Musical Chairs
Amy Poeppel
A cellist's carefully planned summer in Connecticut falls apart when her breakup and her two grown kids all land on her doorstep at once. Funny, warm, and full of family chaos.
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The Sweet Spot
Amy Poeppel
A chaotic, big-hearted comedy set around a New York brownstone. Poeppel is reliably delightful.
Small Admissions
Amy Poeppel
A heartbroken young woman lands a job in private-school admissions. Light, funny, and a peek behind a very specific curtain.
★ 5The Correspondent
Virginia Evans
The protagonist of this beautiful novel is a 73-year-old woman processing her life — and regrets — through letters. It’s poignant but not saccharine, specific but universally appealing. I dare you not to cry.
Tom Lake
Ann Patchett
An older woman tells her daughters about the summer she spent performing alongside — and falling in love with — a now-famous actor. My friend Anna said her husband adored this book just as much as she did — impressive, considering he typically reads business non-fiction.
★ 5Whistler
Ann Patchett
Ann Patchett is one of my favorite authors for a reason; I couldn't put this down.