First published 2011
Ellie Calvin sits in her Alabama home, watching her marriage crumble while her daughter studies far away at college. The distance between Ellie and her husband grows each day, leaving her trapped in a life that no longer fits. When her controlling mother Lillian dies, Ellie expects relief. Instead, she finds complications. Her ex-boyfriend Hutch appears at the funeral. He tells her about a documentary project that involved Lillian before her death. He needs answers Ellie cannot provide. While sorting through her mother's belongings, Ellie uncovers a hidden diary filled with buried stories from decades past. She and Hutch begin talking for the first time in years. Together, they decide to investigate Lillian's history using the diary as their guide. Their search leads them to the Summer House, a mysterious coastal home that holds secrets. They promise themselves they can work as partners without rekindling their romance. But as they piece together an old tale of unrequited love, they risk discovering truths about their own hearts.
Genres: historical-fiction, mystery, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Alabama, Summer House
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
261 pages · Hardcover · St. Martin's Press