Hannah Roberts McKinnon

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?… (meer)

Think of a family who has summered for decades at a cottage on Cape Cod. There’s history here, a memory, but is there a future? Who holds the key? Who interprets the past, and steers the way forward? This is the story of The Darling family who gathers at their cottage, Riptide, for a wedding and a long held secret is revealed. It’s about how we define family, and how we define ourselves in our families. It’s a dive into maternal sacrifice, how it both clears a path and blinds you. Ultimately, it’s about choosing forward motion individually, together, over and over throughout life.

Told from varying points of view, and timelines McKinnon does an excellent job weaving this inter generational story. From grandmother Tish who raised her son Charley alone after becoming a young widow, to Cora who married Charley but was never accepted by her mother-in-law, to daughter Andi fresh from her divorce but here to support her sister, Sydney, as she gets married. These complex family dynamics ebb and flow like the tides at the cottage, informing a history of strong women who were often put in difficult situations. Sibling rivalry is explored, fueled by an othering, a favoritism by their grandmother. McKinnon uses this really well in frank and honest dialogue that felt both vulnerable and genuine. I loved the coming together of Tish and Cora, the personal recognition of Cora’s talent seemed representative of what Tish had missed. I would have loved to have known what happened afterwards. I’m always here for a good epilogue and feel it would have been really satisfying.

The Darlings is a fantastic pick for your next summer read, your beach/pool bag, or your weekend binge read in a shady lounge chair, drink in hand. I especially recommend for those who are needing a waterside getaway but are landlocked. This will take you right there friends!

Thank you so much to Goodreads Giveaway @goodreads , Atria/Emily Bestler Books @Atriabooks , and author Hannah McKinnon @HannahMcKinnonWrites for the advance copy.… (meer)