"An enthralling novel about love, loss, secrets, friendship, and the healing power of literature, by the bestselling author of The Knitting Circle. Ava's twenty-five-year marriage has fallen apart, and her two grown children are pursuing their own lives outside of the country. Ava joins a book group, not only for her love of reading but also out of sheer desperation for companionship. The group's goal throughout the year is for each member to present...

In this warm collection of personal essays and recipes, best-selling author Ann Hood nourishes both our bodies and our souls. From her Italian-American childhood through raising and feeding a growing family and cooking with her new husband, food writer Michael Ruhlman, Ann Hood has long appreciated the power of a good meal. Growing up, she tasted love in her grandmother's tomato sauce and dreamed of her mother's special-occasion Fancy Lady Sandwiches....

"Filled with love, hope, and longing, this is a novel for readers of all ages." - Holly Goldberg Sloan
Bestselling author Ann Hood crafts a funny, heartfelt story of a girl growing up in the heart of Beatlemania.
The year is 1966. The Vietnam War rages overseas, the Beatles have catapulted into stardom, and twelve-year-old Rhode Island native Trudy Mixer is not thrilled with life. Her best friend, Michelle, has decided to become...

"Looking at her characters as if through a pair of binoculars Ann Hood captures the extraordinary in the ordinary, the surreal in everyday occurrences. A pregnant woman left by her husband bakes obsessively to cope, but never tries a morsel. In an attempt to stay sober, a young alcoholic seduces her minister and embarks on a tour of caverns with him. An adolescent girl picks up bird watching as a hobby. In her newfound habit of observing others, she...

Ann Hood reflects on her family's struggle to overcome their grief after the death of her five-year-old daughter, Grace, sharing the words, lessons, and actions that helped her begin to heal and move on with life.

Women writers celebrate and meditate on their acts of defiance, from using well-chosen expletives and engaging in less-than-ideal parenting techniques to getting back at an ex and wearing a stolen Girl Scout badge.