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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
3.75 ⭐
I really enjoyed this family drama involving a second home (obviously) on Cape Cod. This was a great summer read, although not light, but very, very juicy.
I LOVE a family drama and this one did not disappoint. I enjoyed the characters and their dynamic. I enjoyed the plot and how descriptive the writing was. I did feel as though there wasn't enough dialogue. Each chapter is written from the POV of each of the siblings, so the writing involved a lot of introspection from the characters, but I felt like they didn't talk a lot.
I thought this one was a but of a slow burn, it took me a minute to get into it, but once I did it flowed well. That being said, I do feel like the ending was a little rushed. The resolutions were wrapped up very quickly in the end which did leave me feeling a little like, "oh that's it?"
Overall, I very much enjoyed this book and think it's worth the read if you like a family drama in the vein of All Adults Here with a bit more drama.
⚠️ TW: rape, drug use, suicide.
I really enjoyed this family drama involving a second home (obviously) on Cape Cod. This was a great summer read, although not light, but very, very juicy.
I LOVE a family drama and this one did not disappoint. I enjoyed the characters and their dynamic. I enjoyed the plot and how descriptive the writing was. I did feel as though there wasn't enough dialogue. Each chapter is written from the POV of each of the siblings, so the writing involved a lot of introspection from the characters, but I felt like they didn't talk a lot.
I thought this one was a but of a slow burn, it took me a minute to get into it, but once I did it flowed well. That being said, I do feel like the ending was a little rushed. The resolutions were wrapped up very quickly in the end which did leave me feeling a little like, "oh that's it?"
Overall, I very much enjoyed this book and think it's worth the read if you like a family drama in the vein of All Adults Here with a bit more drama.
⚠️ TW: rape, drug use, suicide.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Fun that she a local author as well. You could tell by the fact that she accurately describes things in Milwaukee.
This is a story of lost and found family, irritating characters, and a nice, neat ending wrapped up with a bow.
Classic trope of if the characters would just have ONE conversation then they could have all lived a nice happy life together.
The oldest sister, Ann, didn't have any redeeming qualities for me but I enjoyed reading about Michael and Poppy and their character growth so they made this read worth it for me.
Classic trope of if the characters would just have ONE conversation then they could have all lived a nice happy life together.
The oldest sister, Ann, didn't have any redeeming qualities for me but I enjoyed reading about Michael and Poppy and their character growth so they made this read worth it for me.
This story was exactly what i thought it was going to be: a layered story about family and the complexities of growing up. It was interesting how many times the parents were lauded to be the "perfect" parents and yet the kids each turned out to be broken in different ways. There are some really serious topics explored in this story so it's not "light" reading in my opinion but it's one of those books that I enjoyed reading. I've never been to Cape Cod but I loved the way the book brought it to life.
It’s been 15 years since that terrible summer. The one that changed all their lives forever. Now Ann’s parents have passed and she must go back to get the cape house ready to be sold. The house has been in her family for generations, but coming back here is bringing back all the memories of that last summer. All the sudden, not only are the memories returning, but Michael is suddenly back as well, and wants to set the record straight.
This novel was so great. Clancy’s writing left me feeling like I knew each of the characters, and I could truly imagine the situations they were going through. I’m all about a good family drama and I felt this one was not only great but had a lot of unique storylines that I haven’t seen in a lot of other books. I hated characters, I loved others, and I wanted to scream when they were manipulated and turned against each other. If you enjoy family dramas, I highly recommend picking this one up on June 2nd!
Thank you to St. Martins Press and netgalley for my gifted copy of this book!
This novel was so great. Clancy’s writing left me feeling like I knew each of the characters, and I could truly imagine the situations they were going through. I’m all about a good family drama and I felt this one was not only great but had a lot of unique storylines that I haven’t seen in a lot of other books. I hated characters, I loved others, and I wanted to scream when they were manipulated and turned against each other. If you enjoy family dramas, I highly recommend picking this one up on June 2nd!
Thank you to St. Martins Press and netgalley for my gifted copy of this book!
There should be a genre that singles out east coast vacation home or coastal small town family drama books. Either there are enough for it to be considered a genre of its own, or I just seem to be drawn to them! (And I really don't recall any west coast version.) Now that I have that off my chest.....
I loved the characters in this story! No one, with one exception, is completely good or completely evil. And even that person probably had some redeeming qualities but they were under the shadow of misdeeds. It is in those ambiguous spaces or personality that the momentum for this story lives. The underlying theme of this story is family. They are the ones that can hold us together or tear us apart. I loved the way Ms. Clancy expressed this throughout the timeline of the story and in how the characters changed are reacted to each other. So very enjoyable!
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
I loved the characters in this story! No one, with one exception, is completely good or completely evil. And even that person probably had some redeeming qualities but they were under the shadow of misdeeds. It is in those ambiguous spaces or personality that the momentum for this story lives. The underlying theme of this story is family. They are the ones that can hold us together or tear us apart. I loved the way Ms. Clancy expressed this throughout the timeline of the story and in how the characters changed are reacted to each other. So very enjoyable!
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
This was a hard book for me to review. I wanted to like it. I love the setting and the premise sounded really good. However, the story had way too many plot holes and inconsistencies for me to overlook and enjoy the book. There are a lot of higher ratings for this book, and it seems like a lot of people really enjoyed it, so I may be in the minority on this one.
Sometimes you read a book that touches your heart in lasting ways, and The Second Home was one such book for me. It is a heart-wrenching story about family – what makes a family, what breaks a family, and what brings a family back together – and at the center of it all is the family beach house at Cape Cod.
This story captures the smallest nuances of the family, so sincerely and honestly, I expect to see the Gordons if I should ever make it to Cape Cod. Narrated by all three siblings, the story could have become disjointed and confusing. But, all three narrators tell their story in seamless tandem that is delightful to read and enhances the importance contained within their tale.
Connie and Ed Gordon are the parents of Ann and Poppy and the adoptive parents of Michael. They are known to smoke pot from time to time and are very relaxed parents, though not permissive. Two things stand out about Connie and Ed – their love for all three of their children and their love for the family home on Cape Cod and what it represents.
Ann Gordon – a classic oldest child, she excels at everything and always has a plan. A babysitting job the summer before senior year begins a string of events that will change her life and that of her siblings for a decade.
Poppy Gordon is a free spirit who follows life wherever it takes her and enjoys many adventures until she forced her to return home and learn an emotional lesson about all that she missed while she was gone.
Michael Gordon – the adopted son of Connie and Ed, he is the same age as Ann. Michael had a hard life before his adoption, and it made him the thoughtful and responsible young man we meet in the story. In a short amount of time, he learned to care for the Gordons and all that was important to them. When he does what he thinks Ann wants him to do, it creates a rift that only honest communication will fix.
And at the center of it all stands the Cape Cod house. An old house that is not considered ideal by anyone other than the Gordons. It is a quirky old house, sitting right next to a major highway. Many things need to be updated, and the road is loud, but it has been a treasure in the Gordon family for four generations. Every summer, the Gordons packed up and drove to their second home for the entire summer. They never considered not making the long drive or selling the beloved home until the house's fate is put in Ann's hands. It is at this point that the Gordon siblings discover the true nature of this vacation home. It is the glue that binds the family. It is the one place they get to live in the moment with each other, where past, present, and future all come together, reminding them that family is all that is important.
I shed more than one tear as I read this poignant and heartfelt story about a family that is torn apart and tries to find their way back. With well-developed characters and a homey setting, this story moved me beyond words and will stay with me for some time to come.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This story captures the smallest nuances of the family, so sincerely and honestly, I expect to see the Gordons if I should ever make it to Cape Cod. Narrated by all three siblings, the story could have become disjointed and confusing. But, all three narrators tell their story in seamless tandem that is delightful to read and enhances the importance contained within their tale.
Connie and Ed Gordon are the parents of Ann and Poppy and the adoptive parents of Michael. They are known to smoke pot from time to time and are very relaxed parents, though not permissive. Two things stand out about Connie and Ed – their love for all three of their children and their love for the family home on Cape Cod and what it represents.
Ann Gordon – a classic oldest child, she excels at everything and always has a plan. A babysitting job the summer before senior year begins a string of events that will change her life and that of her siblings for a decade.
Poppy Gordon is a free spirit who follows life wherever it takes her and enjoys many adventures until she forced her to return home and learn an emotional lesson about all that she missed while she was gone.
Michael Gordon – the adopted son of Connie and Ed, he is the same age as Ann. Michael had a hard life before his adoption, and it made him the thoughtful and responsible young man we meet in the story. In a short amount of time, he learned to care for the Gordons and all that was important to them. When he does what he thinks Ann wants him to do, it creates a rift that only honest communication will fix.
And at the center of it all stands the Cape Cod house. An old house that is not considered ideal by anyone other than the Gordons. It is a quirky old house, sitting right next to a major highway. Many things need to be updated, and the road is loud, but it has been a treasure in the Gordon family for four generations. Every summer, the Gordons packed up and drove to their second home for the entire summer. They never considered not making the long drive or selling the beloved home until the house's fate is put in Ann's hands. It is at this point that the Gordon siblings discover the true nature of this vacation home. It is the glue that binds the family. It is the one place they get to live in the moment with each other, where past, present, and future all come together, reminding them that family is all that is important.
I shed more than one tear as I read this poignant and heartfelt story about a family that is torn apart and tries to find their way back. With well-developed characters and a homey setting, this story moved me beyond words and will stay with me for some time to come.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
DNF
This book was not for me. There was far too much tension in the storytelling and my stress level at the time could not endure it. I read half and had to stop, but I'm taking credit for that half.
This book was not for me. There was far too much tension in the storytelling and my stress level at the time could not endure it. I read half and had to stop, but I'm taking credit for that half.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for the advanced copy of this book.
I was pulled in to the Gordon family's life from the first few pages. The book is a well developed look at how families grow together, grow apart and all the details that produce a legacy, good and bad, through the generations.
The Gordons from Milwaukee have a summer home on the Cape. It's been in their family for generations.
This story unfolds with interaction between sisters Ann and Poppy , and Michael, who was adopted (as a teenager) by their parents.
When Ann finds out she's pregnant, the family is never the same. Free spirit Poppy takes off on her own journey of self discovery , and Michael disappears. When the parents die, all Ann wants to do is sell everything and move on.
There is much to savor in this well written book. I definitely recommend.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for the advanced copy of this book.
I was pulled in to the Gordon family's life from the first few pages. The book is a well developed look at how families grow together, grow apart and all the details that produce a legacy, good and bad, through the generations.
The Gordons from Milwaukee have a summer home on the Cape. It's been in their family for generations.
This story unfolds with interaction between sisters Ann and Poppy , and Michael, who was adopted (as a teenager) by their parents.
When Ann finds out she's pregnant, the family is never the same. Free spirit Poppy takes off on her own journey of self discovery , and Michael disappears. When the parents die, all Ann wants to do is sell everything and move on.
There is much to savor in this well written book. I definitely recommend.