Karen Viggers, 363pp paperback in good condition.

Lex Henderson washes up in a small coastal village after a tragedy shatters his life in Sydney. He wants only to escape from the world, and thinks he's found the perfect place to do it, until the local community starts taking an interest in him. By then, despite himself, he's a little fascinated in return, and is soon drawn into the place in ways he could never have anticipated. He also meets Callista Bennett, an artist with a hidden history, and enters into a friendship with her that is both volatile and difficult - both of them are paralysed by their pasts and by the idea of trusting anyone ever again. The Stranding is a beautifully told story of loss and recovery, exile and belonging, and the redemptive power of the natural world.

If this book interests you, also please check out my partner's listings under Plumjam.