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A review by yorticia33
The Second Home by Christina Clancy
2.0
Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Fifteen years ago, Ann spent a summer at her family's second home in Cape Code. Only, what was supposed to be a fun-filled, memorable time for the young seventeen-year-old became a nightmare, and the aftermath ripped her family apart for years. Now, Ann's parents have died, so she sets out to sell that second home and split the proceeds with her sister, Poppy. Then, without warning, their brother Michael returns to stake a claim on the family estate, and to declare that he wants to keep the second home. Secrets, nightmares, and drama ensue as the family decides whether to tear itself apart, or mend the past, all because of a summer gone terribly wrong when they were barely more than kids.
I thought I might like this story going into it, only it became clear after some time that Ann has the moral fiber of Jafar (yes, Iago, that Jafar), and though she did suffer from a horrible traumatic experience, she took a lot of it out on her family, and particularly her brother Michael, and she's still trying to hurt him years later, despite him being generally good to her, and despite her being already terrible to him. Certain other things Ann did didn't make a whole lot of sense, and I found myself frustrated with her character. This story is certainly one built on poor communication, misguided lashing out, and trauma. If you're interested in a bit of a train wreck that tries to pick up the pieces years after it would have been sane to do so, then you might enjoy this. I find it difficult to get into a story when I dislike the protagonist, and The Second Home just couldn't get me to root for Ann.
Fifteen years ago, Ann spent a summer at her family's second home in Cape Code. Only, what was supposed to be a fun-filled, memorable time for the young seventeen-year-old became a nightmare, and the aftermath ripped her family apart for years. Now, Ann's parents have died, so she sets out to sell that second home and split the proceeds with her sister, Poppy. Then, without warning, their brother Michael returns to stake a claim on the family estate, and to declare that he wants to keep the second home. Secrets, nightmares, and drama ensue as the family decides whether to tear itself apart, or mend the past, all because of a summer gone terribly wrong when they were barely more than kids.
I thought I might like this story going into it, only it became clear after some time that Ann has the moral fiber of Jafar (yes, Iago, that Jafar), and though she did suffer from a horrible traumatic experience, she took a lot of it out on her family, and particularly her brother Michael, and she's still trying to hurt him years later, despite him being generally good to her, and despite her being already terrible to him. Certain other things Ann did didn't make a whole lot of sense, and I found myself frustrated with her character. This story is certainly one built on poor communication, misguided lashing out, and trauma. If you're interested in a bit of a train wreck that tries to pick up the pieces years after it would have been sane to do so, then you might enjoy this. I find it difficult to get into a story when I dislike the protagonist, and The Second Home just couldn't get me to root for Ann.