First published 2009
Greg and Tess MacAvoy belong to a tight circle of four Nantucket couples who anchor their island community. The MacAvoys, Kapenashes, Drakes, and Wheelers have built their lives around each other through countless summers on the island. Then tragedy strikes just before another season begins. Greg and Tess set sail to celebrate their wedding anniversary, but their boat capsizes and both drown. The island reels from the loss of two beloved residents. As summer arrives and the remaining couples try to process their grief, they discover that Greg and Tess harbored secrets that will shake the foundation of their friendships. The tragedy forces everyone to confront truths about marriage, loyalty, and the bonds that hold communities together. Hilderbrand crafts a story of love and betrayal against the setting of Nantucket's summer social scene.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, secrets
Setting: Nantucket
372 pages · Kindle Edition · Little, Brown and Company