Hannah Roberts McKinnon

When I first saw the blurb for this book, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt I'd be reading it. The protagonist of this novel grew up in Mystic, CT and then relocates to teach in a tony Boston suburb. I lived in Mystic for many years and now live in a tony Boston suburb. I wasn't expecting great literature, but I had to see if McKinnon got the sense of place right -- in both places.

This book doesn't purport to be anything other than an enjoyable beach read, and on that measure it delivers (even for those with no ties to either location). While it doesn't quite make the leap to what I dub "beach read with a brain," it's far from the most mindless in the genre. Those expecting a Man Booker prize novel will be disappointed (and shouldn't have looked here in the first place). Those wanting to be transported away from their day-to-day lives with a story that ties up with a nice little bow will be happy.

As for the sense of place, McKinnon falters a bit in portraying Boston and the private school scene. There's reference to the main character having to buy Clorox wipes for her own classroom (no way, no how would that happen -- doesn't even happen in the "gold standard" public schools. I just about fainted when we first moved here and I learned what our PTA budget was). There's also several references to standardized testing (again, that doesn't happen at private school, which is one of the main reasons why parents send their kids to private schools).

On the flip side, McKinnon gets Mystic just right (with the exception of the repeated naming of the famous pizza place at which no local eats unless forced to by visiting guests), and it was a delight to read the real the names of real places and businesses. Even those unfamiliar with this charming town will enjoy the descriptions and detail of the seaside idyll -- "Downtown Mystic does it to me each time. I don't know if it's the sea air of the historic clapboard houses that line the street into the village, but there's something magical, as if you're entering a little storybook town."

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

… (mehr)

Charley and Cora Darling are excited to welcome their adult children back to Cape Cod and their cottage, Riptide. Twins Andi and Hugh, Andi's daughter Molly, Hugh's husband Martin, and Sydney, who will be getting married in a few weeks.
Charley's mom, Tish, comes to the cottage and drops a bombshell on the family. This news threatens to upend the family. Tish, whose husband Morty died when Charley was a young boy, has been distant and stoic when dealing with the family. It all comes out as to why she felt this way.
This book was a bit of a family drama, but I felt there were gaping holes - such as what happened in the final family meeting. Also - who keeps a secret like that for 40+ years?… (mehr)