I went to the Charlottesville Festival of the Book and heard about these books that just sound wonderful:
At a session called Women in Transition these authors talked about and read from their novels:
Reunion by Therese Fowler; the protagonist is a successful talk show host who gave up a baby as a teenager to avoid her mother's limited life as a single parent.
The Safety of Deeper Water by Tim Poland; a woman who decided at the last moment she would not help in her husband's jailbreak becomes a fly fisherman.
Basil's Dream by Christine Hale; the protagonist in an overdue effort to break out of a smothering marriage, makes a huge mess.
At the memoir session, I picked up The Loveliest Woman in America, which tells about author Bibi Gaston's discovery of the story of her grandmother, niece of Gifford Pinchot and movie star, who killed herself at age 33.
The Country of Pointed Firs by Sarah Jewett, recommended by Corinne.
Colum McCann's Let the Great World Spin, 2009 National Book Award winner, highly recommended by Pat.