3.5 stars for a story that kept my interest right through the entire book. The Gordon family consists of the cool mom & dad teachers and their two daughters Ann and Polly, until Ann brings home Michael who has been orphaned and is all alone. The adoption creates mixed feelings, but all are happy he is a part of the family.

Until.... bad babysitter father decides to alter it all. Without giving the plot away, suffice it to say happy is not the description of the family any longer. Unity is not a word they use anymore, either. All deal with the situation differently and the story is told through the eyes of the three children as they age.

Central location is the summer home on Cape Cod, where all have put down roots of one sort or another. What is home? Is it where your memories are from the past or the setting of future ones to come?

The only thing that put me off was the phrase that they looked forward to going back every summer to the Cod. No one who knows anything about Cape Cod calls it anything other than the Cape.

Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

It is no secret that I love books with different POV's. This book did not disappoint. The book is told through, Ann, Poppy and Michael. This reverts tp past summer vacations; This truly is about second chances.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Very enjoyable read! Took some time to get used to the back and forth between current and past, but it was definitely necessary to tell the whole story from so many different points of view.

Looking forward to reading more books by this author :)

I really enjoyed this book! It was a super fast easy read for me! Super cozy and homey feel! 5 stars from me!

This novel will grab a hold of you and keep you until the very end. The stories of three siblings are threaded through the events of their parents dying and of what to do with a vacation home that they all love and cherish.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What an adventure reading The Second Home by Christina Clancy is! There is the separation between the past and the present... and three people who haven't quite lived in the present. The truth from the past is bound to come out once Ann lists the family home on Cape Cod for sale.

I do not want to discuss the plot too much, mostly because I think it is better to dive in and get to know the characters through the narration and points of view. (See Trigger below).

My favorite parts: I found this book to contain intriguing, realistic (flawed like we all are) characters and complex feelings and emotions regarding what happened that summer so long ago. The setting is described vividly so I felt I was there, pulled into this deep story about love, family and forgiveness. The writing is great- I seriously will be following Christina Clancy and looking for more of her books to read!


Triggers: Sexual Assault

Thank you to NetGalley, author Christina Clancy, and St. Martin's Press for the temporary digital advance review copy for me to read and enjoy. As always, my opinions are my own!

I started this book with no idea of what I would find inside....You see..this book is not really about a second home....its about family, love, desperation, deceit...but more than anything else its about the every lasting love between family members... Ann and Poppy live a idyllic life ..but as life can do..things change one summer at the family house... This causes many years of heart ache and secrets. I found myself turning pages and hoping for the best. I recommend you do the same...

First, the reader should be aware that this book includes a description of sexual assault. If reading about a sexual assault will be too discomforting or traumatic for you, this might not be the book for you. However, it is pretty obvious when the sexual assault is going to occur and that segment of the story can be quickly skimmed if necessary without the reader losing anything essential. Yet it is the ramifications of the sexual assault that reverberate through the story.

The second home referenced in the title is the Gordon family's summer house in Wellfleet, MA, on Cape Cod. It is that house and the summer adventures that bind together Ed and Connie Gordon and their teenage daughters Ann and Poppy. In the summer of 1999, the family invites along Michael, a classmate of Ann's who has lost his mother and father and has been taken in by the Gordons. It is during the trip that Michael learns the Gordons want to officially adopt him. The summer is magical for all of them. However, summer 2000 was not magical, but rather would see the family start to fracture, with the ramifications of events that summer, especially the sexual assault, tearing apart the family later in the year, upending Ann's carefully scripted life plan, seeing Michael run away, and later seeing Poppy run away.

In 2015, Ed and Connie Gordon die in a traffic accident and it is up to Ann to settle the estate, including dealing with the summer home in Wellfleet, a decision made harder by the absence of a will. The second half of the book revolves around the possible sale of the home, which is complicated by past events, the strained relationship between Ann and Poppy, and the reappearance of Michael, who has a strong attachment to the house.

Overall, this was a very good book. I thought the main characters were well developed and I liked the storylines the author created for Poppy and Michael during the years they were away from the family. I also liked Noah (Ann's son) and Avery (Michael's daughter) and the way they met and developed their friendship. The author did a good job of expressing the meaning of the Wellfleet home to each of the main characters and of the importance of home and family (even if the family is somewhat unconventional). There were some clever surprises/twists in the story. There was a uniqueness/quirkiness to the Wellfleet house that made it particularly charming.

I received a copy of the e-book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

Christina Clancy’s ‘The Second Home’ is, in many ways, a treatise on growth amid adversity. (Or, in some cases, the lack thereof.) It’s a story about the power of familial bonds, and of the ways that life can be achingly imperfect.

When Ann Gordon meets Michael Davis, their connection is instant. Recently orphaned, Michael is welcomed into the Gordon household, and is eventually adopted. He is embraced as a brother by Ann’s little sister, Poppy, though Ann’s feelings for Michael (and his for Ann) are far more complicated. After an eventful, traumatic summer spent at the Gordon’s summer home on Cape Cod, Ann, Michael, and Poppy become estranged. Fifteen years later, their parents have died, and the three of them must come face-to-face with the ghosts of the past.

Personally, I think this novel packs quite a punch. The use of close third person narration style, with each chapter alternating between Ann, Michael, and Poppy’s perspectives, was highly effective. The manner in which the story unfolds creates a sense of nostalgia as well as a sense of irritation. Without providing any spoilers, there is a significant miscommunication that transpires between two of the protagonists that festers, and it’s difficult to read about. I also had a difficult time empathizing with Ann's anger and unwillingness to communicate, but perhaps that is kind of the point. Clancy’s characters are all flawed in their own ways and are written in an achingly human way.

This would be the perfect novel for those who enjoy a female-centric, introspective read, and who appreciate compelling, imperfect characters.

**An ARC was generously provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest review.**

Somewhat predictable story of a family’s misdeeds, lies and misunderstandings set in Cape Cod. The plot seemed a little unrealistic, the personalities of the characters did not quite match their behavior.

Excellent book! It took me a bit to get into it. After the first 4 or 5 chapters, I was hooked. I love the young adult relationship issues, and how they affect the grown up person's. Great writing, excellent character development. I highly recommend this book.

Mostly set in Cape Cod, “The Second Home” does not focus on the rich who have, and the poor who have not. Instead it is the story of a middle class family and their enjoyment of a generational home they enjoy during the summer and occasional weekends. The two sisters of the family grew up close and the acceptance of an adopted brother during their high school years was easily assimilated. As “Ann with a Plan”, the oldest sister, focuses on her goals for college, she gets a job as a babysitter with a wealthy summer family to earn extra money. As a mentor ship/friendship develops with Maureen, the wife, Anthony, her husband begins noticing the young beautiful babysitter. Flattered by his attention, Ann finds herself in a compromising position that destroys her future plans and her family dynamics.

The strength of this story is carried by the fully developed characters. All are fully likable and the reader is cheering for each of them even though their imperfections shine bright. This is a beautiful story of a family who worked hard, found happiness, had their happiness destroyed in one breathtaking moment, but never gave up their search and work for the return of that happiness.

I had a little trouble getting into the book. It just seemed slow going. I kept going, though, and glad I did. I loved the way how Michael fought to be included. This story is a perfect example of people not communicating.

The only thing that I have to say to the author, Christina Clancy, is keep writing! I so needed to read a book this good right now. It’s dreary, rainy winter and this book was perfect to make the days a little brighter. The story is about a family comprised of Ed, Connie, Ann, Poppy and adopted son Michael. They normally live in Wisconsin but make yearly trips to their house on Cape Cod. The sisters normally hang out together at the Cape but this particular summer they go separate ways. Ann finds a babysitting job and Poppy meets a girl that not only teaches her to surf but also introduces her to drugs. Michael finds a job that summer too. I felt like I knew this family or at least wanted to. The characters were believable and the storyline was one you could lose yourself in. Very good book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest opinion.

Six months after her the death of both of her parents, Ann "Ann with a Plan" Gordon wants to sell the summer home that has been in her family for generations. There's no will but she has appointed herself the executor of the estate. She has only one thought, and that is to keep her estranged adopted brother Michael from having a benefit from the sale.

The book is told from the perspective of Ann, Poppy. and Michael and tells the events from the summer of 1999 and back to the present day. Ann is the take charge daughter, Poppy is the flighty free spirit, and Michael is the golden boy who never quite feels as if he fits in. It is a bit too much about how much they fit into their neat character boxes, but not unbearable.

Something happens to Ann in the summer of 1999 and like a stone thrown in a pond, the ripples extend out and touch everyone and everything. The incident in question made me angry and had it been a physical book instead of a digital copy I would have thrown it. A well known and somewhat overused plot device was employed here. I understand that it was used to further the story and fuel the plot but I didn't like it at all.

Barring those two things, the overall story was good. It was a quick read, dark enough to keep you invested (because trust me, after that one plot point I almost wanted to give it up) but light enough to be a summer read.

The characters, even though predictable, were well fleshed out. Where this author excels though is the setting descriptions. You can almost smell the salt and sulfur of the Cape. You can almost see the changes of the season in the landscape. You can almost feel the sand between your toes.

The Second Home is about coming home and reliving memories that may have been brighter when seen through the eyes of a child but are dimmed a bit as an adult. The memories are still yours and just as special. The Second Home is about more than just the house and the sale of it. It's about how "home" is really more your family and the connection you have to one another than a building.

I'm glad I stuck with this book until the end. The ending was quick but the plot was tied up nicely. This book will make a good summer read.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to have a copy of this book in an exchange for an honest review.

I found this book a bit difficult—we go from adults to kids to separate lives. A story about love, lies, love, hate, indifference and finally a teary ending. Some people may like this kind of story telling so go ahead and read and enjoy it.

Wow! Great story of family and coming home. All the forms families take and what love means to each of them. Every family has trouble along the way and Ann’s family is no different. A few parts were sensitive content and I felt the author wrote enough to add to the story without crossing a line into unnecessarily crude. Plenty of characters to love, and a few you love to hate. Great book for a book club with a lot of great discussion points 3.5 rounded up to 4

How can one lie cause such a calamity of major proportions? When Ann takes a babysitting job she had no way to know how her life and those around her would be changed forever. One evil person starts the decline of a family. I was slow to get drawn into the story. But it was actually a really good story that takes time to delve into the life and feelings of the 3 main characters. I liked the book.

The family saga that restored my faith in family sagas: The Second Home!

On my plane home from Europe last week, I fully expected to read a bit, get a couple hours of sleep, and maybe watch a movie. Instead, I devoured this entire book.

The Second Home is the story of the Gordon family, made up of parents Ed and Connie and siblings Ann, Poppy, and adopted brother Michael. The narrative covers the time from when the three siblings are teens to when they are in their forties and trying to find their footing after the loss of Ed and Connie.

I found the Gordon family lovable, quirky, and completely relatable. They are people with big hearts and good intentions AND plenty of mistakes and miscommunication. I found my heart invested in each of the siblings as their stories unfolded.

Also, the setting of the story, Welfleet, MA on Cape Cod, is very special to me. I spent two weeks in Welfleet almost every summer of my childhood, so it is a spot near and dear. I loved the way the author captured the details — the beach, the vendors, and the snobbiness of the people who vacation on the “Outer Cape”.

It was no surprise to learn she, too, spent many childhood summers there, too! This one comes out on June 2, 2020 and would be the perfect book to bring to any beach destination (or couch!) this summer.

Thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this one early!

Rating: 4/5 #agrayreviews

Captivating characters are drawn back to their family's funky vacation home in an elegantly described area of the true Cape Cod. Ann and Poppy Gordon are the children of "hippie" parents who provide them with an eclectic and loving family life. Michael is a friend of Ann's who is adopted by the Gordon's when all three children are teens and he is newly orphaned. The family always spends summers on the Cape, but events during their last summer there as a family alter their lives forever. Each child moves on into adulthood in their own way. They become estranged, living very different lifestyles. Fifteen years later, the circumstances of their parents' tragic deaths bring them together in ways they could have never imagined.
Clancy has given her readers a wonderful debut novel with well-developed , three dimensional characters. This reader was drawn into the story, caring about the characters and the outcome. The Second Home was hard to put down even though I read it late into the night. I look forward to more work from this gifted author.