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Vacationland
Louisa has come to her parents� house in Maine this summer with her three kids, a barely written book that has a looming deadline, and a trunkful of resentment. She is hoping the crisp breeze will blow away her irritation for her life choices and replace it with enthusiasm for both her family and her writing—but all is not well in Maine.
Louisa’s father,a retired judge and pillar of the community, is suffering from Alzheimer’s. Louisa’s mother is alternately pretending everything is fine and not pretending at all. And one of Louisa’s children happens upon a very confusing and heartfelt letter referring to something Louisa does not think her father could possibly have done. She is not the only one searching for something in Maine this summer.
Kristie took the Greyhound bus from Pennsylvania with the $761 left in her bank account and a whole lot of emotional baggage. She has a past she is trying to outrun, a secret she is trying to unpack, and a new boyfriend who is so kind she cannot figure out what she did to deserve him. As June turns to July turns to August, secrets will be unearthed; betrayals will come to light; andboth Louisa and Kristie will ask themselves what they are owed and what they owe others.
Louisa’s father,a retired judge and pillar of the community, is suffering from Alzheimer’s. Louisa’s mother is alternately pretending everything is fine and not pretending at all. And one of Louisa’s children happens upon a very confusing and heartfelt letter referring to something Louisa does not think her father could possibly have done. She is not the only one searching for something in Maine this summer.
Kristie took the Greyhound bus from Pennsylvania with the $761 left in her bank account and a whole lot of emotional baggage. She has a past she is trying to outrun, a secret she is trying to unpack, and a new boyfriend who is so kind she cannot figure out what she did to deserve him. As June turns to July turns to August, secrets will be unearthed; betrayals will come to light; andboth Louisa and Kristie will ask themselves what they are owed and what they owe others.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 14, 2022
809 people are currently reading
39k people want to read
About the author
Meg Mitchell Moore
11books1,712followersMeg Mitchell Moore is the author of eight novels. Her ninth, MANSION BEACH, will be published in May 2025. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and whichever of her three high school- and college-aged daughters is home, as well two golden retrievers who shed a lot and don't read at all.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,361 reviews
June 17, 2022
The kids were the scene stealers for me, in this family saga which takes place over the course of three months, in a little hamlet called Owl’s Head, on the coast of Maine!
Louisa has arrived for the Summer at her parent’s house, called Ships View, with her three kids in tow: Matthew (Matty) aged twelve, Abigail, aged 10 and Claire, just seven years old.
Her husband, Stephen has stayed behind in Brooklyn, trying to make a go of his Podcast, and as her year long sabbatical from being a teaching Professor winds down, she hopes to complete her book.
But, Louisa’s father, a well known Maine Supreme Court judge, is suffering from Alzheimer’s, and he has deteriorated more than she had realized, since her last visit, and her Mom, Annie, doesn’t feel like she can cope for much longer, with the limited help that she has, and with the repairs needed for their aging home.
Will this be the last summer that the family will be able to come together to find comfort and renewal on the wrap around front porch, or play board games in the parlor that offers such calming ocean views?
Along with her grief, a waitress named Kristie, has arrived in town from Altoona, with the last of her tip money, $761 dollars to be exact, $27,000 in medical bills and the envelope her mother gave her on the day before she died. Although she has the words of the letter contained inside, memorized, she knows she will carry it with her at all times. She is trying to outrun the bill collectors and hopes this move will offer her a fresh start.
Over the course of three months, we will see how these women will learn what money can and cannot buy and what really makes life rich, while Matty experiences his first crush, Abigail keeps her Daddy informed and in line with her insightful letters sent to Brooklyn, and Claire, wise beyond her years, but still realistically age seven, will tell it like it is!
I did figure out early on where this was headed but I did not know what Louisa and Kristie’s “final decisions� would be, by the book’s closing chapters.
Although I was disappointed by some of Kristie’s choices-I did enjoy spending time with all of these characters and am sorry that my Summer in Owl’s Head has drawn to a close.
This warm and wonderful beach is AVAILABLE NOW!
Another buddy read with DeAnn-be sure to also check out her thoughts in her amazing review!
Thank You to William Morrow & Company for the gifted ARC. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
Louisa has arrived for the Summer at her parent’s house, called Ships View, with her three kids in tow: Matthew (Matty) aged twelve, Abigail, aged 10 and Claire, just seven years old.
Her husband, Stephen has stayed behind in Brooklyn, trying to make a go of his Podcast, and as her year long sabbatical from being a teaching Professor winds down, she hopes to complete her book.
But, Louisa’s father, a well known Maine Supreme Court judge, is suffering from Alzheimer’s, and he has deteriorated more than she had realized, since her last visit, and her Mom, Annie, doesn’t feel like she can cope for much longer, with the limited help that she has, and with the repairs needed for their aging home.
Will this be the last summer that the family will be able to come together to find comfort and renewal on the wrap around front porch, or play board games in the parlor that offers such calming ocean views?
Along with her grief, a waitress named Kristie, has arrived in town from Altoona, with the last of her tip money, $761 dollars to be exact, $27,000 in medical bills and the envelope her mother gave her on the day before she died. Although she has the words of the letter contained inside, memorized, she knows she will carry it with her at all times. She is trying to outrun the bill collectors and hopes this move will offer her a fresh start.
Over the course of three months, we will see how these women will learn what money can and cannot buy and what really makes life rich, while Matty experiences his first crush, Abigail keeps her Daddy informed and in line with her insightful letters sent to Brooklyn, and Claire, wise beyond her years, but still realistically age seven, will tell it like it is!
I did figure out early on where this was headed but I did not know what Louisa and Kristie’s “final decisions� would be, by the book’s closing chapters.
Although I was disappointed by some of Kristie’s choices-I did enjoy spending time with all of these characters and am sorry that my Summer in Owl’s Head has drawn to a close.
This warm and wonderful beach is AVAILABLE NOW!
Another buddy read with DeAnn-be sure to also check out her thoughts in her amazing review!
Thank You to William Morrow & Company for the gifted ARC. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
June 14, 2022
4 summer house in Maine stars - now available, grab it for a good summer read!
I love books with a summer setting in Maine. We meet the bustling family who have summered for generations at Owl’s Head. Louisa has decided to spend the whole summer in Maine with her three kids and her aging parents. Louisa’s husband is working horrendous hours trying to get his podcast company up and running, so he’s grateful for the summer alone in the city.
Louisa is a history professor and she’s really behind on her book. She misjudges how much time she will have to devote to writing over the summer. Her kids all need time and attention, and her father has Alzheimer’s. She’s also miffed that her husband hasn’t been able to even get away for a weekend.
A fabulous addition to the book is the perspective of the children � they are adorable with first love thrown in for the oldest child Matty. The hilarious letters that they write to their father are an amazing way to advance the story and give us insight into what the kids are thinking.
We also get to meet Kristie as she arrives in Maine for the summer. She’s recently lost her mother and she’s got a connection to the family living at Owls Head. We see the Maine town from the perspective of caring for the families and tourists that come for the summer.
As family secrets spill out as the summer progresses, the soul searching on the part of Louisa and Kristie really start. There are family summer traditions to enjoy and savor as both families grapple with thoughts of money and happiness. I also enjoyed the mother/daughter dynamic with Louisa and her mother.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one!
Be sure to read Jayme's review, this one made for a great buddy read.
Thank you to Book Club Girl Early Reads/William Morrow for the chance to read and review this one.
I love books with a summer setting in Maine. We meet the bustling family who have summered for generations at Owl’s Head. Louisa has decided to spend the whole summer in Maine with her three kids and her aging parents. Louisa’s husband is working horrendous hours trying to get his podcast company up and running, so he’s grateful for the summer alone in the city.
Louisa is a history professor and she’s really behind on her book. She misjudges how much time she will have to devote to writing over the summer. Her kids all need time and attention, and her father has Alzheimer’s. She’s also miffed that her husband hasn’t been able to even get away for a weekend.
A fabulous addition to the book is the perspective of the children � they are adorable with first love thrown in for the oldest child Matty. The hilarious letters that they write to their father are an amazing way to advance the story and give us insight into what the kids are thinking.
We also get to meet Kristie as she arrives in Maine for the summer. She’s recently lost her mother and she’s got a connection to the family living at Owls Head. We see the Maine town from the perspective of caring for the families and tourists that come for the summer.
As family secrets spill out as the summer progresses, the soul searching on the part of Louisa and Kristie really start. There are family summer traditions to enjoy and savor as both families grapple with thoughts of money and happiness. I also enjoyed the mother/daughter dynamic with Louisa and her mother.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one!
Be sure to read Jayme's review, this one made for a great buddy read.
Thank you to Book Club Girl Early Reads/William Morrow for the chance to read and review this one.
May 31, 2022
Vacationland is a great story to kick off summer reading. Louisa comes to her parents� house in Maine for the summer with her 3 young kids, an overdue book deadline, and resentment of her husband who stayed behind in NYC due to work. Her father has Alzheimer’s and Louisa’s mother is trying to cope with this new phase of their life. Kristie arrives in Maine with less than $1000, fresh grief from her mom’s death, and in search of some long-desired answers.
The story spans the course of one summer and alternates POVs between Louisa, her family members, and Kristie. Secrets are revealed, family drama ensues, and both women take time to reflect on their much different lives. I felt for both Louisa and Kristie at times, and while I found some elements of the plot predictable, I still thought Vacationland was a really enjoyable read, especially for this time of year!
Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow Books for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story spans the course of one summer and alternates POVs between Louisa, her family members, and Kristie. Secrets are revealed, family drama ensues, and both women take time to reflect on their much different lives. I felt for both Louisa and Kristie at times, and while I found some elements of the plot predictable, I still thought Vacationland was a really enjoyable read, especially for this time of year!
Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow Books for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 1, 2022
Anytime I find a beach read about my home state aka "Vacationland" - especially one that mentions my "tourist-bogged" little town 😂, it is a must-read for me! I must say that the references to shops, restaurants, ocean, etc., were spot on; and even though the plot veered slightly into the lane of predictable near the end, I still found this to be a delightful beginning-of-summer read!
NYU history professor, Louisa, has come to her parents� summer house in Maine with her three kids near the end of her sabbatical, assuming she will use the summer to finish her barely-written book. Her husband has stayed behind in Brooklyn to get his podcast company off the ground. Louisa is hoping that the Maine summer is just what she needs to get her creative juices flowing and tame her teeming resentment over her current life circumstances. All is not well in Maine though, as Louisa’s father, Martin, a retired judge and pillar of the community, is suffering from Alzheimer’s. Louisa’s mother seems to be in denial, and one of Louisa’s children finds a letter referring to a family deep, dark secret. Enter Kristie, who rode a Greyhound bus from Pennsylvania with a little money, and a whole lot of baggage. She has a past she’s trying to outrun, and a mystery she’s trying to figure out. As the summer comes to a close, secrets are unearthed, betrayals come to light, and both Louisa and Kristie find themselves asking what they are owed in life, and what they owe others.
I thought Louisa's three kids were the highlight of the book - especially 10-year-old Abigail, whose letters to her father kept me laughing! I really enjoyed how Moore relayed the bulk of the plot through first-person narratives, not only from Louisa and Kristie; but also from the children, Martin, and Pauline, the family's long-time housekeeper. The setting made me remember why I still love mid-coast Maine (despite the awful, brutal winters and stupidly high property taxes), and I especially love Moore's shout out to local store, Reny's, a perennial favorite for both locals and tourists! Did I think perhaps things were tied up a little too neatly at the end? Yes, but I think that's generally the schtick for summer beach reads, so I won't complain about it too much.
Overall, a touching family saga about love, mistakes, forgiveness, and a good reminder as well that often times the gap between the have and have nots is really not that vast. 4 stars.
NYU history professor, Louisa, has come to her parents� summer house in Maine with her three kids near the end of her sabbatical, assuming she will use the summer to finish her barely-written book. Her husband has stayed behind in Brooklyn to get his podcast company off the ground. Louisa is hoping that the Maine summer is just what she needs to get her creative juices flowing and tame her teeming resentment over her current life circumstances. All is not well in Maine though, as Louisa’s father, Martin, a retired judge and pillar of the community, is suffering from Alzheimer’s. Louisa’s mother seems to be in denial, and one of Louisa’s children finds a letter referring to a family deep, dark secret. Enter Kristie, who rode a Greyhound bus from Pennsylvania with a little money, and a whole lot of baggage. She has a past she’s trying to outrun, and a mystery she’s trying to figure out. As the summer comes to a close, secrets are unearthed, betrayals come to light, and both Louisa and Kristie find themselves asking what they are owed in life, and what they owe others.
I thought Louisa's three kids were the highlight of the book - especially 10-year-old Abigail, whose letters to her father kept me laughing! I really enjoyed how Moore relayed the bulk of the plot through first-person narratives, not only from Louisa and Kristie; but also from the children, Martin, and Pauline, the family's long-time housekeeper. The setting made me remember why I still love mid-coast Maine (despite the awful, brutal winters and stupidly high property taxes), and I especially love Moore's shout out to local store, Reny's, a perennial favorite for both locals and tourists! Did I think perhaps things were tied up a little too neatly at the end? Yes, but I think that's generally the schtick for summer beach reads, so I won't complain about it too much.
Overall, a touching family saga about love, mistakes, forgiveness, and a good reminder as well that often times the gap between the have and have nots is really not that vast. 4 stars.
July 6, 2022
What a perfect book to start the summer with! Vacationland by Meg Mitchell Moore was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by Meg Mitchell Moore. I will definitely find time to read her previous books based on my experience of reading Vacationland. For years I have wanted to vacation in Maine. The vivid descriptions of the beautiful older homes, inviting ocean, quaint towns and delicious seafood made me feel as if I was there the whole time I was reading this engrossing novel. Meg Mitchell Moore’s character development was perfect. The characters in Vacationland were strong, vivid, likable and complex. It was fast paced and drew me in from the very start. I was sad when I actually finished this book. It was one of those books that you wish would go on and on. I listened to the audiobook that was performed very well by Stacey Glemboski. She really brought the story to life and was able to make distinctions between the characters.
Vacationland took place in Rockland, Maine in a little town that was close to the ocean called Owl’s Head. Two very different women headed there for two very opposing reasons. Kristy Turner had just lost her mother to cancer. Her mother had harbored a secret from Kristy her entire life. Upon her mother’s death, Kristy ‘s mother wrote her letter that revealed the secret her mother had kept from Kristy her entire life. At twenty-nine years old, Kristy boarded a Greyhound bus determined to explore this new acquired knowledge. Kristy was not sure what to expect but knew she had to try and get to the bottom of the secret her mother had kept from her.
Luisa Fitzgerald grew up going to Owl’s Head. Her family owned a home right on the water called Ship’s View. Luisa had lots of fond memories from her time she spent at the house over the years. She was now a mother of three children aged twelve, ten and seven. Luisa was a professor at New York University. She had taken a sabbatical to write and publish a new book. Life kept getting in the way, though. Luisa kept procrastinating, and soon discovered that she was not nearly as far along as she hoped she would be with her book. She and her husband came to an agreement. Luisa would take all three children and go to Maine for the entire summer to visit her parents. Luisa would take advantage of her mother’s help and concentrate on finishing her book. Since her husband was trying to get his podcast business up and running which required lots of hours working nonstop he was happy to acquiesce. Beside working on her book, Luisa was anxious to spend time with her father, Martin, who had recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Her father was a retired judge. During his distinguished career, he was known for his brilliant mind and sound decisions. The summer would give Luisa time to reflect on her own marriage and come to grips with the new reality her parents were confronted with.
Over the course of the summer, secrets would be revealed. Both Kristy and Luisa would come to feel that they had both been betrayed. I loved the innocence and humor of Luisa’s children, especially the letters her ten year old daughter wrote to her father explaining why his presence was needed. Vacationland was both heartfelt and heartbreaking. The ending was completely satisfying but I was sad when it ended. Vacationland explored the themes of family, siblings, first love, mother/daughter relationships, secrets, mistakes and forgiveness. I loved this book and can’t wait to see what Meg Mitchell Moore writes next. I highly recommend this book.
Vacationland took place in Rockland, Maine in a little town that was close to the ocean called Owl’s Head. Two very different women headed there for two very opposing reasons. Kristy Turner had just lost her mother to cancer. Her mother had harbored a secret from Kristy her entire life. Upon her mother’s death, Kristy ‘s mother wrote her letter that revealed the secret her mother had kept from Kristy her entire life. At twenty-nine years old, Kristy boarded a Greyhound bus determined to explore this new acquired knowledge. Kristy was not sure what to expect but knew she had to try and get to the bottom of the secret her mother had kept from her.
Luisa Fitzgerald grew up going to Owl’s Head. Her family owned a home right on the water called Ship’s View. Luisa had lots of fond memories from her time she spent at the house over the years. She was now a mother of three children aged twelve, ten and seven. Luisa was a professor at New York University. She had taken a sabbatical to write and publish a new book. Life kept getting in the way, though. Luisa kept procrastinating, and soon discovered that she was not nearly as far along as she hoped she would be with her book. She and her husband came to an agreement. Luisa would take all three children and go to Maine for the entire summer to visit her parents. Luisa would take advantage of her mother’s help and concentrate on finishing her book. Since her husband was trying to get his podcast business up and running which required lots of hours working nonstop he was happy to acquiesce. Beside working on her book, Luisa was anxious to spend time with her father, Martin, who had recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Her father was a retired judge. During his distinguished career, he was known for his brilliant mind and sound decisions. The summer would give Luisa time to reflect on her own marriage and come to grips with the new reality her parents were confronted with.
Over the course of the summer, secrets would be revealed. Both Kristy and Luisa would come to feel that they had both been betrayed. I loved the innocence and humor of Luisa’s children, especially the letters her ten year old daughter wrote to her father explaining why his presence was needed. Vacationland was both heartfelt and heartbreaking. The ending was completely satisfying but I was sad when it ended. Vacationland explored the themes of family, siblings, first love, mother/daughter relationships, secrets, mistakes and forgiveness. I loved this book and can’t wait to see what Meg Mitchell Moore writes next. I highly recommend this book.
June 20, 2022
Audiobook�.read by Stacey
Glemboski
�..12 hours and 37 minutes
Fast paced �.
ԳٱٲԾԲ�.
Woman’s fiction �.
Great kids:
�.wet, fighting, laughing, hot dogs, pizza,
…Mattie, Abigail, Claire
Family drama �.
Messy drama �. secrets, betrayals,
Summer setting in Maine �.
…Penobscot Bay �. Rockland, Maine
Pancakes �..
Long run days �.
Restaurants �.
LOVE �.
Texting �.
Kissing �.(right? or wrong): pre-teen love�.
“Women, what’s the point? It all seems so difficult�.
Clue; Connect Four, and other board games �
Sand, water�.
Playing in the sprinklers�
House rules �.
The book �. Sabbatical/ book writing �.
Podcast startup challenges�
Local green beans�
Clam chowder� lobster �. Cream pies �
Spicy mayonnaise �.
Pregnancy �.
Sneakers, shorts, tank tops,
A Golden retriever �.”Ottis�
“I’m sorry I yelled at you, I’m just tired”�
Bridge to Terabithia summer reading �.for young Abigail
Alzheimer’s for Grandpa�
Blueberry preserves �.
“Let’s cross that bridge when we come to it”�.
“World’s best grandma”�.
“There is no such thing as boy haircuts and girl haircuts. There are just haircuts�.
A very determined little girl: Claire.
A local detective friend: Mark
A missing child �. (we were not worried)�
Old ten speed bike �.
Cross-stitching
The nicest guy: Danny
Happy Hour: ‘whenever� �
The lighthouse,
Unwavering walls that have ears �
Money things feel wobbly �.
Lots of “I’m sorry’s”�.
Spouse trust investment�.
Oysters, wine, beers,
whiskey �
freckles & braces �
Low tides �.
Lost in thoughts �.
Pajamas �.
Black night flowers �.
Intimacy moments �.
Wholesome summer storytelling jubilations�.
For whatever silly reason I enjoyed the ‘semi-mindless� familiar, predictable, type storytelling.
4 stars
Glemboski
�..12 hours and 37 minutes
Fast paced �.
ԳٱٲԾԲ�.
Woman’s fiction �.
Great kids:
�.wet, fighting, laughing, hot dogs, pizza,
…Mattie, Abigail, Claire
Family drama �.
Messy drama �. secrets, betrayals,
Summer setting in Maine �.
…Penobscot Bay �. Rockland, Maine
Pancakes �..
Long run days �.
Restaurants �.
LOVE �.
Texting �.
Kissing �.(right? or wrong): pre-teen love�.
“Women, what’s the point? It all seems so difficult�.
Clue; Connect Four, and other board games �
Sand, water�.
Playing in the sprinklers�
House rules �.
The book �. Sabbatical/ book writing �.
Podcast startup challenges�
Local green beans�
Clam chowder� lobster �. Cream pies �
Spicy mayonnaise �.
Pregnancy �.
Sneakers, shorts, tank tops,
A Golden retriever �.”Ottis�
“I’m sorry I yelled at you, I’m just tired”�
Bridge to Terabithia summer reading �.for young Abigail
Alzheimer’s for Grandpa�
Blueberry preserves �.
“Let’s cross that bridge when we come to it”�.
“World’s best grandma”�.
“There is no such thing as boy haircuts and girl haircuts. There are just haircuts�.
A very determined little girl: Claire.
A local detective friend: Mark
A missing child �. (we were not worried)�
Old ten speed bike �.
Cross-stitching
The nicest guy: Danny
Happy Hour: ‘whenever� �
The lighthouse,
Unwavering walls that have ears �
Money things feel wobbly �.
Lots of “I’m sorry’s”�.
Spouse trust investment�.
Oysters, wine, beers,
whiskey �
freckles & braces �
Low tides �.
Lost in thoughts �.
Pajamas �.
Black night flowers �.
Intimacy moments �.
Wholesome summer storytelling jubilations�.
For whatever silly reason I enjoyed the ‘semi-mindless� familiar, predictable, type storytelling.
4 stars
April 6, 2022
This book was ok... I found the relationship between Louisa and her husband grating and infuriating. For an "equal relationship" Louisa gave up more than her fair share to support her husband and take care of her children (gave up tenure track professor position, spent a large chunk of her sabbatical wrangling her children - alone - while her husband was allowed to focus on his work, limited her search for professor positions to a geographical area that suited her husband's work). This was not set in the 1950s, but is supposedly contemporary. When her husband came for one weekend all summer and got to be "Dad of the year" and save the day - helping each family member in just the right way - it diminished the work Louisa had been doing alone all summer. I have ranted about this aspect about the book to more than one person, because I can't believe anyone would look at that relationship and think it was a satisfying story about family and forgiveness. This is a story about women's sacrifice as mothers and the unequal role women have in relationships.
September 8, 2023
3.5 stars, rounded up
I listened to this as an audiobook and it transported me into the story and kept me interested throughout. Although it is told through multiple points of view, there is only one narrator (Stacey Glemboski) but she does a superb job distinguishing between the inflections of the narrators. It's easy to know who is narrating which made the book flow well.
This is a family saga set on the Maine coast over the course of a summer.
Louisa, who is married to Stephen, lives in New York. She's a history professor on sabbatical and is supposed to be writing a book, but time has slipped away and she's stressed about the deadline. Stephen has a podcast company that is gearing up to potentially be sold for big bucks. He stays in Brooklyn while Louisa takes their three young children Matty (12 almost 13), Abigail (10), and Claire (7) to spend the summer at Ship's View, her family summer home. Also there are her parents, and her father, a retired Maine supreme court judge, is suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
Kristie, who is in her late 20s, arrives in Maine with not much money, but she has some some waitressing skills. She is drawn to Ship's View, it holds secrets that she wants brought into the open.
I adored my time spent among these people. Louisa and Kristie are both alternating POV characters, as are the children. This novel is a sweeping, immersive tale that sweeps the reader up and examines many aspects of what it means to be in a family, as well as at different sides of nature vs nurture and some very astute thoughts about wealth, privilege, and poverty.
The kids in this story are endearing, quite precocious, and inject some serious humor into the story. Are they wiser than most kids of their ages? For sure, but I will forgive the author because they were just so darn cute.
I'm glad I spent time with this family and will definitely be looking for additional books by this author.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
I listened to this as an audiobook and it transported me into the story and kept me interested throughout. Although it is told through multiple points of view, there is only one narrator (Stacey Glemboski) but she does a superb job distinguishing between the inflections of the narrators. It's easy to know who is narrating which made the book flow well.
This is a family saga set on the Maine coast over the course of a summer.
Louisa, who is married to Stephen, lives in New York. She's a history professor on sabbatical and is supposed to be writing a book, but time has slipped away and she's stressed about the deadline. Stephen has a podcast company that is gearing up to potentially be sold for big bucks. He stays in Brooklyn while Louisa takes their three young children Matty (12 almost 13), Abigail (10), and Claire (7) to spend the summer at Ship's View, her family summer home. Also there are her parents, and her father, a retired Maine supreme court judge, is suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
Kristie, who is in her late 20s, arrives in Maine with not much money, but she has some some waitressing skills. She is drawn to Ship's View, it holds secrets that she wants brought into the open.
I adored my time spent among these people. Louisa and Kristie are both alternating POV characters, as are the children. This novel is a sweeping, immersive tale that sweeps the reader up and examines many aspects of what it means to be in a family, as well as at different sides of nature vs nurture and some very astute thoughts about wealth, privilege, and poverty.
The kids in this story are endearing, quite precocious, and inject some serious humor into the story. Are they wiser than most kids of their ages? For sure, but I will forgive the author because they were just so darn cute.
I'm glad I spent time with this family and will definitely be looking for additional books by this author.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
June 24, 2022
Solid family drama! I loved the changing POV chapters, especially the children chapters! I loved how precocious little Claire and Abigail were. And sweet Matty. While this wasn’t a mega juicy family drama, it definitely had family secrets and I grew very attached to each storyline! I think this should be one to add to your Summer TBR!
May 12, 2022
I just self elected myself to be the official spokesperson for Vacationland.
If I only get to recommend one book for the rest of my life it will be this book. Wow! Wow! Wow! It is one of the hardest things in the world to leave me speechless (I have a gift to gab) BUT I am officially left speechless. This book is absolutely amazing.
I am going to give it my very best to put my feelings into words....
This is an emotional character driven novel that will leave you hanging on each and every word. The family dynamic was raw and genuine. I felt as though I knew each and every one of them personally.
When you read as many books as I do its hard to remember specifics on each one of them but I can tell you without a doubt this book changed me and I will forever remember every word I read and the feelings I had when I concluded. I feel as though I got a lesson in forgiveness while reading and its pretty amazing when you can take something away with you after concluding a book .
Please, please, please, If you value my awesome little reviews, listen to me when I tell you, you need to own this book.
If I only get to recommend one book for the rest of my life it will be this book. Wow! Wow! Wow! It is one of the hardest things in the world to leave me speechless (I have a gift to gab) BUT I am officially left speechless. This book is absolutely amazing.
I am going to give it my very best to put my feelings into words....
This is an emotional character driven novel that will leave you hanging on each and every word. The family dynamic was raw and genuine. I felt as though I knew each and every one of them personally.
When you read as many books as I do its hard to remember specifics on each one of them but I can tell you without a doubt this book changed me and I will forever remember every word I read and the feelings I had when I concluded. I feel as though I got a lesson in forgiveness while reading and its pretty amazing when you can take something away with you after concluding a book .
Please, please, please, If you value my awesome little reviews, listen to me when I tell you, you need to own this book.
August 11, 2022
Every summer the McLean family spends two weeks in Louisa’s family’s home on the coast of Maine, in a little hamlet called Owls Head.
I picked up a handful of books this summer with real “beachy� covers expecting to . . .
Strangely, several ended up being family dramas rather than the trash I was expecting. Vacationland was one of them. The story here is just as the quote above states. Louisa has come to vacation at her family home, but this time it’s for the summer rather than just a couple of weeks. She’s brought along her children Matty, Abigail and Claire, while her husband has remained in the city in order to focus on making his start-up a success. Her father is battling Alzheimer’s � her mother is at a crossroads regarding his care � and a stranger named Kristie is making her way toward the familial home as well.
If you’ve ever watched any sort of Lifetime/Hallmark movie ever you’ll know where the “stranger� aspect is heading immediately. Luckily I love family stories and most things Lifetime/Hallmark so I wasn’t too upset with this one. In an attempt not to spoil things I’ll leave it as I thought Louisa, Annie and Kristie were all pretty much turds when it came to their viewpoint on the situation, but surprisingly little Claire brought much delight to my children hating heart.
3.5 Stars
I picked up a handful of books this summer with real “beachy� covers expecting to . . .
Strangely, several ended up being family dramas rather than the trash I was expecting. Vacationland was one of them. The story here is just as the quote above states. Louisa has come to vacation at her family home, but this time it’s for the summer rather than just a couple of weeks. She’s brought along her children Matty, Abigail and Claire, while her husband has remained in the city in order to focus on making his start-up a success. Her father is battling Alzheimer’s � her mother is at a crossroads regarding his care � and a stranger named Kristie is making her way toward the familial home as well.
If you’ve ever watched any sort of Lifetime/Hallmark movie ever you’ll know where the “stranger� aspect is heading immediately. Luckily I love family stories and most things Lifetime/Hallmark so I wasn’t too upset with this one. In an attempt not to spoil things I’ll leave it as I thought Louisa, Annie and Kristie were all pretty much turds when it came to their viewpoint on the situation, but surprisingly little Claire brought much delight to my children hating heart.
3.5 Stars
June 25, 2022
Loved it! 4.5?
June 17, 2022
A special thank you to @williammorrowbooks for a #gifted copy of #Vacationland.
The cover and title of 𝐕𝐀𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃 by Meg Mitchell Moore might lead you to believe it’s a light breezy beach read without a lot of substance, but you’d be very wrong! As the summer begins, Louisa and her three children arrive at her parents' summer house in Maine. Louisa loves this home. She’s come here her entire life. It’s her safe haven. This summer, she's looking for a little space because life with her husband has been strained and she has a book due at summer's end. Her time in Maine is especially important this year as her once powerful father is slowly succumbing to Alzheimer’s. Add to the mix, Kristie, a young woman, who unbeknownst to Louisa, has newly arrived in town in search of answers to questions she only knew to ask after her mother’s recent passing.�
�
I really liked the way the story moved with chapters of alternating perspectives. Most of those were from Louisa or Kristie, but occasionally one of Louisa’s children or another character would be given a chapter to fully flush out the story. For me 𝘝𝘢𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 was a wonderful story of family and the power of secrets, those kept and those ultimately revealed. Though the subject matter was serious, the writing of it was so well done that it was a book I flew through AND one I was easily able to read amidst a family vacation (🌲☔️🏔) of my own. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️�
�
The cover and title of 𝐕𝐀𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃 by Meg Mitchell Moore might lead you to believe it’s a light breezy beach read without a lot of substance, but you’d be very wrong! As the summer begins, Louisa and her three children arrive at her parents' summer house in Maine. Louisa loves this home. She’s come here her entire life. It’s her safe haven. This summer, she's looking for a little space because life with her husband has been strained and she has a book due at summer's end. Her time in Maine is especially important this year as her once powerful father is slowly succumbing to Alzheimer’s. Add to the mix, Kristie, a young woman, who unbeknownst to Louisa, has newly arrived in town in search of answers to questions she only knew to ask after her mother’s recent passing.�
�
I really liked the way the story moved with chapters of alternating perspectives. Most of those were from Louisa or Kristie, but occasionally one of Louisa’s children or another character would be given a chapter to fully flush out the story. For me 𝘝𝘢𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 was a wonderful story of family and the power of secrets, those kept and those ultimately revealed. Though the subject matter was serious, the writing of it was so well done that it was a book I flew through AND one I was easily able to read amidst a family vacation (🌲☔️🏔) of my own. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️�
�
July 27, 2022
I saw the fun title and cover, and instantly thought VACATIONLAND would be the perfect Summer read for the middle of Summer.
The book is centered around Louisa, a New York University History professor who has come to her parents� home in Maine, along with her three kids, trying to get to her roots and spend time with her family and sort out feelings of resentment towards her husband. Her Father, a retired judge with a successful career, is now battling the effects of Alzheimer’s and it’s here that the secrets begin to unravel.
I enjoyed the different POVs told, and was excited to learn what secret each family member had to share, but somewhere along the way the pacing for me started to feel lengthy, and I found myself somewhat disinterested in the story.
*many thanks to William Morrow for the gifted copy for review
The book is centered around Louisa, a New York University History professor who has come to her parents� home in Maine, along with her three kids, trying to get to her roots and spend time with her family and sort out feelings of resentment towards her husband. Her Father, a retired judge with a successful career, is now battling the effects of Alzheimer’s and it’s here that the secrets begin to unravel.
I enjoyed the different POVs told, and was excited to learn what secret each family member had to share, but somewhere along the way the pacing for me started to feel lengthy, and I found myself somewhat disinterested in the story.
*many thanks to William Morrow for the gifted copy for review
July 8, 2023
2.5 rounded down
rtc this week
rtc this week
May 29, 2023
Louisa and her 3 children are spending the summer at her parent's cottage along the coast of Maine. Louisa wants her children to experience the wonderful memories she has of her summers spent at the cottage. With plans to finish her book, work through some difficulties in her marriage, and relax, Louisa has high hopes for their time together. But as the weeks quickly pass, life is not going as planned.
Kristie arrives in Maine searching for answers about her family following the death of her mother. Things aren't going as she expected, but she is discovering a chance for happiness and stability.
As Louisa's and Kristie's lives collide, they each find new possibilities for their futures.
A wonderful family drama filled with secrets, the power of family, love, and the grace of forgiveness. A great beach read.
Kristie arrives in Maine searching for answers about her family following the death of her mother. Things aren't going as she expected, but she is discovering a chance for happiness and stability.
As Louisa's and Kristie's lives collide, they each find new possibilities for their futures.
A wonderful family drama filled with secrets, the power of family, love, and the grace of forgiveness. A great beach read.
September 14, 2022
I read this for book club.
Hard to put into words what an underwhelming experience this book was. All narrative tension was summarily removed by the hands of this cruel cruel author, leaving the reader wondering why this book was written in the first place. All conflicts are quickly resolved and no character seems to possess the ability to stay mad, despite having ample reason to be.
Hard to put into words what an underwhelming experience this book was. All narrative tension was summarily removed by the hands of this cruel cruel author, leaving the reader wondering why this book was written in the first place. All conflicts are quickly resolved and no character seems to possess the ability to stay mad, despite having ample reason to be.
July 4, 2022
As much as I wanted to love this one, it fell flat for me. I lost interest about 50% of the way through. I wanted to know where it was headed as the plot was dragging too much for my taste.
Fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid or Elin Hilderbrand will enjoy Meg's writing style.
Fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid or Elin Hilderbrand will enjoy Meg's writing style.
August 30, 2022
This was an enjoyable family saga, full of secrets and drama. I love books like this, and although it can be a tad predictable, I was never bored, and loved the summer feeling it gave me.
Louisa vacations each summer at her family home on the coast of Maine with her own family. This year, she's spending the whole summer there with her kids while her husband stays behind to start up his business. Kristie is also on her way to Maine, after the death of her mother, searching for answers from her past. One of Louisa's children finds a letter about something that Louisa doesn't want to believe. This story was pretty realistic and I thought it was a great summer read. You'll definitely want to add this to your list.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own!
Louisa vacations each summer at her family home on the coast of Maine with her own family. This year, she's spending the whole summer there with her kids while her husband stays behind to start up his business. Kristie is also on her way to Maine, after the death of her mother, searching for answers from her past. One of Louisa's children finds a letter about something that Louisa doesn't want to believe. This story was pretty realistic and I thought it was a great summer read. You'll definitely want to add this to your list.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own!
July 7, 2022
(free review copy) I adore MMM’s family stories and this newest release is one of my favorites. Perfect Maine setting and family (realistic) drama. My only complaint is that the cover doesn’t depict the type of Maine shoreline in the story.
May 13, 2022
Louisa has packed up her kids and left New York for summer. She goes to her parent’s house in Maine to get a break from her stressful life. But with Louisa’s father suffering from Alzheimer’s and her mother struggling to deal with it, Louisa finds it to be a very difficult situation. It gets worse when one of her children finds an old letter that shocks Louisa to the core.
VACATIONLAND fits the beach read category to a tee! I suspect that with summer vacations coming soon, Meg Mitchell Moore will have a big hit with this novel. I found it to be very entertaining, well written, and I really think it will appeal to a large audience. This was my first book by this author and I will be looking into her back catalog next.
Many thanks to William Morrow for my review copy.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
VACATIONLAND fits the beach read category to a tee! I suspect that with summer vacations coming soon, Meg Mitchell Moore will have a big hit with this novel. I found it to be very entertaining, well written, and I really think it will appeal to a large audience. This was my first book by this author and I will be looking into her back catalog next.
Many thanks to William Morrow for my review copy.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
January 4, 2023
This book was heavy but really beautifully written. Don’t be fooled by the cover, it’s not a beachy read. I still really enjoyed the melancholy way it made me feel and would try something else by this author. Major trigger warning for dementia.
July 4, 2022
Louisa has gone to Owl’s Head, Maine to spend the summer at her parent's beach house. She has traveled with her three children: 12 year old Matty, 10 year old Abigail and 7 year old Claire. Her husband, Stephen is in Brooklyn, trying to fundraise enough to make a go of his Podcast. Louisa is ending her year long sabbatical, where she is supposed to be finishing her book, but is not even close. Hopefully this summer escape will inspire her. Meanwhile, her father, a well know Maine Supreme Court judge is suffering from Alzheimer’s, and he has deteriorated more than she had realized. Her mother is trying to figure out how to pay for his care as well as take care of the expensive repairs on Ships View, their aging home. There is a parallel story involving, Kristie, a young woman who's mother has recently died. She has arrived in town from Altoona, with only $761.00 and thousands in medical bills. Her mother has given her an envelop just before she died, that had Kristie showing up on Owl's Head. She is dodging the bill collectors and hopes this move will offer her a fresh start. Over the summer, these characters will collide and their lives will change forever.
This was a great summer read, a drama, a family story, a new beginning and a story of secrets. As the story began, I didn't like Louisa very much. She seemed very self absorbed and a bit selfish. That changed as I got to know her, her past, her struggles and her family. Her kids are wonderful characters, so she must have done a great job. They stole the show with their letters, questions and observations. Kristie was a mess when she arrived. Another person with secrets, but also someone whose problems were not of her doing and put her into tough situations. I don't want to give anything else away, but I will say, I enjoyed my time with this group of characters. It was a realistic story with real world problems people can relate to. It was a well written and plotted story that had me listening throughout the day when I should have been doing other things. The audiobook is wonderfully narrated by Stacey Glemboski. Her warm voice has great appeal as she gives each of the characters their own voice with expression and tone. I enjoyed her performance and found listening to this book an enjoyable experience. I recommend this summer read to those who enjoy a good family drama story. If you enjoy audiobooks, then I definitely recommend you listen to this one.
This was a great summer read, a drama, a family story, a new beginning and a story of secrets. As the story began, I didn't like Louisa very much. She seemed very self absorbed and a bit selfish. That changed as I got to know her, her past, her struggles and her family. Her kids are wonderful characters, so she must have done a great job. They stole the show with their letters, questions and observations. Kristie was a mess when she arrived. Another person with secrets, but also someone whose problems were not of her doing and put her into tough situations. I don't want to give anything else away, but I will say, I enjoyed my time with this group of characters. It was a realistic story with real world problems people can relate to. It was a well written and plotted story that had me listening throughout the day when I should have been doing other things. The audiobook is wonderfully narrated by Stacey Glemboski. Her warm voice has great appeal as she gives each of the characters their own voice with expression and tone. I enjoyed her performance and found listening to this book an enjoyable experience. I recommend this summer read to those who enjoy a good family drama story. If you enjoy audiobooks, then I definitely recommend you listen to this one.
December 13, 2021
Sometimes a book is so lovely, it not only entertains but totally engages the reader with the characters. The setting is beautiful Maine in the old family home, where their daughter Louisa has come up for the summer with her three children, while her husband remains in Brooklyn. At the same time, a young woman gets from a bus from Pennsylvania with her own agenda in coming to Maine.
The book tells the story of a remarkably decent group of humans. They are fallible but, at the core, uniquely honest and forgiving. The family must deal with long hidden secrets swirling around the strange visitor. The children are just delightfully described, going through their own summer issues.
I fell in love with every character, young and old. Since I had a husband with Alzheimer’s, I was especially touched by the family adapting to growing fog surrounding the grandfather. I was so charmed by the many kinds of love, young, old, middle aged. This book is simply filled with love, and I felt uplifted by the story and the author’s ability to bring to a satisfying closure. I highly recommend this novel to reading groups. There are many questions that will encourage discussions. I think the issue of FORGIVENESS will provoke a great deal of thought.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in return for an honest review.
The book tells the story of a remarkably decent group of humans. They are fallible but, at the core, uniquely honest and forgiving. The family must deal with long hidden secrets swirling around the strange visitor. The children are just delightfully described, going through their own summer issues.
I fell in love with every character, young and old. Since I had a husband with Alzheimer’s, I was especially touched by the family adapting to growing fog surrounding the grandfather. I was so charmed by the many kinds of love, young, old, middle aged. This book is simply filled with love, and I felt uplifted by the story and the author’s ability to bring to a satisfying closure. I highly recommend this novel to reading groups. There are many questions that will encourage discussions. I think the issue of FORGIVENESS will provoke a great deal of thought.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in return for an honest review.
June 3, 2022
Vacationland by Meg Mitchell Moore ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Louisa is spending the summer in Maine with her family, minus her husband who is staying home. Kristie arrives in the same town, running from her past.
I’ve seen so many raving reviews for this one so I’m definitely in the minority. I had a hard time staying invested in this story. There were a lot of characters whose story didn’t intersect for a while. It almost read as separate stories in the beginning. I will say that the drama and family interactions felt very true to life.
Vacationland comes out 6/14.
Louisa is spending the summer in Maine with her family, minus her husband who is staying home. Kristie arrives in the same town, running from her past.
I’ve seen so many raving reviews for this one so I’m definitely in the minority. I had a hard time staying invested in this story. There were a lot of characters whose story didn’t intersect for a while. It almost read as separate stories in the beginning. I will say that the drama and family interactions felt very true to life.
Vacationland comes out 6/14.
August 25, 2022
3-3.5 stars
I was looking for a lighter beach read after the heaviness of The Measure, and while Vacationland dealt with some heavy topics, it fit that bill. Of course, I adored the Maine summer setting, and appreciated the strong sense of place. I do wish the cover would have depicted the Maine coast - this cover looks like it could be any beach, and there's no scene in the book where the characters are at a public beach (covers not matching the story is a huge pet peeve of mine lol). While I enjoyed the perspectives of Louisa and Kristie, I wasn't a huge fan of the POV from "The Children" and specifically of Matty, Louisa's 12-year-old son. I just didn't care about his crush on the neighbor and first kiss (and did there really have to be tongue?! 🤢). I wish there had been a perspective from Annie, the icy matriarch. Also, there were some bizarre phrases in the book: at one point Louisa said she'd rather pull out all of her eyelashes with a tweezer and eat them than do something (I can't remember exactly what)... really?! So gross and strange. Despite my qualms, there was some juicy family drama and scandal. This was a mostly entertaining beach read, but it's definitely not a favorite.
I was looking for a lighter beach read after the heaviness of The Measure, and while Vacationland dealt with some heavy topics, it fit that bill. Of course, I adored the Maine summer setting, and appreciated the strong sense of place. I do wish the cover would have depicted the Maine coast - this cover looks like it could be any beach, and there's no scene in the book where the characters are at a public beach (covers not matching the story is a huge pet peeve of mine lol). While I enjoyed the perspectives of Louisa and Kristie, I wasn't a huge fan of the POV from "The Children" and specifically of Matty, Louisa's 12-year-old son. I just didn't care about his crush on the neighbor and first kiss (and did there really have to be tongue?! 🤢). I wish there had been a perspective from Annie, the icy matriarch. Also, there were some bizarre phrases in the book: at one point Louisa said she'd rather pull out all of her eyelashes with a tweezer and eat them than do something (I can't remember exactly what)... really?! So gross and strange. Despite my qualms, there was some juicy family drama and scandal. This was a mostly entertaining beach read, but it's definitely not a favorite.
June 3, 2022
Vacationland by Meg Mitchell Moore is a highly recommended family drama.
Louisa McLean and her three children have arrived at her parents� summer home in Rockland, Maine. They plan to spend the summer there while Louisa's husband, Steven, stays in Brooklyn to work. Louisa, a history professor on a sabbatical from NYU, has to finish her barely started book while watching the three kids, but this is proving difficult. Martin, Louisa’s father and retired judge, is suffering from Alzheimer’s and Annie, her mother, is worried about her husband and their finances. The children, Mattie, 12, Abigail, 10, and Claire, 7, have their own issues they are dealing with.
At the same time Kristie Turner arrives in Rockland after her mother’s death. She is deeply in debt and is planning to find work but more importantly she wants to talk to Martin about a secret her mother shared with Kristie before her death.
The characters come to life in this family drama. They are all fully realized characters with a depth of emotion, secrets, flaws, and fears. Chapters alternate from the point-of-view of Kristie, Louisa, her family members, and the housekeeper. Also included in the narrative are wonderful letters from Abigail to her father. The highlight of Vacationland is the character development and the look into their lives and thoughts.
The writing is excellent and it captures the lives of these people perfectly. The plot is predictable, but the characters and atmosphere created will keep you reading. This is a perfect choice for summer reading. It explores complications, secrets, and hurt in a family, but tackles their various issues with understanding, love, and, ultimately a sense of acceptance. The ending is satisfying and will leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of HarperCollins.
Louisa McLean and her three children have arrived at her parents� summer home in Rockland, Maine. They plan to spend the summer there while Louisa's husband, Steven, stays in Brooklyn to work. Louisa, a history professor on a sabbatical from NYU, has to finish her barely started book while watching the three kids, but this is proving difficult. Martin, Louisa’s father and retired judge, is suffering from Alzheimer’s and Annie, her mother, is worried about her husband and their finances. The children, Mattie, 12, Abigail, 10, and Claire, 7, have their own issues they are dealing with.
At the same time Kristie Turner arrives in Rockland after her mother’s death. She is deeply in debt and is planning to find work but more importantly she wants to talk to Martin about a secret her mother shared with Kristie before her death.
The characters come to life in this family drama. They are all fully realized characters with a depth of emotion, secrets, flaws, and fears. Chapters alternate from the point-of-view of Kristie, Louisa, her family members, and the housekeeper. Also included in the narrative are wonderful letters from Abigail to her father. The highlight of Vacationland is the character development and the look into their lives and thoughts.
The writing is excellent and it captures the lives of these people perfectly. The plot is predictable, but the characters and atmosphere created will keep you reading. This is a perfect choice for summer reading. It explores complications, secrets, and hurt in a family, but tackles their various issues with understanding, love, and, ultimately a sense of acceptance. The ending is satisfying and will leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of HarperCollins.
August 24, 2022
Vacationland is an emotional look at family over the course of one summer. The characters are well-developed and interesting. I really enjoyed it.
A lot is going on in this character-driven book. There are complex relationships amongst family members with themes of infidelity, loss, and redefining yourself to name a few.
The author’s ability to provide depth to such a large cast of characters is quite remarkable. I feel as though I got to know each of them very well. I enjoyed the descriptions of the coastal Maine setting as well.
The book introduces us to two different storylines: Louisa’s family which has owned the Owl’s Head home for many years. Louisa and her children have arrived for the summer with Louisa prepared to write the book with an impending deadline. Her husband Steven is home working. In a separate storyline, Kristie is a young woman who has just lost her mother. All but broke, she left her Pennsylvania home to start a new life in Maine.
The way these two storylines intersect makes for an emotional read. While the story dragged a little at times for me, it was overall an entertaining book. I recommend it to those readers that enjoy family sagas.
I listened to the audiobook version of Vacationland which was performed by Stacey Glemboski. I enjoyed the tone and clarity in her voice which made for an easy to listen to experience. I have no hesitation in recommending the audiobook format.
A lot is going on in this character-driven book. There are complex relationships amongst family members with themes of infidelity, loss, and redefining yourself to name a few.
The author’s ability to provide depth to such a large cast of characters is quite remarkable. I feel as though I got to know each of them very well. I enjoyed the descriptions of the coastal Maine setting as well.
The book introduces us to two different storylines: Louisa’s family which has owned the Owl’s Head home for many years. Louisa and her children have arrived for the summer with Louisa prepared to write the book with an impending deadline. Her husband Steven is home working. In a separate storyline, Kristie is a young woman who has just lost her mother. All but broke, she left her Pennsylvania home to start a new life in Maine.
The way these two storylines intersect makes for an emotional read. While the story dragged a little at times for me, it was overall an entertaining book. I recommend it to those readers that enjoy family sagas.
I listened to the audiobook version of Vacationland which was performed by Stacey Glemboski. I enjoyed the tone and clarity in her voice which made for an easy to listen to experience. I have no hesitation in recommending the audiobook format.
December 6, 2022
Vacationland by Meg Mitchell Moore is definitely what I would call a beach read. It's not a bad book. I would call it a Hallmark movie or a Lifetime movie on paper because that the literal feel of the story in my opinion. It had alot of family drama going on, perhaps too much. I felt like all the different levels of family struggles were a bit much for one novel and didn't really make the book better. Any of the storylines in themselves would have been enough to carry the plot through at the same pace and to me it just felt over done. The characters are likeable and easy to get to know. The children were actually the best personalities in the book for me. The best elements of the story come from the beautiful setting of Maine in summer. I totally found myself there near the water, on the beach enjoying the smell of the ocean and the warm breezes. The author did a wonderful job describing the environs of the family home and it was easy to imagine the sights ,sounds and smells of a summer on the coast. More to the point, Vacationland is about relationships, and family bonding, acceptance, forgiveness and love. It's not my usual cup of tea but it's a pleasant, easy read. All stories dont need to be blockbusters to be decent reads. Sometimes a little Lifetime movie type drama is a great way to escape for a few hours and everyone needs that occasionally. I do plan to check out a couple more titles from this author in the future.
September 17, 2022
This really wasn’t at all the straightforward family drama I was expecting when I picked it up.
Pauline sets the timer on the oven and thinks about how happy it will make Billy, this pie� neither of them is getting any younger, and so why the hell not eat pie before supper if you’re lucky enough to have a working mouth, and a piece of pie to put into it?And that seems to be the theme of the whole book - grab what you see and take it because heck, you deserve it. I disliked Kristie from the start, an opportunist who used people to get what she wanted and was either too dim to recognize what she was doing or too stubborn to admit it to herself. The collection agency calls didn’t make any sense to me but then I don’t know how these situations work anyway. The McLeans were an interesting family (although I was mildly irritated by the entitled, procrastinating Louisa who didn’t seem to have to work at anything) and the kids were fun, and I’d have enjoyed reading about them all without the Kristie plot thrown in. I’d enjoyed the author’s previous books but this one seemed sugary and a bit empty.
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