by Maeve Binchy
First published 2014
Bucket Maguire cleans windows on Chestnut Street, but protecting his son demands far more than he expected. Down the block, Nessa Byrne braces for her American aunt's annual summer visit, knowing it will turn her quiet life upside down once again. Lilian plans her wedding despite everyone's disapproval of her fiancé, while Melly trades neighborhood gossip with Madame Magic, the local fortune teller who uses these secrets to guide residents toward better choices. Dolly uncovers uncomfortable truths about her supposedly perfect mother, and Molly exchanges letters with a pen pal from Chicago who teaches her how to cure her sleeplessness. Each resident of this Dublin street carries private struggles behind their front doors. Their stories weave together as they navigate love, family obligations, unexpected discoveries, and the small daily dramas that shape ordinary lives. Binchy reveals how neighbors can unknowingly help each other find the right path forward.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, slice-of-life
Setting: Chestnut Street, Dublin
Period: 20th-century
430 pages · Hardcover · Knopf