Juliet in August

An excellent novel, one of the best I have read this year. It's not a traditional novel with a strong central character, and not a set of short stories, but something in-between. It's a set of loosely connected characters, all sharing the same small-town setting. Whatever it is, it works extremely well. The characters are interesting and engaging, their problems are real and easy to relate to, the setting is alive, and there is just enough plot to move each character along. Even the ending is satisfying. Well done and highly recommended.