First published 2012
Olivia Grayson built a home-furnishings empire but sacrificed precious time with her children. Now she plans elaborate vacations each year to make amends. This summer she books a luxury yacht in the Mediterranean, hoping to create perfect memories with her family. Her daughter Cassie, a London music producer, refuses to come as always. Liz struggles in her mother's shadow, afraid to pursue writing. Sons John and Phillip work in the family business while their wives resent the arrangement. On the glamorous Riviera, three generations gather for what should be an idyllic getaway. But family tensions surface quickly. Old resentments clash with new revelations. Olivia watches her children repeat the same mistakes they criticized her for making. The yacht becomes a stage where forgiveness must compete with years of disappointment. As the Mediterranean sun beats down, each family member confronts difficult truths about sacrifice, ambition, and love.
Genres: fiction, family-life, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: family-drama, generational-conflict
Setting: Mediterranean, Riviera
Period: Contemporary
368 pages · Kindle Edition · Delacorte Press