North Shore Women Connect upcoming events

NSWC BOOK CLUB: HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG by Andre Dubus III (14 Apr 2026)

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 22:00:00 GMT

**Attendees should read the entire book and come prepared to discuss. If you are unable to finish the book but would like to attend the discussion, you can do that as well.**

Join us for Book Club! APRIL 14, 2026

Crossroads Restaurant 119 S. Main St. Middleton MA

Susan Gannon, NSWC member and board member, will lead the discussions.

yourgranddesigns@gmail.com for questions

The National Book Award finalist, Oprah’s Book Club pick, #1 New York Times bestseller, and basis for the Oscar-nominated motion picture.

A recent immigrant from the Middle East―a former colonel in the Iranian Air Force―yearns to restore his family’s dignity in California. A recovering alcoholic and addict down on her luck struggles to hold onto the one thing she has left―her home. And her lover, a married cop, is driven to extremes to win her love.

Andre Dubus III’s unforgettable characters―people with ordinary flaws, looking for a small piece of ground to stand on―careen toward inevitable conflict. Their tragedy paints a shockingly true picture of the country we live in today.

NSWC BOOK CLUB: AFTERTASTE by Daria Lavelle (12 May 2026)

Tue, 12 May 2026 22:00:00 GMT

**Attendees should read the entire book and come prepared to discuss. If you are unable to finish the book but would like to attend the discussion, you can do that as well.**

Join us for Book Club! MAY 12, 2026

Crossroads Restaurant 119 S. Main St. Middleton MA

Susan Gannon, NSWC member and board member, will lead the discussions. yourgranddesigns@gmail.com

AFTERTASTE by Daria Lavelle

“A haunting evocation of pain and pleasure, and the power of food.” —Nigella Lawson

What if you could have one last meal with someone you’ve loved, someone you’ve lost? Combining the magic of Under the Whispering Door with the high-stakes culinary world of Sweetbitter, Aftertaste is an epic love story, a dark comedy, and a synesthetic adventure through food and grief.

A food story to binge. A ghost story to devour. A love story to savor.

Konstantin Duhovny is a haunted man. His father died when he was ten, and ghosts have been hovering around him ever since. Kostya can’t exactly see the ghosts, but he can taste their favorite foods. Flavors of meals he’s never eaten will flood his mouth, a sign that a spirit is present. Kostya has kept these aftertastes a secret for most of his life, but one night, he decides to act on what he’s tasting. And everything changes.

Kostya discovers that he can reunite people with their deceased loved ones—at least for the length of time it takes them to eat a dish that he’s prepared. He thinks his life’s purpose might be to offer closure to grieving strangers, and sets out to learn all he can by entering a particularly fiery ring of Hell: the New York culinary scene. But as his kitchen skills catch up with his ambitions, Kostya is too blind to see the catastrophe looming in the Afterlife. And the one person who knows Kostya must be stopped also happens to be falling in love with him.

Set in the bustling world of New York restaurants and teeming with mouthwatering food writing, Aftertaste is a whirlwind romance, a heart-wrenching look at love and loss, and a ghost story about all the ways we hunger—and how far we’d go to find satisfaction.

NSWC BOOK CLUB: I'LL BE RIGHT HERE by Amy Bloom (9 Jun 2026)

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMT

**Attendees should read the entire book and come prepared to discuss. If you are unable to finish the book but would like to attend the discussion, you can do that as well.**

JOIN US FOR BOOK CLUB: JUNE 9, 2026

Crossroads Restaurant 119 S. Main St. Middleton MA

Susan Gannon, NSWC member and board member, will lead the discussions. yourgranddesigns@gmail.com

I'LL BE RIGHT HERE by Amy Bloom

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A sweeping, intimate novel about an unconventional and irresistible family, in prose “so finely wrought it shimmers” (Los Angeles Times)—from the New York Times bestselling author of In Love, White Houses, and Away

“Amy Bloom is at the height of her powers in this epic tale.”—J. Courtney Sullivan, author of The Cliffs

“Bloom approaches each of her characters with empathy, insight, and sensitivity. She remains acutely aware of the absurdities of life, its harrowing hardships, and its fragile, fleeting joys.”—The Boston Globe

Immigrating alone from Paris to New York after the crucible of World War II, young Gazala becomes friends with two spirited sisters, Anne and Alma. When Gazala’s lost, beloved brother, Samir, joins her in Manhattan, this contentious, inseparable foursome makes their way into the twenty-first century, becoming the beating heart of a multigenerational found family.

The passing years are marked by the business of everyday existence and the inevitable surprises of erupting passions, of great and small waves of joy and despair, from the beginning of life to its end. Gazala and Samir make a home together, Anne leaves her husband for his sister, and Anne’s restless daughter grows up to raise a child on her own and to join a troupe, becoming who she wants to be. Through it all, amid the tumult of these decades, the four friends and their best beloveds stand by one another, protecting, annoying, and celebrating themselves, steadfastly unapologetic about their desires and the unorthodox family they have created. As the next generation falls in and out of love, experiencing triumphs, mistakes and disappointments, the central pillars of their lives are the four indomitable elders they call the “Greats.”

In I’ll Be Right Here, Amy Bloom embraces the complexity and richness of humanity and the lawlessness of love, bringing her trademark voice, wry humor, and compassionate eye to the many, often mysterious ways we live as we love, and hope to be loved in return.

BOOK CLUB: THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS by M.L. Stedman (14 Jul 2026)

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 22:00:00 GMT

**Attendees should read the entire book and come prepared to discuss. If you are unable to finish the book but would like to attend the discussion, you can do that as well.**

JOIN US FOR BOOK CLUB: JULY 14, 2026

Crossroads Restaurant 119 S. Main St. Middleton MA

Susan Gannon, NSWC member and board member, will lead the discussions. yourgranddesigns@gmail.com

The Light Between Oceans: A Novel

by M.L. Stedman (Author)

Editors' pickBest Literature & Fiction

The captivating and beautiful years-long New York Times bestseller and major motion picture, now in a gorgeous new package designed for the modern reader.

After four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne returns to Australia and takes a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day’s journey from the coast. To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes once a season, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel. Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby’s cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby.

Tom, who keeps meticulous records and whose moral principles have withstood a horrific war, wants to report the man and infant immediately. But Isabel insists the baby is a “gift from God,” and against Tom’s judgment, they claim her as their own and name her Lucy. When she is two, Tom and Isabel return to the mainland and are reminded that there are other people in the world. Their choice has devastated one of them.

BOOK CLUB: BEACH MUSIC by Pat Conroy (11 Aug 2026)

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 22:00:00 GMT

**Attendees should read the entire book and come prepared to discuss. If you are unable to finish the book but would like to attend the discussion, you can do that as well.**

JOIN US FOR BOOK CLUB: August 11, 2026

Crossroads Restaurant 119 S. Main St. Middleton MA

Susan Gannon, NSWC member and board member, will lead the discussions. yourgranddesigns@gmail.com

BEACH MUSIC BY pat conroy

Pat Conroy is without doubt America's favorite storyteller, a writer who portrays the anguished truth of the human heart and the painful secrets of families in richly lyrical prose and unforgettable narratives. Now, in Beach Music, he tells of the dark memories that haunt generations, in a story that spans South Carolina and Rome and reaches back into the unutterable terrors of the Holocaust.

Beach Music is about Jack McCall, an American living in Rome with his young daughter, trying to find peace after the recent trauma of his wife's suicide. But his solitude is disturbed by the appearance of his sister-in-law, who begs him to return home, and of two school friends asking for his help in tracking down another classmate who went underground as a Vietnam protester and never resurfaced. These requests launch Jack on a journey that encompasses the past and the present in both Europe and the American South, and that leads him to shocking--and ultimately liberating--truths.

Told with deep feeling and trademark Conroy humor, Beach Music is powerful and compulsively readable. It is another masterpiece in the legendary
list of classics that his body of work has already become.

BOOK CLUB: THE LAW OF MOSES by Amy Harmon (8 Sep 2026)

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 22:00:00 GMT

**Attendees should read the entire book and come prepared to discuss. If you are unable to finish the book but would like to attend the discussion, you can do that as well.**

JOIN US FOR BOOK CLUB: SEPTEMBER 8, 2026

Crossroads Restaurant 119 S. Main St. Middleton MA

Susan Gannon, NSWC member and board member, will lead the discussions. yourgranddesigns@gmail.com

The Law of Moses by AMY HARMON

Someone found him in a laundry basket at the Quick Wash, wrapped in a towel, a few hours old and close to death. They called him "Baby Moses" when they shared his story on the ten o'clock news.

It all happened before I was born, and by the time I met Moses and my mom told me all about him, the story was old news, and nobody wanted anything to do with him. People love babies, even sick babies. Even crack babies. But babies grow up to be kids, and kids grow up to be teenagers. Nobody wants a messed up teenager.

And Moses was messed up. Moses was a law unto himself. But he was also strange and exotic and beautiful. To be with him would change my life in ways I could never have imagined. Maybe I should have stayed away. Maybe I should have listened. My mother warned me. Even Moses warned me. But I didn't stay away.

BOOK CLUB: THE ORCHARDIST by Amanda Coplin (13 Oct 2026)

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 22:00:00 GMT

**Attendees should read the entire book and come prepared to discuss. If you are unable to finish the book but would like to attend the discussion, you can do that as well.**

JOIN US FOR BOOK CLUB: OCTOBER 13, 2026

Crossroads Restaurant 119 S. Main St. Middleton MA

Susan Gannon, NSWC member and board member, will lead the discussions. yourgranddesigns@gmail.com

The Orchardist: A Novel

by AMANDA COPLIN

"There are echoes of John Steinbeck in this beautiful and hauntingdebut novel. . . . Coplin depicts the frontier landscape and the plainspoken characters who inhabit it with dazzling clarity." — Entertainment Weekly

"A stunning debut. . . . Stands on par with Charles Frazier’s COLD MOUNTAIN." — The Oregonian (Portland)

New York Times Bestseller • A Best Book of the Year: Washington Post • Seattle Times • The Oregonian • National Public Radio • Amazon • Kirkus Reviews • Publishers Weekly • The Daily Beast

At once intimate and epic, The Orchardist is historical fiction at its best, in the grand literary tradition of William Faulkner, Marilynne Robinson, Michael Ondaatje, Annie Proulx, and Toni Morrison.

In her stunningly original and haunting debut novel, Amanda Coplin evokes a powerful sense of place, mixing tenderness and violence as she spins an engrossing tale of a solitary orchardist who provides shelter to two runaway teenage girls in the untamed American West, and the dramatic consequences of his actions.

At the turn of the twentieth century, in a rural stretch of the Pacific Northwest, a reclusive orchardist, William Talmadge, tends to apples and apricots as if they were loved ones. A gentle man, he’s found solace in the sweetness of the fruit he grows and the quiet, beating heart of the land he cultivates. One day, two teenage girls appear and steal his fruit at the market; they later return to the outskirts of his orchard to see the man who gave them no chase.

Feral, scared, and very pregnant, the girls take up on Talmadge’s land and indulge in his deep reservoir of compassion, forging an unlikely found family. Just as the girls begin to trust him, men arrive in the orchard with guns, and the shattering tragedy that follows will set Talmadge on an irrevocable course not only to save and protect them but also to reconcile the ghosts of his own troubled past.

In this character-driven story transcribing America as it once was before railways and roads connected its corners, Coplin weaves a tapestry of solitary souls who come together in the wake of unspeakable cruelty and misfortune. She writes with breathtaking precision and empathy, and crafts an astonishing novel about a man who disrupts the lonely harmony of an ordered life when he opens his heart and lets the world in.

BOOK CLUB: THE GIRL WITH AUTUMN EYES by R.F. Vincent (10 Nov 2026)

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 23:00:00 GMT

**Attendees should read the entire book and come prepared to discuss. If you are unable to finish the book but would like to attend the discussion, you can do that as well.**

JOIN US FOR BOOK CLUB: NOVEMBER 10, 2026

Crossroads Restaurant 119 S. Main St. Middleton MA

Susan Gannon, NSWC member and board member, will lead the discussions. yourgranddesigns@gmail.com

THE GIRL WITH AUTUMN EYES by R.F. Vincent

2025 CANADIAN BOOK CLUB AWARD FINALIST (Winner to be announced

"What a wonderful mixture of romance, humor, and compassion. I loved this book." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon Customer.  "I absolutely loved this book. . . It's full of hope and love - something we all need right now." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Goodreads.  "This is a beautifully written story with almost magical characters. Filled with warmth, humor and sensitivity." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon Customer.

Discarded in a dumpster at birth and never adopted, MC has been crippled by social anxiety for most of his life. Then one day, during an eventful bicycle ride through the Nova Scotia countryside, he has an improbable encounter with a woman on a bridge that changes everything. Although no words are spoken at the time, it's love at first sight for MC. Despite his debilitating shyness and feelings of inadequacy, MC battles to break free of his self-imposed prison in pursuit of love. The result is an incredible journey of self-discovery that comes full circle in a way that no one could have ever predicted.

Charming, heartfelt and imaginative, The Girl with Autumn Eyes is an unforgettable tale of hope and personal growth that will stay with readers long after the final page.

MORE ACCOLADES FOR THE GIRL WITH AUTUMN EYES

"Fans of Gail Honeyman's 'Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine' will want to take a look." Bookview Review (Gold Badge Recommended).  "The Girl with Autumn Eyes, by R.F. Vincent, is a rewarding read. Its blend of humor, heart, and hope lingers long after the final page." Literary Titan Book Award Winner

"An absolutely delightful story filled with quirky characters and a unique and utterly charming writing style." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon Customer.  "Absolutely Wonderful!!! Seriously, this book is something really special." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon Customer.  "What a quirky, engaging, interesting, force of a story. I loved it!" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon Customer.  "Total Enjoyment!! I actually didn't want the book to end!!" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon Customer

"Funny, quirky, and heartwarming. . . This is a character that I will fondly remember for a long time." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Views

"A smooth and silky pace akin to Smokey Robinson singing a tune kept me fixed to my seat and smiling throughout, anticipating each new page with glee. Overall, it is a masterful and original tale that will please more than just fans of the genre. I recommend it with all my heart." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Readers' Favorite

"What an unusual and very lovely book! Gentle, funny, uplifting. Loved every page." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Goodreads.  "I love this author's writing style. It is very much my kind of humour. I was introduced to his works with Life at the Precipice and will definitely be reading anything that he writes in the future!" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Goodreads.  "This is a wonderful book, funny, heartfelt, beautiful, imaginative, and is a joy to read!" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Goodreads.  "Vincent is my favorite new author . . . I just finished The Girl with Autumn Eyes. I read Life At The Precipice recently and thought it outstanding so bought this book. Both books are excellent." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon Customer.  "I really enjoyed every minute of this book. I was hooked from the beginning, and I couldn't put it down." NetGalley

"endearing and entertaining . . . An off-the-wall read that captures one's attention." Kirkus Reviews.  "A taut and riveting story that sizzles with tension and wit." The Prairies Book Review.  "What a wonderful mixture of romance, humor, and compassion. I loved this book." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon Customer
"I absolutely loved this book. . . It's full of hope and love - something we all need right now." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Goodreads.  "This is a beautifully written story with almost magical characters. Filled with warmth, humor and sensitivity." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon Customer

BOOK CLUB: IDAHO FALL by D.J. Maughan (8 Dec 2026)

Tue, 08 Dec 2026 23:00:00 GMT

**Attendees should read the entire book and come prepared to discuss. If you are unable to finish the book but would like to attend the discussion, you can do that as well.**

JOIN US FOR BOOK CLUB: DECEMBER 8, 2026

Crossroads Restaurant 119 S. Main St. Middleton MA

Susan Gannon, NSWC member and board member, will lead the discussions. yourgranddesigns@gmail.com

Idaho Fall D.J. Maughan

A twisty whodunit

An entrepreneur with a startup valued at one billion falls from a balcony on the eve of the company going public. Was it an accident? Or was she pushed? Rita Burch is a rising star. The founder of a huge clothing brand, she is on the brink of financial nirvana. Her company is set to go public with an astronomical valuation when her body is found broken and unconscious, a victim of an apparent accident. Comatose, and fighting for her life, determined to wake, she learns she can leave her body.

Following the detectives as they investigate her accident, probing for clues, Rita learns disturbing details about herself and others. Shocked by her life, she faces a dilemma. Even if she could, would she want to live?

Editorial Reviews

Lisa (Advanced Reader) - The only thing that was predictable in this book was the all rights reserved page. Off from work due to Hurricane Francine and I devoured this book. Who knew I needed a twisty, emotional whodunit book in my life. Run, don't walk, to get your copy.

Colleen (Advanced Reader) - What an amazing mystery/thriller. I usually feel I have a strong clue on the "who did it" or what the plot twist will be, and didn't see this one coming! Character development was great, and I loved the dynamic between the detective partners! The only critique I had is that I craved even more! I read this in two days and once I picked it up, it was hard to put down! Great read!!!

Britt (Advanced Reader) - This was such a fast paced, twisty story that certainly satisfies that craving I get for a good "whodunnit" story. I couldn't put this down and kept finding myself saying "okay, one more chapter."
Idaho Fall is going to stay with me for a long time, and it's certainly going to be a story I think about often.

Love from advanced readers of Idaho Fall

★★★★★“I was super impressed! Fast-paced read, relatable characters with character growth.”

★★★★★“The characters were perfectly written. I loved Hank and Joyce. I feel like I need to know more about them or have more stories of them solving cases.

★★★★★“To be honest, after trying all these suggestions for books from people I was worried I wouldn't like it. I was hooked the first few pages, and it didn't slow down. It is a very fast read. I finished it in a day.”

★★★★★“The story is packed with secrets, and just when you think you’ve figured out the mystery, it throws you off the trail again.”

★★★★★“I can say I have honestly NEVER read a book like this and I was hooked from the beginning - seriously (I started reading it yesterday evening and finished this morning).”

★★★★★“This wasn’t a typical thriller/mystery as the ending made me cry and made me question some things in my own life. I guess that’s a part of good writing though to feel the characters come to life.”
★★★★★“This book will have you on the edge of your seat starting with the 1st chapter! So many different twists. You have to read the bonus chapter at the end. It's amazing! You'll never guess the ending. I will definitely be reading this again.”

★★★★★“It’s been a while but for the first time in a few months I found a book that I couldn’t put down.”

★★★★★“This was the first book I have read from D.J Maughan. After reading this one, I will definitely be reading more of his books!”

★★★★★“I was immersed in this book! I laughed, I cried (yes I did don’t you dare judge me!), and it had me in a choke hold! It kept me guessing and I enjoyed every minute! This is a must read for anyone who likes fast paced thrillers!”

★★★★★“I wouldn’t want anyone to miss out on this masterpiece! Definitely 5 ⭐️ Great job to D.J. Maughan for writing such an incredible read for everyone to enjoy!”

★★★★★“The perspective of the main character was so unique in a thriller and it really had me thinking outside the box! I read this in one sitting and it had me guessing the entire time! ”

★★★★★“Ok wow! I really didn’t know what to expect going into reading, but the twists and turns had me on edge I almost felt like I was a detective in the book.”

★★★★★“I never usually write book reviews, but I have to say this book deserves five stars and a written review. Pick it up and read it, I read it in one setting (almost... I did stop for dinner!).”