Red Hook Road by Ayelet Waldman (#46)

This is a book that grabs you in the first couple of pages and doesn't let go until the final words.
It starts with a tragedy: a lovely wedding results in the deaths of the bride and groom on the way to their reception. They have two very different family situations and unfinished business so the book continues with how all the family members deal with this unimaginable event and how the unfinished business plays out. This is an awesome and memorable book leaving the reader breathless.

How to Be an American Housewife by Margaret Dilloway (#45)

Shoko is a Japanese woman who marries an American soldier just after WWII, moves to the US and has two children. Years later as she faces health adversities and impending death, she reflects on unresolved family issues in Japan and implores her daughter Sue to help her. Sue and her daughter (Shoko's granddaughter) Helena make the journey to Japan and reconnect with the family while Shoko undergoes risky surgery to repair her heart. This is a well written first novel of international families, a favorite topic of mine.

The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall (#44)

Golden Richards has four wives, 28 children, and a pile of troubles. He gets no peace anywhere. There is chaos around him and no privacy. Moveover even surrounded by all these people, he fails to connect with anyone special, barely knows his children, has so many regrets and sorrows. This book is written in humor in spite of being sad. I enjoyed it but was happy to finish!