Polite Calamities
- 411 pages
- 15 hours of reading
Jennifer Gold crafts compelling and bittersweet narratives centered on themes of love, second chances, and self-discovery. Her characters are described as multifaceted, drawing readers into their journeys with nuanced portrayals. Gold's writing explores realistic hopes for the future, offering a unique blend of emotional depth and relatable storytelling.






An ambitious podcaster and her reclusive interviewee embark on a life-altering journey to uncover long-lost truths in this immersive story about love, travel, and family secrets.Forty years ago, aspiring writer Ann Fawkes left the United States for a Mediterranean adventure that opened her heart to travel and love. After a chance encounter propelled her into the publishing world, she released her first novel, an instant bestseller—and the last book she ever wrote.Now, Ann lives a reclusive life in the San Juan Islands, hiding from the public and its probing questions. But when podcaster Maggie Whitaker convinces Ann to sit for an interview, Ann agrees on one condition: Maggie must keep her story off the record.Determined to change Ann’s mind before she loses her job, Maggie agrees. But as she learns about Ann’s life—particularly the love affair that inspired her novel and the decisions she made in its wake—Maggie realizes Ann’s story intersects with her own in shocking, life-changing ways.A sweeping, heart-wrenching novel that spans decades and continents, Halfway to You explores the distances we create between ourselves and the ones we love most and what it takes to finally bridge them.
Set against the backdrop of World War II, the story follows Anna Krawitz, who must abandon her Jewish identity and assume the life of Maria Nowak, a Catholic farm girl, to escape the Nazis. As the war concludes, the narrative explores the challenges of identity and the emotional turmoil of separation, raising the poignant question of how her sister will manage to locate her amidst the chaos of a post-war world.
Marine biologist Abby Fisher moves back home and finds she must work at earning forgiveness from her friends--and herself--before she can move forward in her life.
From debut author Jennifer Gold comes a delicious novel about the sweet and sour ingredients of life and love. Elle, an accomplished baker, has a recipe for every event in her life. But when she discovers her husband’s infidelity, she doesn’t know what to make of it. Jam, maybe? Definitely jam.Fed up with the stale crumbs of her marriage, Elle revisits past recipes and the events that inspired them. A recipe for scones reminds her of her father’s death, cinnamon rolls signify the problematic courtship with her husband, and a batch of chocolate cookies casts Elle in a less-than-flattering light. Looking back, Elle soon realizes that some ingredients were missing all along.After confronting her husband, Elle indulges her sweet tooth in other ways, including a rebound that just leaves her more confused. As secrets from the past collide with the conflicts of the present, Elle struggles to manage her bakery business and maintain the relationships most important to her. In piecing her life back together, will Elle learn to take the bitter with the sweet?
Exploring the humorous side of storytelling, this book delves into the idea of narratives that spiral out of control. It captures the joy and absurdity of tales that grow beyond their original intent, highlighting the fine line between fun and chaos. Through engaging anecdotes, it reflects on the universal experience of exaggerated stories and the inevitable need to bring them to a close.
Cat's journey through grief is marked by a stark division in her life: the time Before her mother's death and After. Struggling with anger and feeling stuck in her emotions, she resists medication that dulls her pain. Seeking an escape, Cat joins a volunteer program in South America, only to discover that her experiences there challenge her perceptions and force her to confront her grief. As she navigates new relationships and environments, she begins to uncover a renewed sense of purpose and the possibility of healing.
The unexpected responsibility of caring for her autistic brother during her summer in Paris turns out to be just the adventure that Clara needed.
Exploring the impact of global conflicts on military families, this book delves into the emotional and psychological toll of the World Wars, Vietnam, and Afghanistan. Through personal narratives and historical accounts, it highlights the resilience and sacrifices of those who serve and their loved ones. The intertwining stories reveal the challenges faced by families during deployments and the lasting effects of war on their lives, offering a poignant reflection on duty, love, and the quest for peace amidst turmoil.