A family drama full of secrets anchored by a gorgeous setting and author Tess Callahan's beautiful writing
Thank you to author Tess Callahan for the beautiful signed edition and swag!
This emotional character-driven family drama is the follow-up to the novel April & Oliver, but it works as a stand-alone. I have yet to read the first book but had no trouble jumping in here as everyone's history is recapped in an organic way. Complicated and gripping, this kept me turning the pages well past bedtime.
Callahan has a beautiful writing style. I loved her descriptive imagery and lyrical prose, from describing characters early on using iconic songs to depicting the qualities of stunning Cape Cod so atmospherically. The characters and the landscape come vividly to life, and I reread several sentences because they were so lovely.
An incredible character study, they are well-developed, layered, and flawed, as are their relationships. The multi-generational cast faced complicated situations, tense interactions, and the consequences of their decisions. As tensions rose and secrets were revealed, the storyline threads and interpersonal dynamics created a tumultuous and compelling tapestry of connections and emotion. This had depth. Pain, betrayal, and regret mingle with love and joy. Emotions are palpable as several complex topics are explored, but Callahan approaches them respectfully.
Affecting and raw, this was hard to put down. I loved it and am still thinking about it days later. Fans of family drama and character-driven stories will want to add this to their tbr!
Dawnland is available now!
My steep was Cranberry Creme from The Tea Smith -- a black tea with cranberry and vanilla
PUBLISHER'S SYNOPSIS:
On a fated summer getaway in Cape Cod, two families on the verge of fracture contend with the secrets of the past in a powerful and moving novel by the author of April & Oliver.
April, her brother-in-law Oliver, and their families reunite in Cape Cod on an exquisite stretch of beach called Dawnland. After eleven summers of building traditions—kayaking, whale watching, bonfires, and ocean swims—this year comes with new threats both on and off the coastline.
Before their marriages, April and Oliver had an intense but disastrous fling that they kept hidden. Although they moved on with their lives, their more recent fiery encounter is getting harder to keep secret—especially as the week unravels, revealing fault lines not only between husbands and wives but between brothers, fathers and sons, and children growing up amid discord and lies. Ground zero for conflict is April’s volatile teenage son, Lochlann.
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