"A wise, bighearted novel of unplanned isolation and newly forged community, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Romantics"--

In this novel that unites characters from "The Giver" and "Gathering Blue," Matty, a young member of a utopian community that values honesty, conceals an emerging healing power that he cannot explain or understand.

"When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations,...

"Sixth-grader Wes Henderson sets out to save the Oaks, the neighborhood where he's lived his whole life, from being sold to a real estate developer"--

Petty rivalries and feuds that have long been simmering finally come to a boil, leaving a bad taste in the mouths of may guest, including Lee Cummings who accues Tucker Whitney of stealing her recipe for low fat, sugar-free cookies. But the icing on the cake is when Tucker is found strangles in her apartment on the following morning.

Neighbors Mary Jo Wyse and Mack McAfee feel their love grow as they work together to solve the mystery of what happened to the World War II soldier who wrote the letters that Mary Jo found, and to the girl he wrote to.

A boy's circle starts out small but steadily grows as he builds relationships throughout his community.