“June would always be Charlotte's favorite month on Quinnipeague. She loved the frothy roil of the sea as it recovered from a day of rain, and in those early mornings, before the fog lifted and sun warmed the island, there was nothing, nothing better than a wood fire, wool socks, and hot chocolate made from scratch.”

“The important part of growing older was the growing part. Resisting change meant forever standing still, which was a sad way to live.”

“So where does that leave me? I like hosting the show....It’s become my identity. If that’s gone, where am I?”

“Home development is about wishful thinking. It's about capturing a dream.”

“It feels like forever, like he's lived through the same things as me, like our lives ran parallel for years until last week, when they finally intersected and fused.”

“What she did have, after raising two children, was the equivalent of a PhD in mothering and my undying respect.”

“The question was whether James would love me if I was someone else.”

“Especially at a time when one's life was new, roots helped.”

“When the truth emerges, it can’t be ignored. Nor will it wait.”

“Confrontation is what happens when you are less than honest and you get caught.”

“Some women are born with an instinct for knowing how things work—and what to do when they break.”