The Islanders

Moore (The Captain’s Daughter) entices in her fifth outing, telling the story of three people whose lives intersect one summer. Single mom Joy Sousa lives on present-day Block Island, R.I., with her 13-year-old daughter, Maggie, and runs Joy Bombs, a bakery. Disgraced author Anthony Puckett has retreated to the island to lick his wounds after being accused of plagiarism. Lu Trusdale is spending the summer on the island with her two young sons, six-year-old Chase and four-year-old Sebastian, while her surgeon husband, Jeremy, continues to work off the island. Lu and Anthony become friends when Sebastian wanders out into the ocean and Anthony saves him. Anthony and Joy begin a romantic relationship, but he fails to tell her that he has a four-year-old son named Max and that he has been using the false last name of Jones. As secrets are revealed, Lu, Anthony, and Joy must decide whether their relationships and friendships can survive the harm caused by hiding the truth. Moore’s narrative is fast-paced, and her lead characters are flawed and believable. Readers looking for an emotional tale will find much to enjoy. Agent: Elisabeth Weed, the Book Group. (June)