Josephine “Billy” Delielle and Francis Clemens are happily married—just not to each other. Another Marvelous Thing is the story of their affair, from its fabulous inception to its inevitable end. Billy and Francis couldn’t be more different, at least when it comes to age and disposition, but that doesn’t prevent them from falling in love and settling into the easy rhythms of romance—phone calls every morning, rendezvous every weekday afternoon, the odd out-of-town escape—despite both still being very partial to their spouses. In interconnected stories, Laurie Colwin deftly reveals each character’s point of view and examines, in razor-sharp detail, the “marvelous” and messy glory of modern love and the curious desires of the heart. This whirlwind romance, perfectly captured in Colwinesque frank and funny style, is firm proof that oppositesreally do attract.

“If anyone wrote eloquently and magnificently about affairs of the heart, it was Laurie Colwin.” —San Francisco Chronicle At first glance, Polly Solo-Miller Demarest appears to have it all. The only daughter of a distinguished and close-knit family, she marries a handsome lawyer named Henry (just like her father and brother) and has two adorable and well-behaved children, Pete and Dee-Dee. She lives in a comfortable Park Avenue apartment, works three days a week in a rewarding job at the Board of Education, and spends every August in Maine. People regularly tell her, with admiration and envy, that she has life aced. What no one suspects is that this perfect daughter, wife, and mother, always so eager to see to the happiness of others, would be willing to risk everything for love. From the moment she encounters his beautiful portraits in a group show, Polly cannot get Lincoln Bennett out of her mind. Soon she and the solitary, kindhearted painter are wrapped up in a deep and thrilling romance, and Polly has never felt more euphoric—or more terrified. Previously she divided women into two groups—those who have affairs and those who do not—and placed herself firmly in the latter category. How could she have been so wrong? And what does her passion for Lincoln say about the genuine pleasure she takes in her marriage and her family? A sophisticated, sincere, and ultimately hopeful novel about the search for fulfillment, Family Happiness is a testament to the clarity of Laurie Colwin’s vision and the elegance of her craft. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Laurie Colwin including rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the author’s estate.

National Council for the Social Studies-Children’s Book Council: 2018 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People An eye-opening introduction to an important issue The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states that every child in the world has the right to play. Unfortunately, that universal right is not always respected. I Like, I Don't Like presents this reality to readers by showing how children in varying circumstances can see the same object very differently. With stark illustrations that perfectly capture the tone of the book, I Like, I Don't Like will inspire meaningful discussions about privilege and poverty.

The acclaimed author of Happy All the Time charts the story of a whirlwind love affair of two people who are happily married (just not to each other)—from its fabulous inception to its inevitable end. • "Virtually flawless.... A tour de force." —Los Angeles Times Billy and Francis couldn’t be more different, at least when it comes to age and disposition, but that doesn’t prevent them from falling in love and settling into the easy rhythms of romance—phone calls every morning, rendezvous every weekday afternoon, the odd out-of-town escape—despite both still being very partial to their spouses. In interconnected stories, Laurie Colwin deftly reveals each character’s point of view and examines, in razor-sharp detail, the “marvelous” and messy glory of modern love and the curious desires of the heart. This whirlwind romance, perfectly captured in Colwinesque frank and funny style, is firm proof that oppositesreally do attract.

Brandon Jeffery’s summer started out with a bang—as in, a friend crashed his car and now he has to work two jobs to pay it off. It’s at Fascination Street Records that he’s introduced to a beautiful but quiet girl named Marvel. She’s new to Hidden Cove and looking for a summer job, so Brandon secretly strikes a deal with their boss to work for free so she can be hired. When a classmate is found murdered, however, their summer takes a turn for the mysterious. Brandon’s friend Devon is sure he knows just who’s to blame: the creepy recluse of the town quarry. But the police have few leads, and Brandon has the sneaking suspicion he’s being watched. That’s not what’s in the forefront of on his mind, though. More than trying to pay off his car to his unemployed, alcoholic father and protecting Seth Belcher from the school bullies, he’s determined to date Marvel. He doesn’t understand why they seem so close and she refuses to date him, but as the mystery behind her tragic past begins to unravel, Marvel finally confesses her reason: God has revealed she’s destined to die saving others—and it’s going to be soon.

A dazzling collection of stories that masterfully weaves together tales of love and desire in all its forms, exploring the universal complications of the heart—and the mysteries of being fully human in the world. In these thirteen stories, a book illustrator is enamored with her publisher, as she pines for her previous lover; a photographer recovering from her second marriage in far-off Inverness, Scotland, befriends a college student new to romance; two academics conducting a long distance affair are reunited, only to find that their circumstances have changed dramatically; and the perpetually stoned young wife of a popular college professor struggles to tell her husband that she’s been high since the day they met. Humorous, tender, and moving, The Lone Pilgrim is the work of a master of the short story form.

The vibrant and tender story of a young woman coming to terms with tragedy and finding the courage to love again From the moment they meet, Elizabeth “Olly” Marcus and Sam Bax are coconspirators. They dump Olly’s boyfriend in the library, speed off on the back of Sam’s motorcycle, and seal their reckless bargain with a kiss in an apple orchard. A year later, they are married. Five years after that, Olly is a widow, her last glimpse of Sam a bright white dot on the horizon as he sailed into a storm off the coast of Maine. At the age of twenty-seven, Olly must begin again. She has lost an accomplice, but Sam’s parents have lost a son, and his brother, Patrick, has lost his best friend and the one person who truly understood him. The bonds of family are both a comfort and a burden to Olly as she tries to find a way to live with her grief and accept her role in her daredevil husband’s fate. Eventually she rediscovers her own sense of adventure, and with a newfound strength, she pursues a deep and abiding love that is the greatest surprise of her life. Told with compassion, honesty, and humor, Shine On, Bright & Dangerous Object is an unforgettable story of love and loss. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Laurie Colwin including rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the author’s estate.