I almost quit this book 4 times.

Too much drug use. Inappropriate behavior between babysitter and dad. New age spiritual crap. People being too stupid to actually communicate what is going on in their lives.

I suppose this is the fallen world we live. It is sadly probably a pretty accurate picture of people. It makes me grateful for what I have and so very sad for people who spend their lives like the characters in this book.

Ann, Poppy, and their adopted brother Michael spent every summer in their house on Cape Cod. When their parents suddenly die, they face the dilemma of what to do with the house. Family secrets and conflicts complicate matters.

This is a true family saga filled with incidents and conflicts that most anyone will find relatable. Even if you haven't had the actual experiences of these three siblings, you will find it easy to understand their motives. Despite the well written characters and a few twists and turns that add to the tension, I only found this a marginal story. Nothing objectionable or poorly written, just nothing remarkable either. A pleasant read, fairly predictable "summer read".

This was just okay. Entertaining while I was reading it, but an otherwise overall forgettable book for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

The Second Home was a hard read. As a mom it touches on subject matter of some of my worst fears. It was compelling and interesting but at times got quite repetitive. I'm sure partially to explain the anxiety that the mother was feeling from all she was up against. It felt a little as if this book was not sure what genre it wanted to stay in. It tried to veer into thriller territory at the end it it fell a little flat for me.

I appreciate the effort that the author put into showing the intricacies of hat being a mother is all about, anxiety and all! Overall, this was an interesting read that showed the complexities of being a mother and I will always appreciate that.

I saw an interview with the author and she mentioned how much she appreciated those because she could "learn a lot from them." What is the significance of this statement? While I was happy to leave some books I was reading for later in the day, I carried my copy of "The Second Home" with me from place to place. In the two days it took me to read "The Second Home," I read it in bed, at my desk, on the downstairs couch, in the living room's comfy chair, while soaking in the tub, on the deck in the sunshine, and even at the kitchen table while my kids ate breakfast. These are simply the locations that I recall. It's possible that there were others. My point is that I wanted to stay in "The Second Home's" world. I also know I liked the book because, since finishing it, I've been encouraging my wife to read it as well so that we can discuss it. I'm curious to hear her thoughts. I'm curious what she thinks of what I'm thinking. So, if you're reading this and haven't yet read "The Second Home," I recommend you do so. And, if you're reading this, congratulations and thank you, Christina Clancy!

I liked the story itself, but I was a little neutral regarding some of the characters. Overall, it was a good book.

This was slow to start for me but once it got going, albeit halfway through, I was able to fly through it pretty quickly. It is not an uplifting story by any means, and is one of those stories where miscommunication runs rampant. Sometimes I don't like stories where folks refuse to have a simple conversation and the whole thing goes awry, but in this case it was not too far fetched. In fact, it was quite heartbreaking. This is a well done, thought provoking story that I really enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital copy to review.

I enjoyed it. I liked the characters, and though I felt like they weren't all equally developed. I really liked the writing style and the story itself.

This book brought me back to my childhood home. The complicated memories, the happy memories. The informalness of life. This is a storyline that many books are made of and each are beautiful. This book is no exception. Beautiful story. Thank you!

I enjoyed The Second Home! I was expecting a family drama but was surprised how dark the story was. I’m not usually drawn to books with different POV’s but it fit well in this story. It would be a good beach read. Thanks to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this

Heartbreakingly beautiful. The perfect beach read or when you are yearning for warmer weather, The family stays with you even after you have read the last page.

Let’s jump right into it. I am ashamed by how long it took me to read The Second Home. St Martins Press graciously gifted me a copy and well…I was not in the headspace. Don’t let the cover fool you, this is not a light beach read. If you are looking for a plot-driven family drama this is your story! Wow, It was intense and hooked me right away.
The story alternates POV between three siblings - Ann, Poppy, and Michael. I am a big fan of different POV's. There were nuances in the story that changed with each character. Part of me wished the last chapter had been the dad's POV but the ending was strong which a storyline like this needs. I recommend!

There are several trigger warnings.

I want to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for giving me the opportunity to review this book. I this was great story about family and trauma, and healing.

The central plot of this novel is a bit over the top. It was a little hard to believe that a hippie-like Wisconsin couple with teenager daughters would adopt a teenage boy, without telling him they were, and take summer vacations on a quaint but crumbling cottage on Cape Cod every summer.

And then every character, parents and children, was immediately beset by almost every stereotyped problem applicable to them. Rape, teen pregnancy, drug addiction, physical and mental abuse, alcoholism, dementia... if there's a trigger warning, it probably happens in this book.

It was a lot.

And yet, the endgame was a Happily Ever After. And the author got there. Some characters got a far better happily ever after than they deserved, but they got there. And someone the reader could be left wishing a couple characters had gotten what they deserved just a little bit more.

(Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest and original review. Apologies for how long it took.)

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was beautiful and messy and wonderful. I loved the messages about honesty and passing judgement before you have all the information.

The setting for this book is one my bucket list and makes me want to visit even more. I also felt there was good character development for Ed and Connie Gordon. The author did such a great job on this debut novel. I look forward to reading more from Christina Clancy.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Three siblings leave their summer house and vow never to return. Fifteen years later, after the death of their parents, they come back together to set straight the night that tore them apart. The two sisters want to sell, but their brother wants to keep the house. Can they figure things out, or will the past come back to haunt them and break them apart forever?

The Second Home is a dark but incredible family saga full of long kept secrets and so much drama.
Ann Gordon's family owns a summer home in Cape Cod. She spent many a happy summer there with her parents, her sister Poppy, and during the last summer spent there, her newly adopted brother Michael. A shocking event occurs that stops the family from visiting the Cape for good. In the future, when the parents die, the three estranged siblings must come together to determine what to do about the property.
The story is told in a dual timeline between the present and 15 years in the past (the last summer they spent in the house). Clancy is so good at writing complex characters with deeply nuanced relationships. I loved reading this dramatic story, even though the subject matter was gut-wrenching and disturbing at times. I would highly recommend this one if you enjoy complex family dynamics, drama, and stories set on beautiful Cape Cod.

If you need a book that will draw you in, I have found it for you!
The Second Home by Christina Clancy has so many things in it that I love. It is written from different perspectives, covers a span of years, has various locations in it, and pulls you into the lives of Amy, Poppy, and Michael. I felt like I became a part of this book as I read about the lives of this family. I found myself wanting to give them advice! A great weekend read, beach read, escape from real-life for a bit read. Enjoy!

“I felt like I became a part of this book as I read about the lives of this family.”-Green Gables Book Reviews

The Second Home by Christina Clancy, an overview:

The Gordon’s are the perfect family.
Mom and Dad, Ed and Connie, Ed is a teacher.
Daughters, Amy and Poppy.
And, their adopted son, Michael. Michael and Amy met at a track meet for school and had been friends ever since, and Michael fit in with their family so well that they adopted him! If it weren’t for the Gordon’s, Michael would be a teenage boy still stuck in foster care.

The Gordon’s have a vacation home that has been in the family back to when Ed’s grandfather won it in a game of poker. It is their tradition to spend the summer there, enjoying the beach and sharing memories, and spending time showing everything to Michael makes it new and fun again.

Poppy has offered to teach Michael to swim, and they become good friends, but over time, Poppy feels a little left out as Ann and Michael are so connected and care so deeply about each other.

An event happens during this summer that changes everything for this family. Choices are made, worry is expressed, and words are said that can not be taken back. And the family is destroyed.

Years later, lives forever altered, Amy and Poppy have to decide what to do with the vacation home. It is all up to them until Michael hears about it and wants to be a part of the decision.

It was very exciting to be given an early copy of The Second Home to read and review!

From my blog: Always With a Book

Somehow I never got around to reading this debut novel last summer by Christina Clancy, but after reading, and loving, her sophomore novel, Shoulder Season, I knew I had to pick this one up sooner than later and I’m so glad I did – I really enjoyed it! And now I’m kicking myself for waiting so long to read it!

I love family dramas and this one just pulled me right in. I loved that it moved back and forth in time and really allowed the story to unfold bit by bit. I’ve been to the Cape a few times, many many years ago, but there is just something so nostalgic about that place and it clearly comes through in this story.

Sibling relationships are one of my favorite dynamics to explore – I’m the oldest of six, so I totally understand sibling rivalry and I thought that the complexities that the author explored here were so real and relatable. She really hit the nail on the head when it came to issues with communication and lack of understanding and how that could lead to fractures amongst siblings.

This book evoked a wide range of emotions in me, partly because I could relate to so many different parts of it and partly because it was just such a well-written book. Having now read two of Christina Clancy’s books and loved both of them, she is now a must-read author and I will be recommending her books to everyone!

An engaging and engrossing family drama that had me gripped. Also enjoyed the atmosphere and found it to be deeper than I expected it to be.