Good Shepherd — Jerry Mevissen

Welcome to Good Shepherd, an assisted living facility in any Minnesota small town. Good Shepherd has twelve living units and twelve residents; the book has twelve stories. As Pearl, the chatty newsmonger of the Center, says, “We came here to spend the end of our lives. And suddenly, it's the beginning.” You'll meet Hazel, acid-tongued critic, until her soft side is revealed by an eleven year-old girl; Elaine, who lives in her husband's shadow until she eclipses him in literary fame; Adam, prisoner of his wife's demeanor until she dies, leaving him convoluted, confused, and unprepared to cope; angry veteran Wayne, testy Stella, Princess Grace, all who appear in hallways in each other's stories and celebrate together in the finale “Sweet Spot.” Lumberjack Arnold says “We're all suckers for a happy ending.” Is there such a thing? Read it.