2.5 stars, rounded up to 3

The idea for this novel is great, and I enjoyed the plot itself enough to make it to the end. However, the execution faltered in a few ways that really bothered me as a reader.

First, the timeline jumped around in a way that was really confusing. I typically enjoy books where the narrative skips from one person or point in time to another, but it needs to be clearly explained. I’ve seen timeline jumps explained via a new chapter, or by dropping not subtle hints that we’re in a flashback, or by setting the text apart in an indent. None of these techniques were used here. An event would be casually mentioned in passing, then a future chapter would feature the event prominently. It’s almost as though the author forgot when she first referenced it that we hadn’t made it there yet. I had an advanced reader copy, so perhaps the chapter order wasn’t finalized.

The other main problem I had here was the characters’ personalities and motivations. There were so many times in which the character’s dialogue didn’t make sense to me based on how they had been developed. It made the characters seem inconsistent and, depending on the exact circumstance, either way overdramatic or uncharacteristically stoic.

If these types of things don’t bother you or you don’t notice them, you will likely LOVE this book. Otherwise, it still might be worth a read, but be prepared for a somewhat mixed up timeline and somewhat inconsistent characters.

Such a wonderful read. I was immediately sucked into this story. So many lessons about honesty, not judging others without knowing the whole story and lots of great karma! I enjoyed this book from the first page to the last one!

A great read from a great author – highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced review copy.

#netgalley #thesecondhome

This book was just not for me. I typically love beach reads but this one was a bit heavier than your usual beach read. I never really felt anything for the characters and I found some of the situations a bit far fetched.
Thank you to Net Galley for a copy of this book to review.

This book was an easy read about family dynamics, assumptions, forgiveness, selfishness and life changes.There is a short part of the book that is tedious, exploring Poppy’s travels, but other than that the book moves along well. The Gordon family travels to their Cape Cod house every summer. During one summer at the beach, life-changing events happen, leading to misunderstandings and transformations for the entire family. I would recommend this book. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and St Martin’s Press. All opinions expressed are my own.

We start out with Ann and Poppy with Michael just joining the family. Then they go to the cottage and everyone does their own thing. Ann gets pregnant. She never says it's Michael's baby, but the assumption is there. Michael disappears. Poppy is left to become a free spirit.
Move ahead 15 years. The parents have died and they need to settle estate. I find it strange that we learn more of Poppy's life and then Michael's than we do of Ann and her son. Michael has been living near the cottage, yet they can't find him. He even went into business with his old employer. Her rapist and his wife have fallen on a change in lifestyles. I can't understand Ann and the wife bonding. Then everyone ends up in the cottage...Ann, Poppy, Michael and the kids. Ann is resentful of Michael. She messed up everything with her silence.
Great writing, but hard to understand some of the plot lines.

I wanted to like this book, I did. Family dynamics are always interesting to me and so the synopsis pulled me in. The thing is, there were just too many factors I didn't like about it.

This review will not be spoiler-free.

The writing pulls you in and the characters start off as being very intriguing. They hold secrets. Since there are three siblings, they each have their own point-of-view. I always like more than one but some of their chapters just felt slow and a bit bland.

The plot twists/tragedy is where this book took a turn I didn't want. The main character, Ann, is sexualized by an adult who eventually rapes her. This leads to pregnancy and then drama between the boy/ her friend that her family had adopted. The rape part had details that were very uncomfortable and had me wanting to dnf. Since this was an arc I chose to continue but should have listened to my gut because it didn't get better.

The man who does the raping/sexualizing ultimately kills himself while Ann and his wife are in the same house discussing what happened. His wife says something along the lines of, "Oh dear, I must have forgot a gun." Like what? Even if you didn't love your husband is that really what you say? It just baffled me so much!

The ending didn't really have much closure but I guess I should have known that since at 90% not much wrapping up had begun.

Overall, this book wasn't for me and I personally wouldn't recommend it.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing.

This book starts out kinda slow, but it picks up and hooks you until the end. The author's words make the book come to life and you felt like you were there. This book is going to be a wonderful beach read for 2020! I can't wait to see what Christina Clancy writes next. Thank you St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

A received an ARC of this moving story. A tale of a family trying to survive through a tragedy, trying to grieve each in their own way. When they are forced together by this event they learn the truth about their pwn past experiences. A great story of family and memories.

The Second Home is a stellar debut from author Christina Clancy and I look forward to many more books to come. I found this book to hit all the spots! It's emotionally arresting, intriguing, and an absolute must have for anyone's beach bag during the summer of 2020!

It was such a pleasure to read this story of a non-traditional family from Wisconsin and their Cape Cod vacation home! I loved every page! Ann, Poppy and their adopted brother Michael spent a few summers together a the beach, loving all that the Cape had to offer. Insurmountable conflicts and challenges happen late in their teen years, and the family dynamic changes. The sisters go their separate ways, while Michael is essentially ousted. The one common denominator in their lives is the old Cape Cod house.

I highly recommend this book to those readers who love an emotional tale, with short term stressors, and a satisfying ending.

First, thank you to Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I truly enjoyed this book about a family both their past and present.
The setting of Cape Cod was especially endearing to me as my parents lived there, so reading about it in such beautiful and descriptive language was truly a bonus. I do recommend this novel to all who enjoy family sagas and to one done so well.

I have a few thoughts about this book, specifically why it didn't fully work for me. The story itself was good, past/present story lines intersect well, good character development, with the exception of Ann. While she has a serious story line through the book, I just couldn't really empathize with her in the present-day story. She had a traumatic experience in the past and seems to have moved forward but her anger in the present was over the top to me, and detracted from the entire story. Both Michael's and Poppy's progressions seemed more realistic given the family dynamics and characters.

I would read another book by this author if given the chance.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Publishing Group for providing me with a copy of The Second Home by Christina Clancy.

Cape Cod makes for a wonderful setting for this book about a second family home, and the choices made that surround their beloved memories of the place.

Christina Clancy gives the reader impressive character development in The Second Home. I love it when an author wisely crafts a story without making the cast of characters too complicated. The Second Home has some you love, and some not so much. I particularly like how Ms. Clancy developed the 3 teenager's summers, how separate events occur, and how they sought their own individuals paths. The characters felt real, and offer very distinct personalities.

The Second Home is at the heart of their lives, their fond memories, and their struggles.

This was not the type of book I usually read but once I started to read it I found it quite enjoyable. Wordy at times but an interesting storyline. The only negative I had about the book was that the ending was too 'fairytale' .

Christina Clancy’s novel ‘The Second Home’ is about a Milwaukee family—Ed and Connie, sisters Ann and Poppy, and adopted teenage brother Michael—who spend their summers in their second home on Cape Cod. The house has been in the family for generations, and the family had made beautiful memories in the summer house. That is, until Ann turns seventeen and everything changes. This is where the story turns from a light beach read to a story of full of raw emotion, trauma, family secrets and eventually estrangement.

Fifteen years later, Ed and Connie are killed in a terrible automobile accident and Ann and Poppy are left to sort out the fate of the summer home. After Michael learns of the death of Ed and Connie, he returns to claim himself as a rightful heir to the estate. And more than just wanting the house, he wants to set the record straight on what happened years prior. The siblings need to decide if they can become a family again and if the house will remain the anchor of their lives.

I particularly loved how well developed the characters were. I felt like I knew each of the vastly different characters intimately. Clancy did a wonderful job tying the loose ends together, leaving me completely satisfied. I can’t wait to see what she comes out with next!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love a family saga and this one didn't disappoint! I felt like we got to know everyone very well and was sucked into their world. I loved the details about Cape Cod. I also appreciated that it was just a story and not something with a "shocking" twist.

I really wanted to like The Second Home. Family dramas are normally my favorite type of novel. However, I had a hard time sticking with this one, in part because the pacing in the beginning is quite slow and the characters don't jump off the page in terms of their relatability and complexity. While Clancy is clearly a talented writer and I'll look forward to more of her work, this one sadly missed the mark for me.

Loved this messy family drama of a book. Starts a tiny bit slow, but then picks up and I fell in love with every member of the family. Ended up finishing in 2 days. This book will give you all the feels and you will love the characters.

Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book for me was a bit slow. It did have a good storyline though and a good amount of characters. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.