First published 2023
Joan Sample sits alone on another birthday, a widow whose children have moved away. Her sister finally convinces her to rejoin the world. Joan hires a landscaper for her neglected garden, joins a grief support group, and decides to rent out a room. Across town, Maggie Herbert serves coffee to cranky customers each morning before rushing to nursing school. She lives with her alcoholic father, dodging his anger while struggling to pay bills. When Maggie discovers Joan's rental room, she finds unexpected warmth and stability. Joan begins feeling like herself again with Maggie's presence. But complications arise when Maggie develops feelings for a regular coffee customer, threatening her new living situation. Meanwhile, Joan grows curious about her mysterious landscaper, who seems to carry his own hidden grief. As both women navigate these unfamiliar circumstances, they discover they can support each other in ways neither expected, learning that chosen family often means more than blood relations.
Genres: fiction, romance, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, second-chance
Setting: Across Town
Period: Another Birthday
336 pages · Hardcover · Ballantine Books
Content warnings: mental-illness