Imagine all the drama you could think of happening within a family, and quadruple it. This family goes through a lot, with cheating, divorce, serious illness, death, lies, debt, in-laws, as well as everything else! Corr this is a book and a half. This will be your read of the summer, that’s for sure! Hell, maybe even your read of the year! I’m sorry to be the one to bring you such bad news.” “Are you?” Robyn asked before she could stop herself. “It seems to me you’re delighted. It must be hard having such a small life.” Robyn Caldwell is a divorced mother of two who’s soon reaching a crossroad. Her oldest, Harlow, is engaged, planning her wedding and turning into a bridezilla, blaming her mother for anything not going her way. Her son Austin is graduating from high school but doesn’t seem to have a plan. Her ex-husband Cord has entered into a disastrous new relationship he’s keeping secret from his children. With Austin turning eighteen, Robyn has to make a significant financial decision about their beautiful but costly Naples, Florida home in accordance with her divorce settlement. When her great aunt Lillian Holton calls and invites her to consider a summer stay at her Santa Barbara estate, Robyn flees to California for a respite. Little did she know how vital she was to the people in her circle who would soon follow her, bringing their baggage with them. Standalone Women's Fiction One woman takes the vacation of a lifetime in this poignant and heartwarming story about the threads that hold a family together from #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery.

I was reading this book, rather enjoying it...bumping along with the family drama and the humor. And then the last quarter the author unceremoniously jettisoned the personality of some of the characters that we spent the the whole first part of the book getting to know. The heel turn of one character especially annoyed me especially since I cynically felt it was 100% done in the service of making one character more sympathetic. And the more I thought about the book, everything about how some of the other outcomes came about began to annoy me. New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming and humorous novels about the relationships that define women's lives—family, friendship, romance. She's best known for putting nuanced characters into emotionally complex, real-life situations with twists that surprise readers to laughter. Because Susan is passionate about animal welfare, pets play a big role in her books. Beloved by millions of readers worldwide, her books have been translated into 28 languages. I had no trouble wrapping myself up in this delicious drama. The story is sudsy, and over the top at times, but it was also a nice journey of renewed self-discovery for Robyn and a time for those who maybe took her for granted, who needed to become more self-reliant, to start growing up and making better decisions, both the younger characters and some of the older ones, too. Robyn had not planned on her children tagging along for the summer, but they made it work and realized the time together is just what they needed. This story is as if you are watching a real family play out their emotions and drama. The vibes of the summer are paramount for this atmospheric and situational wave of emotions.You have four kids,” Robyn pointed out. “If things go south in your marriage, I’d rather have Payne move in.” Beginning of the story was ok but I found the characterization flat, superficial and boring. The story is told from multiple POVs, that makes things repetitive and predictible. I especially disliked Harlow's POVs. Was she real? Harlow's reaction to her parents when they didn't tell her she might die of cancer. When her mother wanted to sell their big house after Robyn was left to live there alone [house she never had wanted in the first place!]. Her father not giving her money to buy the business, discovering her father's affairs, etc. Harlow was an adult, her immaturity was excused with cancer...yeah. Then like a miracle, she's aware that she's behaving badly and she's changed person. Just like that. It felt like they all lived in the lala land. If author thought that this was character development, then sorry, but this didn't sound plausible. Robyn is divorced, living in Naples, Florida, and will need to sell her home in just a few months as part of the divorce settlement. Her daughter has turned into bridezilla and is demanding to be married at the home - which just isn't going to work. Her son is eighteen and won't even discuss college. Her ex-husband is involved with a woman he shouldn't be involved with. Her best friend is talking about cheating on her husband with a tennis pro. Her boyfriend is not the man she thought he was. It's all too much. Robyn flees to California to stay with her great-aunt Lillian in a beautiful home on the coast in Santa Barbara. Robyn needs to come to grips with her life, her finances, her kids, and find the direction she wants her life to go.

I was pulled right into this family drama. Robyn is a very sympathetic character, and her struggles with her family and friends felt real and I empathized with her immediately. Great Aunt Lillian was my favorite character, and her home I would consider a character in itself. Lillian lives in a huge mansion overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Santa Barbara, and it’s obvious that she lived an amazing life. A bit of a romance happens but is secondary to the main story.Mindy took another sip. “My sister called, swears she found a Thomas Pister chest in a tiny shop in Wales. It’s dirt cheap, so I’m afraid it’s a fake. She’s looking for someone to prove authenticity. Wouldn’t that be a find?” One woman takes the vacation of a lifetime in this poignant and heartwarming story about the threads that hold a family together from #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery. You have a great husband. Payne loves you and the kids, and never has eyes for another woman. Why would you screw that up?” One by one, everyone she was escaping appear in her great aunt’s home. With her great aunt Lillian’s counsel and the steadfastness of a new male friend, Robyn can have everything she wants if she is willing to believe in herself. Thanks. The last time Harlow mentioned the wedding, she said something about wanting to dye the pool to match the bridesmaids’ dresses.”