soon people are coming together and helping each other in unexpected ways. Throughout the novel, the reader hears their stories firsthand. A cozy novel for readers of Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop.

The Mailman by Andrew Welsh-Huggins

Mercury Carter has a delivery to make to Rachel Stanfield. When Carter arrives at Rachel's house, he finds that Rachel and her husband Glenn are being held hostage by a guy named Finn and his henchmen. Carter just wants to make his delivery and leave, but Finn kidnaps Rachel and leaves with her before Carter can complete the task. Carter then finds himself, accompanied by Glenn, on Finn's trail trying to rescue Rachel because Finn is convinced that Rachel has information that he needs--and Finn is prepared to kill for it. The Mailman is the first book in a planned series and is perfect for fans of Thomas Perry, Lee Child, and Nick Petrie.