I've just finished 'Coastliners' by Joanne harris.
It's along the lines of 'Chocolat's Small town life idea, but it's the sea instead of food this time.
Basically Mado,the lead charachter, returns home to the small town of Les Salants, Brittany, after 15 years when her mother dies. She returns to see her father Grosjean, whom she has had a stormy relationship with in the past.
The town has spent years rueing the success of their neighbours La Houssinière and put it down to the tides, which washes luck in with it.
Mado, with the help of a foreigner called Rouget tries to turn the towns fortunes around ,hoping it will help her get closer to Grosjean.
There the usual Harris trademarks of intrigue, secrets, and feuds.
It's not as warm as 'Chocolat' but a good yarn, and will keep you interested.