image and description from Amazon.com

A Man Called Ove

by Fredrik Backman

    Meet Ove. He’s a curmudgeon—the kind of man who points at people  he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window.  He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People  call him “the bitter neighbor from hell.” But must Ove be bitter just  because he doesn’t walk around with a smile plastered to his face all  the time?
 

Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a  sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two  chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove’s  mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt  cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a  U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local  residents’ association to their very foundations. 

image and description from Amazon.com 

The Cactus

by Sarah Haywood

   Susan Green is like a cactus: you can't get too close. She likes  things perfectly ordered and predictable. No surprises. But suddenly  confronted with the loss of her mother and the unexpected news that she  is about to become a mother herself, Susan’s greatest fear is realized.  She is losing control.

Enter Rob, the dubious but well-meaning  friend of her lazy brother. As Susan’s due date draws near and her world  falls further into a tailspin, Susan finds an unlikely ally in Rob. She  might have a chance at finding real love and learning to love herself,  if only she can figure out how to let go.