by Joe Peters
First published 1999
The book presents itself as a travel guide but operates as fiction, following an unnamed narrator who moves through Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha's Vineyard with the practiced eye of a longtime resident. Peters creates a protagonist who knows which beaches locals actually visit and which restaurants serve tourists overpriced lobster rolls. The central tension emerges between the narrator's insider knowledge and the pressure to share authentic experiences with outsiders who might destroy what makes these places special. The character navigates summer crowds, off-season isolation, and the complex social dynamics of island communities where year-round residents eye seasonal visitors with mixture of dependence and resentment. Peters captures the emotional weight of watching beloved places change under the pressure of discovery.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: insider-knowledge, outsider-perspective
Setting: Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard
Period: 4th Edition
583 pages · Paperback · UNKNO