The Glass Eel by J.J. Viertel

On Caterpillar Island off the coast of Maine, Jeanette King makes a living selling crabmeat to expensive restaurants on the east coast. One evening, she comes upon her ex-husband Simon's boat, which seems to have been involved in a dubious activity--illegally catching eels. When someone Jeanette knew well is murdered, she decides to get to the bottom of what's really going on. With the help of  local activist Jesse Ed Davis and cop Toland Bates (whom Jeanette has known since he was a child), she attempts to make things right and see justice served. Readalikes include The Trouble Up North and The Distant Dead.

One of Them by Kitty Zeldis

At Vassar in 1946, Anne Bishop hides that she is Jewish because she doesn't want to be socially ostracized. She develops a friendship with another Jewish girl, Delia, in secret. Delia is unabashedly herself and doesn't care that she has no friends at the university. At times, Anne, is in awe of how self-confident Delia is. One day Anne betrays Delia and their bond is fractured. One of Them recounts their relationship and the lives of both women through college and after. Both have lost much--Anne's parents have both passed away and Delia's mother was presumed dead during the war in France. How they persevere, are comfortable with their faith, and grow into young independent women are all explored. A really enjoyable novel of historical fiction.

The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe by Catherine Greer

When Audrey loses out on a promotion and discovers her husband is having an affair, she quits her job in Sydney and takes off for Whitehaven Bay, a beach town she visited when she was young. The residents of Whitehaven are a quirky bunch. There's Audrey's landlord Buddy (who swims naked every morning), Billie (a teenager who is nursing a world of hurt underneath their tough exterior), and Shez (a flamboyant dresser and owner of the local holiday flats). However, what will Audrey do to make a living? Luckily, Audrey is a fabulous baker. Can she make enough money with her floral fortune cookies to stay afloat? The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe is a delightful story of second chances, friendship, and community. A great choice for readers of Freya Sampson and Clare Pooley.

We'll Prescribe You Another Cat by Syou Ishida

The only people that can find Nakagyo Kokoro Clinic for the Soul are the ones that need it. Inside, Dr. Nikke and nurse Chitose loan cats to individuals. There's Shousuke, who, while caring for a cat, gets the courage to switch colleges. Meanwhile, having a second cat in Reona's family helps the family members smooth out their differences. For Moe, taking care of three cats who are a handful over several weeks makes it easier for her to accept some unwelcome news from her boyfriend, Ryuji. A light, quick read.

Buckeye by Patrick Ryan

In the 1930's, Felix Salt marries Margaret Anderson, and a few years later they move to the town of Bonhomie, in northwest Ohio. Another young couple, Cal and Becky Jenkins, also reside there. During World War II, the four find their lives intertwined in a way that will have repercussions for many years. Buckeye is a leisurely-paced read, spanning over sixty years in the lives of the two families. A great choice for book discussions and for those who enjoy family sagas. Read-alikes include Ask Again, Yes, Dearly Beloved, and The Two-Family House.

Isabella's Not Dead by Beth Morrey

At fifty-three, Gwen finds herself thinking about her former best friend, Izzy, whom she hasn't talked to in over fifteen years. Inseparable as teenagers, they began to drift apart a bit when Gwen married Angus and started to have children. Gwen struggles to remember what their last conversation was even about. However, Gwen knows it was Izzy who pulled away from her, ending the friendship. Now Gwen decides she must track down Izzy and try to make things right, but as Gwen goes on her journey--talking to Izzy's family, former boyfriends, and people Izzy worked with--she begins to realize that she is also reclaiming a part of her self that was lost. In addition, it appears that maybe there's a deeper reason that Izzy disappeared. A story of friendship and growing up, which is at times funny, yet goes deeper. Thoroughly enjoyable...

A Marriage at Sea: a True Story of Love, Obsession, and a Shipwreck by Sophie Elmhirst

In 1972, Maurice and Madalyn Bailey set sail from England on their boat, Auralyn, toward their final destination, New Zealand. The journey was expected to take a little over a year, but in March of 1973 on their way to the Galapagos, a whale in distress damages their boat beyond repair. What follows is the couple's journey of survival at sea hoping to be rescued. A Marriage at Sea recounts the story of Maurice's and Madalyn's first meeting, marriage, and life together. It's a tale of ingenuity, weakness, strength, and love.