A beautifully written book about family. I did feel that the ending was a little too rushed and very simplified especially considering everything that needed to be resolved. Nonetheless, this was excellent.

I received a complimentary copy of The Second Home from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Great storytelling! I had a difficult time putting this one down. My heart went out to Ann, Michael, and Poppy...Each grieving the loss of their innocence in different ways. What a heart-breaking tale! Although I saw some of it coming as the all-knowing reader, I was still surprised by some of the events which unfolded. Everything this family endured and the avoidance to deal with issues seemed so very real. This was a well written novel.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Absolutely loved this book. Emotional roller coaster with the characters different points of views. Thank you to #netgalley and #stmartinspress for an arc copy. Release date is June 2, 2020.

The plot of this book sounded interesting and so I began reading with high expectations. The story surpassed those expectations, and I was intrigued by every character. It’s such a “normal” family, in that they have complicated relationships, and fall away and come back together in different ways. When I realized I was near the end of the book I actually felt disappointment that the story was ending. Well done, Christina Clancy.

This book just didn't work for me. I did enjoy the descriptions of the Cape and all of the details the author provided. However, the horrible people in the story and they way they just did not communicate made me angry. Also, there were quite a few situations that just did not make sense, like how easy it was for a teen to avoid foster care after the death of a parent, the lack of emotion after two characters experience a very violent situation, and the ease in which everything was resolved in the end to have a happy ending were all just unrealistic. After all that I do believe it will be a very popular summer read.

The Second Home is a woman’s fiction novel revolving around two events. One, a summer where siblings Anne, Poppy, and Michael’s lives take a turn and two is when Anne’s parents die and she has to deal with their summer home in Cape Cod. Except there’s a catch. The siblings have been estranged from each other for the past fifteen years. The book is about resolving and salvaging relationships that have been beaten through by years of misunderstandings.

I enjoyed the relationships and the struggles. The events that lead to the split in their lives was disturbing and anger inducing for me. It’s a solid family drama but at times fell short of target. I kept asking myself, "couldn't this issue have been resolved differently?" Some of them, yes. Some of them, maybe. I was vested in the characters and was rooting for them. I guess that's why I got angered at the choices the characters made.
In general, I wanted to read and wanted to know the resolution throughout the story and I felt the writing kept me curious enough to finish. (3.5 stars for me).

Trigger warning: rape but the scene is blatant and quick.

The Second Home is the debut novel  by Christina Clancy.  At times The Second Home is a feel good story and at others it shows the reader how secrets can destroy a family. Looking forward to seeing what Ms Clancy writes next. I want to thank Net Galley and St. Martins Press for the early copy to review.

The Second Home, a story of family secrets, lies, and betrayals centering around the Gordan family.
If you are looking for a quick, intriguing, summer read this book may be exactly what you need.

Thank you St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and Christina Clancy for the ARC.

O liked the book and the way it should human mistakes and miscommunication are keys to most problems in families. It showed family dynamics, sisters complex relationships, and gave a good outlook on what an adoptee must feel like to come into an already formed family. I really liked this book. Thank you for letting me read it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book beginning to end. It grabbed my attention right from the beginning. I felt like all the characters were well rounded. I genuinely liked the characters and wanted to know what happened to them in the past and present. This would be a book for someone who likes romance or a thriller. I felt the ending tied everything together nicely. I would be interested in reading other books from this author.

The story opens with Ann Gordon waiting for a realtor to look at a vacation home that has been in the family for generations. Neither she nor her sister, Poppy, can afford to keep the house where their family spent summer vacations. The home, that was once rich with wonderful memories and not so wonderful memories.

The story unfolds going back into the past, where Ed and Connie Gordon, along with their two daughters, Ann & Poppy, and their adopted son, Michael arrive at the summer home. Michael had a very rough life, and was left an orphan after his mother died. The Gordon's welcomed him into their lives to give him the stability and siblings he never had.

The three siblings struggle with their own inner thoughts and raging hormones changing them into teenagers. As they each try to discover who they are, it creates a divide between them. Where once they were close and did everything together, now they barely know one another.

After one harrowing event, leaving Ann damaged, she returns home seeking comfort, but Poppy is gone. Ann goes to Michael, and when Ed goes to ask Michael if he knows where Ann is, he finds them together in bed. Both pleading that nothing happened, Michael is beside himself feeling that he let Ed and Connie down. He avoids Ann and digs into his studies.

Meanwhile, Ann has a secret, and when she reaches out to the one, who she believes will help her. It sets into motion a terrible chain of events, where Michael believes he is helping ups and disappears.

Now years later, with everyone harboring secrets and believing the worst in one another, the death of Ed and Connie has brought the daughters back together to handle their parents' estate. Unable to find the will, Ann tries to rush the sale of the homes before word might get back that there is another heir. Unaware that Michael is closer than Ann knows, and when Poppy learns from a friend where Michael is and his plans; Poppy tries to get all the siblings together to talk. A talk that should've happened years ago, where the summer home that was filled with heartbreak, might be the very place that can mend all their hearts.

This was a wonderful story! I really enjoyed how it was told from varying perspectives and I got to know each of the protagonists. A story about forgiveness, and learning not to jump to conclusions before knowing the facts.

I received an ARC from NetGalley via St. Martin's Press and I have voluntarily reviewed this book.

Lack of communication, of their truth, caused a tight knitted family to break apart. This is an emotional story. The first part of the book was a bit slow to me, but ground works needs to laid to have a strong foundation, and that was taking place during this time. Before I realized it, I was involved and knew this family was heading for a huge disaster. I wanted to shout out to them to stop their damaging ways.

I enjoyed this heartbreaking, uplifting, emotional read. The author did a great job on character development, location setting and plotting a (mostly) believable story. There are one or two things that I accepted since this is a work of fiction that in real life would not occur.

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read the advance reader copy. My review is my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

Good heavens. What a twisted tale of woe. People who won’t communicate with family members, a lying, scheming, selfish man and Loads of sadness. If you like lots of drama, this book is for you.

An interesting book with some good character development. There were some twists that helped keep the story moving. Would make a good vacation pick.

I really like stories like this, nice when I can relate to a lot going on - the settings, etc... I like how it went from person to person, telling this tale of three siblings and the miscommunication/lies that can change lives. I do like how it ended. Nice to have it all figured out and happily for everyone.

I really enjoyed this book. I was expecting a much lighter “beach read” and was pleasantly surprised at the depth of the writing. Much more of a literary novel. The characters were flawed and human, the sense of place and home were well written. As were the familial relationships and feeling of grief and loss. I will recommend this book.

This book was really touching, it's the first time I read about a story on the beach and I'll just say it's full of feelings, every character, I could feel what they conveyed, this book provoked laughter and sadness.
This book is perfect to read in summer in a quiet place, like the beach, listening to the waves of the sea.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I love books involving family secrets and this book did not disappoint. Plus the description of that area on Cape Cod were fascinating. Makes me want to visit that area all over again. Would highly recommend.

I’m in a minority here, that is, not very excited about this book. Within its genre (women’s fiction), it’s not a bad book, but the whole plot relied on constant miscommunication among the characters which I found rather unbelievable in what was painted as such a close family. Warnings: very vivid date (?) rape scene, off-stage suicide.

Christina Clancy has written a story which sounds like she lived it herself.
The characters come alive as we hear their stories through their voices, and they couldn't seem more real, flaws and all. I felt the emotions of the characters, and wanted to know more and more about them.

The second home is the place we all want to spend time. Getting to do so while in the company of such interesting people is an added bonus.

Two sisters and their adopted brother have very different personalities and complicated lives. But all three are brought together through time spent at the summer home on the Cape - a home passed down through the generations and now cared for by their parents.

But one summer separates them all emotionally and physically. Pain and hurt cause relationships to break.

Years later, with their parents dead, the siblings are brought back together against their will to sell the vacation home. Will they find healing, or will the bitterness of the years carry them along to their own graves?

A great summer read!