June 2020

THE SECOND HOME by Christina Clancy hits on a theme to which many baby boomers can relate. The older parents in a family have passed away, and it’s time to figure out what to do with the family vacation home that has been around for the children’s entire lives.

The Gordon family home is in Wellfleet. It’s not posh, but it’s where they made memories each summer, traveling from their home in Wisconsin. The parents were both teachers who loved their summers with their children on Cape Cod. They have two girls and adopted a boy when he was in his teens.

One summer, life there takes a turn; after that, the older daughter has no good memories of this house or the Cape. She wants to sell the house, but her younger sister wants to keep it. And then suddenly their adopted brother comes back onto the scene with thoughts of his own on the subject. Is he an heir? Who is playing what role here? What secrets have shattered this family, and can they bring them together?

I love the four Aces that hang on the wall and its significance to the history of the house. This will be great beach reading.