The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd

Set on a picturesque island off the coast of South Carolina, this evocative novel follows Jessie Sullivan, a woman in her early forties, as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and transformation. Drawn back to her childhood home by her mother's erratic behavior, Jessie finds herself entangled in a passionate and forbidden affair with a Benedictine monk. As she grapples with the complexities of love, faith, and identity, Jessie must confront her past and the choices that have shaped her life, ultimately seeking a path to healing and redemption amid the island's mystical allure.