This intrepid debut collection is set in Mobjack, Virginia, a fictionalized community on the Chesapeake Bay during the years surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The stories explore the collision of come-here and from-here reactions to divisive social issues such as Confederate monuments, Me-Too, transgenderism, and racial reckoning, capturing complexities instead of reinforcing assumptions. The setting comes alive with reflective illustrations of natural and historic details, making Mobjack itself seem like a character. Above all, the collection celebrates the richness of small-town life by delving into dynamics invisible to a casual visitor.