by Helen Frost
First published 2022
Claire has always counted on summers at the lake house with her sister Abi. This year feels different from the moment they arrive. Their father and stepmother Pam are preparing for a new baby and have packed away all traces of their mother to make space. Abi spends her days sneaking off to meet boys instead of hanging out with Claire like before. Claire finds herself making up stories to cover for her sister's absences while feeling abandoned and confused. The family changes pile up around her. Dad focuses on Pam and the coming baby. Abi acts like a stranger. Claire wants everything to go back to the way it was, but she can't stop time or her family from shifting into new shapes. As the summer weeks pass, both sisters learn that growing up doesn't have to mean growing apart from each other.
Genres: coming-of-age, contemporary, young-adult, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family
Setting: Lake House
Period: Summer
224 pages · Paperback · Square Fish