First published 2026
Caroline Lash arrives in the seaside village of Greenhead, Massachusetts and quickly becomes infatuated with Van Whittaker, a kayak-loving local with floppy hair and boundless energy. Van belongs to a tight circle of childhood friends: his ex-girlfriend Bailey, who effortlessly draws male attention; Augusta, a wealthy and pretentious equestrian; and Fran, a woman surrounded by men who has sworn off marriage. Caroline integrates herself into their world of beach parties, houseboat drinking sessions, and lazy afternoons with children. The group maintains its familiar rhythms until Bailey reveals she is carrying Van's child. This revelation shatters the delicate dynamics and pushes Caroline to the margins. Her response, driven by anger and devastation, unleashes buried secrets that send shockwaves through the entire town. Jackson crafts a story about friendship, desire, money, and the messy transition into middle age among people desperately clinging to their youth.
Genres: fiction, romance, literary-fiction, contemporary, contemporary-romance, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Greenhead, Massachusetts
Period: contemporary
352 pages · Hardcover · Pamela Dorman Books