Vacationland
Fiction
William Morrow
June 14, 2022
Hardcover
384
Free from publisher
Louisa has come to her parents' house in Maine this summer with all three of her kids, a barely written book, and a trunkful of resentment. Left behind in Brooklyn is her husband, who has promised that after this final round of fundraising at his startup he will once again pick up his share of the household responsibilities. Louisa is hoping that the crisp breeze off Penobscot Bay will blow away the irritation she is feeling with her life choices and replace it with enthusiasm for both her family and her work.
But all isn't well in Maine. Louisa's father, a retired judge and pillar of the community, is suffering from Alzheimer's. Louisa's mother is alternately pretending everything is fine and not pretending at all. And one of Louisa's children happens upon a very confusing and heartfelt letter referring to something Louisa doesn't think her father could possibly have done.
Louisa's not the only one searching for something in Maine this summer. Kristie took the Greyhound bus from Pennsylvania with one small suitcase, $761, and a lot of baggage. She's got a past she's trying to outrun, a secret she's trying to unpack, and a new boyfriend who's so impossibly kind she can't figure out what she did to deserve him. But she can't keep her various lives from colliding forever.
As June turns to July turns to August, secrets will be unearthed, betrayals will come to light, and both Louisa and Kristie will ask themselves what they are owed and what they owe others.
My review:
I'm back with a review of another family story, which are some of my favorite tropes. This one takes place in Maine, which holds a special place in my memory since that is where my family would vacation every summer for two decades. I think the actual place this story is about may be fictional, but there is still the general vibe of coastal Maine (I especially remember how cold the ocean is up there, I live in SC now so it doesn't even compare!). As most family stories do, this one is loaded with lots of secrets that come to light over the course of three months, particularly ones revolving around the family patriarch who is in the grip of Alzheimers. I have enjoyed many of this author's previous works, I find her writing to be engrossing, and she does a great job developing her characters to make you feel fully immersed in the story. Since the book encompasses three generations, I think there is something for everyone to relate to. Whether it be young love, finding family, trying and failing to engage with your work, or dealing with the loss of a loved one in mind not body. I thought the ending was perhaps a bit cliche, and I did figure out the deal with Kristie very early on, but I still really enjoyed being with these characters.
If you are one to enjoy well written and characterized family stories, I think you should give this one a look. A bonus if you've ever been to coastal Maine.
