This book was such a pleasant surprise that fell into my lap, and I am so glad that it did because it is now one of my favorite reads. I found the description alluring on Netgalley, but had never heard of the author and decided to request based on description alone. It turns out, it is her first novel, which is why I had never heard of Miss Christina - but let me tell you, after this book comes out, we will ALL have heard of her... she will be very well known!

This family saga follows three siblings: Ann, Poppy, and Michael. Ann and Poppy are a year apart, and Michael is their adopted brother who came into their lives as teenagers. However, Ann and Michael have a bit of an unconventional relationship that they are trying as hormonal teenagers to navigate, and one ill-fated summer will change their lives forever. 

I loved getting to know these characters and feeling entirely empathetic for each one at different times, and found myself enthralled by the plot. I tend to be one that reads to get to know characters as opposed to the story, but I loved the way this story came together through the actions of the characters. 

If you are someone who enjoys character development and family dynamics, this book is for you!

well worth reading.... Poppy lives the life we've all dreamed of. Ann is a force to be reckoned with , raising her son as a single parent. Micheal wished for a family , but he also got the heartaches that come with loving unconditionally.

Well-written story. Very emotional family centered plot. I found the shifting POVs slightly difficult to switch between at first, but adjusted by the end of the novel.

The Gordons, Ed, Connie, and teenage daughters Ann and Poppy, have recently taken in a teenage boy, Michael, who needed a safe place to land. The family sets off for their second home at Cape Cod, ready for another relaxed and carefree summer. But this year, the vacation ends abruptly, leaving all of the Gordons confused and unsure of the future. Fifteen years later, and after the tragic death of Ed & Connie, the rest of the estranged family are left to decide what to do with their beloved summer home.

This is a brilliant debut from Christina Clancy. The story of Ann, Poppy, and Michael is equal parts beautiful and heartbreaking. The family dynamics in play were all incredible - each relationship had so much depth to it. Written in multiple POVs, it was heartbreaking to read how the truth was twisted for each person - no one truly knew the full story and I desperately wanted to shake them all and force them to sit down and talk to one another.

The Second Home covers some very dark topics - drug abuse, death and mourning, and sexual abuse - but Clancy did it with extreme care. Each character's actions and reactions felt natural and real, particularly in Ann's story. Tragedy and trauma are never simple, never black and white, and Clancy captured the ambiguity of it all.

Reading this in December made me long for summer and a beach house of my own - despite the fact that this is really not a light summer read. I think that Clancy was able to beautifully capture the magic of a beloved family tradition - I'm a sucker for childhood nostalgia.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review!

The Second Home by Christina Clancy is a full length, stand alone romance novel, set in Cape Cod and tells the story of Ann and Poppy.
Both woman don't have much in common - at the first look. Ann is a middle aged woman, her children left to live their own lives. Poppy is a young mother who needs something.
Both meet and they're perfect for each other.
The Second Home , hmm I started reading and to be honest, it took me some time to get into the story, but then I couldn't put it down. I liked the unique storyline and the beautifully thought out and beautifully told story and the characters. 4 beautiful stars.

The Second Home is my first story by Christina Clancy. I enjoyed the characters and the plot especially in the beginning. Ann, Michael and Poppy and their parents were relatable characters. At times the story seemed to drag, but I wanted to know how the story resolved so I read through to the end. The end was pleasant but not as satisfying as the beginning.

This is a well-crafted story of family, mistakes, and misunderstandings. The characters were well-developed and the settings were described so well I felt I was there. This was a solid debut novel and I enjoyed it very much.

* Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, the characters were well developed. It had an interesting plot. I would be interested in reading more

Such a beautiful coming of age story with family dynamics that engage the reader! Summers spent in their home at the shore in New England until one summer with heartbreaking consequences tears the family apart: can the siblings ever find their way back to each other with understanding and forgiveness?
Thank you, Christina Clancy, for this wonderful story, destined to be one of the best books of the year.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this early in exchange for an honest review.

**Please be aware before reading this book that there are triggers for rape and suicide.**

The Second Home presents as your typical summer contemporary. Family death, children are tasked with selling the beach home but they had a falling out. In reality, this book is much more than that.

It takes us through the loss of parents and the aftermath of what happens when a family is torn apart. We get multiple perspectives from all three siblings through a multi-year timeline. We start in present day, where Ann has taken on the task of selling the beach house while her sister Poppy, is selling their family home in Minnesota. We are then taken back to 1999; the year the family adopted Michael and the summer that everything changed. By the end of the book it feels like you've lived a lifetime with this family. You experience their highs and lows, their heartbreak and loss.

I highly recommend that everyone pick up this book when it is released, as it's a story that has so much heart and love, and it really makes you a part of the family.

A debut novel by Christina Clancy and a very good one! Set in Cape Cod, the story of 3 siblings, Ann, Poppy, and Michael. Told from multiple points of view, which worked very well. The characters are very real and very engaging. I highly recommend. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

An amazing debut novel! The characters are very real and relatable. Ann and Poppy are sisters in their teens. Ann is the responsible one, Ann with a Plan. Poppy is a free spirit, moving from place to place with no home base, no belongings or attachments. While in their teens, their parents adopt Michael who is loved by everyone. While at their summer home in Cape Cod, something tragic happens to Ann which has an impact on all their lives and changes each one of them forever. Many years go by without contact between them, and it is inevitable that a tragic event might draw them together again. I just loved the story!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a good summer read, and difficult to put down. The characters draw you in, as well as the descriptions of Cape Cod make you feel like you’re right there with them. Although contemporary novels aren't my favorite genre, I do enjoy reading them from time-to-time. This was a good debut from an upcoming author.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I truly enjoyed this novel!

People often say that how you remember your childhood home and the memories are often not quite the same, nor can you go back.
I am sure this is not what Ann, Poppy or Michael think when they reconvene years later to settle the beach house estate.
Many summers were spent at this wonderful old cottage.
Things change and times moved forward, not always for the best of reasons. People drift apart.
Now.... can these three siblings remember all the good things they have? Can they forgive?

It is a well written story with love, family, friendship, and strength in the plot.
I will be looking for more from Christina Clancy!

The writing in this book is elegantly descriptive. At times I felt such anger toward one of the characters that it surprised me. In my world it is never okay to take advantage of a child. It was necessary to the plot and I realized just how good a writer Christina Clancy is.

The story revolves around Ed and Connie Gordon good people who have enough love to share with their two daughters and a teenage boy who was in desperate need of a good home. The Second Home is a house in Wellfleet on Cape Cod. The house has been in the family for generations and the Gordons spend every summer there. Their experiences in Wellfleet have a profound effect on all the family members. This is a book that held my interest from beginning end. I hope future readers recognize its value. It will be available in June 2020.

I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from St Martin's Press through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are completely my own.
#TheSecondHome #NetGalley

It’s honestly hard to believe this is Christina Clancy’s debut novel. It contained all of the workings of a well seasoned author.

The Second Home took me through the life of a family who seemed completely ordinary, but proved to have their own struggles and also proved that no family is perfect.

I did have a bit of a difficult time following the timeline - but I’m not sure if that was just on my behalf or how it was written.

If you’re on the fence about reading this, I think you’ll definitely enjoy it.

Debut Author
everybody buzzing about book...will Next Summer's Big Read!!
Couldn't wait to read it!

Travel to Cape Cod- Wellfleet in February, where we have a meeting with a realtor...
mixed feelings are mixed with memories...
"It felt wrong to imagine strangers living here, like letting them wear my skin"

Memories are triggered
Go back in time to 15 years before
Everything and everyone were different

One summer changed many lives and had ripple effect

I enjoyed book
once I started reading, I couldn't stop until the end

I went into The Second Home expecting a nice beach read with some family drama. Unfortunately it was way heavier than what I was expecting and I found it difficult to get through.

I found the family dynamic really strange. Ann and Poppy's parents adopted Michael but let the three of them run all over Cape Cod doing their own things, while their parents stayed home and got high. I also wasn't a fan of the relationship between Ann and Michael because event though he was her adopted brother, he was still her brother and it was uncomfortable to read.

There were a few inconsistencies with the characters but overall I enjoyed Christina Clancy's writing, just not the specifics of this story.

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