Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I picked this book off the shelf of our rental home in Truro and devoured it in 3 days. I was drawn in by the nostalgic description of the Cape, and found myself search for the Gordon’s salt box home as we drove along route 6. The plot and characters keeps me turning pages, though I didn’t feel the depth of care for them. I did feel their attachment to the Cape and it deepened my own. The cape was probably my favorite character in the book, and this was a lovely piece of place-based fiction
This is not a romance book like the other books I typically read, but it was a good refresh to the realities of life that are often skewed in romance novels. This is definitely a coming of age story. It made my stomach hurt because of how mad and hurt I was and I was only a 1/4 of the way through it. I feel like this book is a good representation of REAL sibling relationships (as shown through Poppy and Ann... Michael is a different story). People always act as if they are unconditionally nice to their siblings or that they forgive and forget with mediation from parents. Poppy and Ann really showed the reality of adult sibling relationships. Ann and Michael... were never really siblings, let's be honest. This book reminds me of how important your adolescence is and how one thing, one miscommunication, can change the trajectory of your entire life.
Unfortunately I am about 100 pages into this book and I really do not feel connected to the characters, and it feels too cheesy and choppy for me - so I will be stopping. I am disappointed because I really liked Clancy’s other book, “Shoulder Season” a lot. The summery of this one seemed intriguing, but it went in a direction that I am not happy with. The book starts off in present day and grabbed my attention, but then seemingly for the rest of the book it’s set in the past from the three main character’s high schooler perspectives. I felt Poppy and Michael’s perspectives were kind of pointless, and the book would have been better if it focused solely on Ann’s character development. Even then, I still did not like reading a book about a high schooler. I think Clancy is a good writer but I just find myself scoffing at this storyline.
The Gordon family always spends their summer near Cape Cod. Their summer house there has always brought the family together until everything changes the summer after they adopt Michael. Fifteen years later, sisters Ann and Poppy are trying to deal with the loss of their parents, being estranged with each other, and hoping that Michael doesn't pop up out of no where to claim his right as an heir to the estate.
Ann, Poppy and Michael couldn't have grown up to be more different from each other. The story is told through all three siblings point of view to show how things changed over that summer and how they all react to life after their parents death.
Cristina Clancy did a good job of really differentiating between characters and telling how each event that happened affected each person depending on the information that they knew.
Ann, Poppy and Michael couldn't have grown up to be more different from each other. The story is told through all three siblings point of view to show how things changed over that summer and how they all react to life after their parents death.
Cristina Clancy did a good job of really differentiating between characters and telling how each event that happened affected each person depending on the information that they knew.
I won The Second Home by Christina Clancy through Book Club Cookbook. I was intrigued by the description that "it is about second homes, second families, and second chances."
I read 71 pages. Ann is selling her family's second home on Cape Cod. She has not told her sister or brother she is selling it. One summer, Ann set off a series of events that broke up the family. The description says the siblings reunite and confront their past.
Why did I stop reading? There was a disturbing scene involving an older man and Ann that indicated he was going to be a sexual predator. I decided I did not want to go there at this time.
I read 71 pages. Ann is selling her family's second home on Cape Cod. She has not told her sister or brother she is selling it. One summer, Ann set off a series of events that broke up the family. The description says the siblings reunite and confront their past.
Why did I stop reading? There was a disturbing scene involving an older man and Ann that indicated he was going to be a sexual predator. I decided I did not want to go there at this time.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
A beautifully told and moving story with mesmerizing characters. It was poignant and atmospheric. I also loved all the Wisconsin references. Definitely plan on reading more by this author.