The Second Home: A Novel by Christina Clancy

The Second Home: A Novel by Christina Clancy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

June 2, 2020

NetGalley 

St Martin’s Press

Fiction, arc, contemporary women

352 pages

ISBN: 978125023934

6/14/20-6/17/20

I received the digital arc of this book from NetGalley and publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

Anne Gordon returns to Wellfleet after the death of her parents in a tragic car accident to sell the summer home her family has owned for years. Of course, Anne is overwhelmed with ambivalence once the memories starting flooding back to her. Anne is a 35 year old practical woman looking to tie up the loose ends of her family’s complicated history.

The Gordon family lived in Wisconsin and drove to Cape Cod every summer which worked out well given her parents were born teachers. The story is a tale about what constitutes a family and the loyalties that might bind people. The story is told through the POV of Anne, Poppy and Michael. They are “siblings” each with their own unique perspective yet deep firm commitment to their parents.

It’s an emotional story which addresses sensitive topics such as sexual, physical and drug abuse as well as homelessness and poverty. Sometimes families may look “perfect” from the outside which makes looks deceiving. The Gordon family adopt Michael, a student who lost his family and was friends with Anne. Although unconventional, her parents were admired for their relaxed acceptance of people’s differences.

The strong family values instilled by the parents are what ultimately brings the estranged siblings together after their death. Poppy has always been free-spirited never setting roots anywhere for too long. Meanwhile, it seemed Michael was never as “lost” to them as they believed. The summers on the Cape changed all of them in ways they could never expect.

Once they work together they discover the truths of the past and that no matter how far away you go your family ties will lead you back home.


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