Parent trap for adults?!
Summary - The story of two half-sisters, Vivian Levy and Lucy Webster, who meet for the first time after their father’s death. Vivian, a New York City sommelier, and Lucy, a small-town Maine teacher, are brought together at their father’s lake house to scatter his ashes and confront a web of family secrets.
The novel explores themes of grief, family, and forgiveness as the sisters navigate their newfound relationship and the complexities of their father’s past.
I’m not sure why the Goodreads rating is 3.57 because I thought this one was great. Light but not fluffy, realistic characters with real life problems (well, not Vivian but she’s got a good arc). This is not a romance so maybe people are going into it thinking it is? There are romantic elements but this is a story about two half sisters first and foremost. As someone with a “half sister” and a toxic af shared father, I really appreciated this aspect of the book.
So, do I recommend you take this to the beach or pool? Yes, but just be prepared for less romance and more sister drama. And the Maine backdrop was fun as well (I have been to many of the places mentioned)!
Thank you @net for this advanced reading copy. I also listened to the audio, thanks to @prh and both formats were great.
Have you been to Portland, Maine? Is this one on your list?
Find Maine Characters at the publisher →
Toni Rocchetti is a copy editor helping authors strengthen their narratives, deepen character arcs, and find the story that is already in the draft. She reads 80+ books a year across literary fiction, memoir, and nonfiction — and writes about what she is learning along the way. Work with Toni →
