The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton

 Five women meet in a park in Palo Alto to watch their children play.  All are educated but are in Palo Alto because of their high achieving husbands.  They talk - about many things and some things they keep secret.  Eventually they talk about books and, through books, more about themselves. Their Wednesday meetings take on necessary importance.  And when they realize how unsatisfying some of their reading is, they talk about writing.  With writing is more sharing and more acknowledgement of their own possible achievements.  And so it goes.  Chicklit perhaps but I bet it would initiate plenty of book group conversation.

Crying in H-Mart by Michelle Zauner

 Our book group chose this because of the local connection but it has turned out to be a hit across the country.  Michelle grew up in Eugene the daughter of a white father and a Korean mother.  She did not make life easy for her parents and struggled with her mixed heritage.  Following her mother's death, Michelle wrote this memoir to explore that difficult relationship and to honor her Korean connection.  Now a recognized indie musician in a band called Japanese Breakfast, she is not afraid to expose all her flaws.  In the end her story is an example of the way we can break through our past mistakes, start over, and embrace all that we are.