The Things We Never Say

Strout’s tenth novel is her first without ties to Crosby, Maine and features an entirely new cast of characters. At its center is Artie Dam, a well-liked history teacher and community pillar enduring a private crisis, feeling lonely and disconnected from family and friends. When a shocking secret about his family is revealed, it pushes Artie to the breaking point. But comfort is found in surprising places, and it’s deeply reassuring to watch Artie find it. I don’t tend to like books that directly engage contemporary politics, but this one won me over: I find myself thinking about this story and its characters long after turning the last page. For fans of Mary Lawson’s A Town Called Solace and Sarah Damoff’s The Bright Years.