The first book in the Homecomings series was published eight years after the other ones, but it starts with a prologue tying them all together. In late November 1918 six men are discharged from a military hospital in England - five Australians and one New Zealander who are shortly introduced to the reader.

The following four short stories each are about one of the men. I liked the first one best: In The Jade Keepsake, a teacher waits for her lover in a beach town in New Zealand. She visits the beach every day because they were happiest there, but time goes by and she almost gives up hope because she has not heard anything from or about him.
I also quite enjoyed the third story, Lemon Cupcake Homecoming, in which young Cate prepares lemon cupcakes since they were Jim's favourite. Jim danced with her the evening before he left for the war and she fell in love with him, so she has high hopes for his welcome party. However, when he comes back, it looks as if things are different to what she expected. ( )