Shotgun Lovesongs

from Goodreads:

Hank, Leland, Kip and Ronny were all born and raised in the same Wisconsin town — Little Wing — and are now coming into their own (or not) as husbands and fathers. One of them never left, still farming the family's land that's been tilled for generations. Others did leave, went farther afield to make good, with varying degrees of success; as a rock star, commodities trader, rodeo stud. And seamlessly woven into their patchwork is Beth, whose presence among them—both then and now—fuels the kind of passion one comes to expect of love songs and rivalries.

Now all four are home, in hopes of finding what could be real purchase in the world. The result is a shared memory only half-recreated, riddled with culture clashes between people who desperately wish to see themselves as the unified tribe they remember, but are confronted with how things have, in fact, changed.

There is conflict here between longtime buddies, between husbands and wives — told with writing that is, frankly, gut-wrenching, and even heartbreaking. But there is also hope, healing, and at times, even heroism. It is strong, American stuff, not at all afraid of showing that we can be good, too — not just fallible and compromising. Shotgun Lovesongs is a remarkable and uncompromising saga that explores the age-old question of whether or not you can ever truly come home again — and the kind of steely faith and love returning requires.

from me:

I loved this book.  I would give it 4.5 stars.

I saw a reviewer mention that it was very  "Big Chill" like, and the funny things is, I had thought the very same thing.

It's about small town, coming home again, relationships and what makes them tick, friends, spouses and those  peripheral people in our lives who make up what we call home.

And then of course there is a secret.

There is a melancholy tone running thru-out this book -- that happy/sad kind of feeling that you just can't put your finger on, and, call me weird, but that always appeals to me.

I love a book told in third person, multiple narrative.  Different chapters in different perspectives.  I love getting to know the characters on that level.

I listened to an audio version of the book.

I thought it very well done.