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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
NetGalley provided ARC.
Well that was a refreshing diversion from my regular horror genre. Family drama is not always my favorite but this story was quite good.
Well that was a refreshing diversion from my regular horror genre. Family drama is not always my favorite but this story was quite good.
This was one of the most comfortable family dramas (almost thriller) I've read. That might be due to the Cape Cod setting, or simply the way in which the world is so detailed and tangible, but I'd like to think it's because Clancy writes with such compassionate prose towards her characters and world, and Ann, Poppy, and Michael, the narrators of the story, are better for it. This could be a great beach read, but for me, I sat down with it as a companion for staying at home during the COVID pandemic, as recommended by my bookstore manager--once I got past the first few pages, I could tell my expectations were going to be blown away.
What begins in that all-too-cliché, 'old family estate with dark past is now up for grabs and it's going to be a family emotional battle royale' setting (see of late: [b:The Family Upstairs|43822820|The Family Upstairs|Lisa Jewell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1564517337l/43822820._SY75_.jpg|66179743], [b:Pretty Things|52217478|Pretty Things|Janelle Brown|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1570723128l/52217478._SX50_SY75_.jpg|73616767], etc) turns into a compelling, nostalgic, and in a way, lovingly painful story, that can only be brought out by the secrets shared by family members.
I'd probably pair this read with [b:All Adults Here|51907346|All Adults Here|Emma Straub|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1570814776l/51907346._SX50_SY75_.jpg|72932775]. It had a similar vibe, but now I just want to read back-to-back New England family dramas.
ARC acquired through my workplace, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, FL. Thank you Tracy B for letting me borrow!
What begins in that all-too-cliché, 'old family estate with dark past is now up for grabs and it's going to be a family emotional battle royale' setting (see of late: [b:The Family Upstairs|43822820|The Family Upstairs|Lisa Jewell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1564517337l/43822820._SY75_.jpg|66179743], [b:Pretty Things|52217478|Pretty Things|Janelle Brown|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1570723128l/52217478._SX50_SY75_.jpg|73616767], etc) turns into a compelling, nostalgic, and in a way, lovingly painful story, that can only be brought out by the secrets shared by family members.
I'd probably pair this read with [b:All Adults Here|51907346|All Adults Here|Emma Straub|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1570814776l/51907346._SX50_SY75_.jpg|72932775]. It had a similar vibe, but now I just want to read back-to-back New England family dramas.
ARC acquired through my workplace, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, FL. Thank you Tracy B for letting me borrow!
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Once again, I’m thankful to NetGalley - otherwise I’m not sure I would have ever picked up this book. This book took me by surprise - I was expecting a very character driven drama, and it was so much more than that. I was very engrossed by the plot. The characters are wonderfully written. They are certainly flawed - I did read a review complaining that they were unlikable, but it didn’t bother me at all.
There were points when I found myself guessing what would happen or thinking that circumstances were too convenient to be realistic, but by the end things had shifted enough to not be so cookie cutter clean. My only gripe is that there is a part of the ending intentionally left vague that I would have loved to have seen fleshed out. A surprising 5 stars for me - I love an underhyped book
Once again, I’m thankful to NetGalley - otherwise I’m not sure I would have ever picked up this book. This book took me by surprise - I was expecting a very character driven drama, and it was so much more than that. I was very engrossed by the plot. The characters are wonderfully written. They are certainly flawed - I did read a review complaining that they were unlikable, but it didn’t bother me at all.
There were points when I found myself guessing what would happen or thinking that circumstances were too convenient to be realistic, but by the end things had shifted enough to not be so cookie cutter clean. My only gripe is that there is a part of the ending intentionally left vague that I would have loved to have seen fleshed out. A surprising 5 stars for me - I love an underhyped book
For the most part I enjoyed this story, but one of my biggest pet peeves in stories is when a lot of problems could have been solved by some decent communication. That being said, I thought that the characters and the situations were developed pretty well and the story was interesting to read.
Wonderful first novel! Superb character development and compelling story about generations of a family, who gets to be family, and where home is.
A summer in Cape Code at their summer home changes the Gordon’s lives forever. Ann Gordon, a seventeen-year-old, returns to her Midwest home with a secret that causes a rift between her sister, Poppy, and their adopted brother, Michael. Fifteen years later, Ann’s parents tragically die, and Ann and Poppy must decide how to handle the estate, specifically what to do with the second home in Wellfleet. Once they agree to sell the property, Michael re-enters their lives with a legitimate claim to the home, which he wants. More than the home, he wants to correct the misunderstandings that transformed the trajectory of all their lives during that fateful summer.
Written with compassion, wit, and a deep understanding of bonds that cannot be broken, this coming of age and family saga hybrid is the perfect read for family vacations this summer. To say it’s the perfect summer read is not to say it is light or fluffy because it has immense depth. Rather, Clancey captures the sand-in-your-toes, formative vacations at the family’s summer home that has quirks and smells and is a tangible representation of family. When the Gordon’s arrive for summer vacation, none of them anticipate how much each member of the family will change by the end, and Clancey masterfully depicts how trauma affects relationships and undermines the trust we have in others. I felt a range of emotions during this story but ultimately felt grateful to have gone on the journey with the Gordon family. I enjoyed the alternating perspectives – Ann’s, Poppy’s, and Michael’s – because it showed how two people can experience something so differently that it has long-term effects on their understanding of the world and the situation.
This novel contained multiple twists that I wasn’t expecting, and I appreciated the care with which Clancey told the story and how authentic the experience felt. When I finished this, I felt peaceful, like I’d just returned to my family’s cabin after a long day in the sun and sand. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys summer reads with depth, family sagas, and coming of age stories.
Written with compassion, wit, and a deep understanding of bonds that cannot be broken, this coming of age and family saga hybrid is the perfect read for family vacations this summer. To say it’s the perfect summer read is not to say it is light or fluffy because it has immense depth. Rather, Clancey captures the sand-in-your-toes, formative vacations at the family’s summer home that has quirks and smells and is a tangible representation of family. When the Gordon’s arrive for summer vacation, none of them anticipate how much each member of the family will change by the end, and Clancey masterfully depicts how trauma affects relationships and undermines the trust we have in others. I felt a range of emotions during this story but ultimately felt grateful to have gone on the journey with the Gordon family. I enjoyed the alternating perspectives – Ann’s, Poppy’s, and Michael’s – because it showed how two people can experience something so differently that it has long-term effects on their understanding of the world and the situation.
This novel contained multiple twists that I wasn’t expecting, and I appreciated the care with which Clancey told the story and how authentic the experience felt. When I finished this, I felt peaceful, like I’d just returned to my family’s cabin after a long day in the sun and sand. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys summer reads with depth, family sagas, and coming of age stories.
This book! Can those two words be my review? I didn't go into The Second Home with any expectations, and really didn't know anything about the book. I fell in love. It's a character driven family drama about a family coming together after a tragic breakup. It was so well written. I adored all of the characters. It was easy to see little pieces of myself in all of them. This was the perfect summer (or anytime) read and I highly recommend it to fans of literary fiction and family drama.
For lovers of Elin Hilderbrand and If Only I Could Tell You, this debut novel is a great beach read with enough depth to get you through vacation with your family ;)
Highly recommend! Thank you NetGalley for the free copy
Highly recommend! Thank you NetGalley for the free copy
↓ About the book
In present-day America, Ann and Poppy’s parents tragically die in a car crash. They are left to pick up the pieces, which includes selling their house in Wisconsin and their summer home on Cape Cod. They are both agree to sell the Cape Cod home, a home passed down from generation to generation in their family.
Michael, their adopted brother, who had all but vanished after an incident when they were teens, suddenly appears back in the lives of Ann and Poppy. It appears as though Michael wants the house, and the three siblings are stuck with the dilemma of how to approach this delicate situation. The book begins with the siblings’ childhood, and slowly brings the reader back to the present day.
↓ My thoughts
I found myself flying through this book and ended up finishing it in a little over a day. The dialogue is quick and easy to follow, and I was intrigued by the character development. I didn’t feel that there is a strong event or story arc to encourage the reader to find out happens next or keep reading to discover that “ah-ha!” moment, as the book kind of just meanders on like a slow-moving river…but for some reason, I couldn’t put the book down.
There are quite a few incidents that occur in this book that I found to have taken away from the power struggle between these three siblings. The sibling bond between Anne, Poppy, and Michael is beautifully articulated but I found a key plot decision to be unnecessary. That said, this book isn’t exactly light, but the setting of the Cape Cod definitely gives it some beachy vibes. The story also showcases a realistic sibling-dynamic which I found to be authentic and meaningful and I applaud Clancy for really nailing this relationship. If you are looking for a book set on a beach with some family drama, this one is definitely for you!
Thank you St. Martin's Press for an advance reader copy!
Trigger warnings: rape, child abuse, drug use
In present-day America, Ann and Poppy’s parents tragically die in a car crash. They are left to pick up the pieces, which includes selling their house in Wisconsin and their summer home on Cape Cod. They are both agree to sell the Cape Cod home, a home passed down from generation to generation in their family.
Michael, their adopted brother, who had all but vanished after an incident when they were teens, suddenly appears back in the lives of Ann and Poppy. It appears as though Michael wants the house, and the three siblings are stuck with the dilemma of how to approach this delicate situation. The book begins with the siblings’ childhood, and slowly brings the reader back to the present day.
↓ My thoughts
I found myself flying through this book and ended up finishing it in a little over a day. The dialogue is quick and easy to follow, and I was intrigued by the character development. I didn’t feel that there is a strong event or story arc to encourage the reader to find out happens next or keep reading to discover that “ah-ha!” moment, as the book kind of just meanders on like a slow-moving river…but for some reason, I couldn’t put the book down.
There are quite a few incidents that occur in this book that I found to have taken away from the power struggle between these three siblings. The sibling bond between Anne, Poppy, and Michael is beautifully articulated but I found a key plot decision to be unnecessary. That said, this book isn’t exactly light, but the setting of the Cape Cod definitely gives it some beachy vibes. The story also showcases a realistic sibling-dynamic which I found to be authentic and meaningful and I applaud Clancy for really nailing this relationship. If you are looking for a book set on a beach with some family drama, this one is definitely for you!
Thank you St. Martin's Press for an advance reader copy!
Trigger warnings: rape, child abuse, drug use
Thank you St. Martin's Press for the gifted copy.
I went into this book fairly blind. I saw some good reviews, I read the synopsis, but I still didn't really know much about this book. Let me just say, I ended up really liking it!
A family drama, The Second Home is about two sisters, Ann and Poppy, and their estranged adopted brother, Michael. When their parents suddenly die, Ann and Poppy have to deal with the estate, including the family's second home in Cape Cod. Ann wants to sell everything, but Poppy wants the Cape Cod house...and then when Michael finds out, he wants it too.
The back stories of all three characters drew me in, and Clancy did a good job of explaining what happened in the past to drive Michael away but still keep focus on the current events too. We find out what happened fifteen years ago and how each character moved on (or didn't).
The Second Home is full of individual growth, healing, understanding the many misunderstandings, and leaves you satisfied and hopeful for the characters.
4.5 stars - only because the ending just seemed a tad rushed. I would have liked just a little more, even if it meant a longer book.
I went into this book fairly blind. I saw some good reviews, I read the synopsis, but I still didn't really know much about this book. Let me just say, I ended up really liking it!
A family drama, The Second Home is about two sisters, Ann and Poppy, and their estranged adopted brother, Michael. When their parents suddenly die, Ann and Poppy have to deal with the estate, including the family's second home in Cape Cod. Ann wants to sell everything, but Poppy wants the Cape Cod house...and then when Michael finds out, he wants it too.
The back stories of all three characters drew me in, and Clancy did a good job of explaining what happened in the past to drive Michael away but still keep focus on the current events too. We find out what happened fifteen years ago and how each character moved on (or didn't).
The Second Home is full of individual growth, healing, understanding the many misunderstandings, and leaves you satisfied and hopeful for the characters.
4.5 stars - only because the ending just seemed a tad rushed. I would have liked just a little more, even if it meant a longer book.