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The Ties That Bind:  Friendship Fiction

Love Walked in By de los Santos, Marisa 2006-12 - Plume Books 9780452287891 Check Our Catalog A tribute to classic film and true romance, this is the story of a 31-year-old caf manager and an 11-year-old who is searching for her father--and the unexpected ways in which their lives are forever changed by chance. …More

Blackberry Wine By Harris, Joanne 2001-04 - Harper Perennial 9780380815920 Check Our Catalog From the author of "Chocolat" comes an intoxicating tale of love lost and found, set in a small French village. As a boy Jay spent summers in Europe hanging out with his friend Joe and his homemade wines. Now a young man, Jay returns to France to recapture some of the magic of his lost youth. …More

Summer Sisters By Blume, Judy 2003-05 - Bantam 9780385337663 Check Our Catalog In the summer of 1977, Victoria Leonard's world changes forever when Caitlin Somers chooses her as a friend. Dazzling, reckless Caitlin welcomes Vix into the heart of her sprawling, eccentric family, opening doors to a world of unimaginable privilege, sweeping her away to vacations on Martha's Vineyard, an enchanting place where the two friends become "summer sisters." Now, years later, Vix is working in New York City. Caitlin is getting married on the Vineyard. And the early magic of their long, complicated friendship has faded. But Caitlin begs Vix to come to her wedding, to be her maid of honor. And Vix knows that she will go--because Vix wants to understand what happened during that last shattering summer. And, after all these years, she needs to know why her best friend--her summer sister--still has the power to break her heart. Look for special features inside. Join the Circle for author chats and more. RandomHouseReadersCircle.com …More

The Bean Trees By Kingsolver, Barbara 1989-02 - Harper Perennial 9780060915544 Check Our Catalog Taylor Greer grew up poor in Kentucky in the '60s and '70s, managed to avoid pregnancy through high school, and earned enough money to buy a Volkswagen that would take her west. …More

Evening Class By Binchy, Maeve 1998-03 - Dell Publishing Company 9780440223207 Check Our Catalog "IT WAS THE QUIET ONES YOU HAD TO WATCH. THAT'S WHERE THE REAL PASSION AND LUST WERE LURKING". They came together at Mountainview College, a down-at-the-heels secondary school on the seamy side of Dublin, to take a course in Italian. It was Latin teacher Aidan Dunne's last chance to revive a failing marriage and a dead-end career. But Aidan's dream was headed for disaster until the mysterious Signora appeared, transforming a shared passion for Italy into a life-altering adventure for them all . . . bank clerk Bill and his dizzy fiancee Lizzie: a couple headed for trouble . . . Kathy, a hardworking innocent propelled into adulthood in a shocking moment of truth . . . Connie, the gorgeous rich lady with a scandal ready to explode . . . glowering Lou, who joined the class as a cover for crime. And Signora, whose passionate past remained a secret as she changed all their lives forever. . . . …More

The Beach House By Green, Jane 2009-05 - Plume Books 9780452295384 Check Our Catalog New York Times-bestselling author Green, one of the preeminent authors of women's fiction today, returns with this heartwarming tale of how a land-rich but cash-poor 65-year-old widow saves her Nantucket home by taking in summer boarders. …More