The Summer of Good Intentions - by Wendy Francis (Paperback)

About the Book

"Three sisters and their families come together for their annual summer vacation on Cape Cod, where beloved traditions and long-held assumptions are jeopardized by the secrets each brings from home"--

Book Synopsis

Cape Cod summers are supposed to remain reassuringly the same, but everything falls apart when three sisters and their families come together for their annual summer vacation--and they are carrying more secrets than suitcases.

Maggie is the oldest. She feels responsible for managing the summer house and making sure everything is as it always has been. But she's hurt that her parents' recent divorce has destroyed the family's comfortable summer routines, and her own kids seem to be growing up at high speed. Is it too late to have another baby?

Jess is the middle sister. She loves her job but isn't as passionate about her marriage. She's not sure she can find the courage to tell Maggie what she's done--much less talk to her husband about it.

Virgie is the youngest, her dad's favorite. She's always been the career girl, but now there's a man in her life. Her television job on the west coast is beyond stressful, and it's taking its toll on her--emotionally and physically. She's counting on this vacation to erase the symptoms she's not talking about.

The Herington girls are together again, with their husbands and kids, for another summer in the family's old Cape Cod house. When their mother, Gloria, announces she's coming for an unscheduled visit--with her new boyfriend--no one is more surprised than their father, Arthur, who has not quite gotten over his divorce. Still, everyone manages to navigate the challenges of living grown-up lives in close quarters, until an accident reveals a new secret that brings everyone together in heartbreak...and then healing.

Poignant, compelling, and so real that you could shake the sand out of the pages, The Summer of Good Intentions is by a rising star who aims her fiction square at the heart of readers who love Elin Hilderbrand, Dorothea Benton Frank, and Mary Kay Andrews.

Review Quotes

"A compassionate and warm family drama filled to the brim with characters who feel like old friends."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"A fantastic family story, with the relationship among the three sisters particularly strong and relatable. They face a family crisis with their aging father and it is a heartrending novel."-- "Auburn Citizen"

"A lovely summer read. Wendy Francis deftly explores the bonds of sisterhood and the complexity of family relationships."--Wendy Wax, USA Today bestselling author

"An especially memorable, enjoyable read about family ties and the highs and lows of relationships between couples."-- "The Edge"

"An ideal summer read."-- "Booklist"

"Francis weaves a tale of love, loss and repair, offering comforting themes and lessons about avoiding the mistakes of our parents."-- "The Improper Bostonian"

"Heat Index: What do you get when you mix family, secrets and a mysterious accident? A messy and engrossing scorcher of a story that we couldn't walk away from even after the sun went down.

Temperature: 95°-- "Booktrib"

"I was immediately engrossed by this story of three adult sisters who share their own bonds, heartbreak and challenges. So much more than a beach read, this very real, poignant, and funny novel will make you look at your own family in fresh, new ways."--Lee Woodruff, author of Those We Love Most

"It has a pull to it...thanks to the author's skillful writing and realistic dialogue. Maybe this is what's meant by an 'addictive' summer read."-- "The Barnstable Patriot"

"The Summer of Good Intentions is a tender and vivid portrait of a family by the sea, of three unforgettable sisters and the tidal pull of their love and secrets. Wendy Francis is a wonderful writer. She made me feel the salt air."--Luanne Rice, author of The Lemon Orchard

"There is much to like in Wendy Francis's The Summer of Good Intentions. Love in all of its messiness is written with convincing thoughtfulness and insight, each flawed character beautifully and realistically portrayed. Feel the sand between your toes as you explore the special bonds of sisterhood and family in what promises to be one of the best books of summer."--Karen White, author of The Time Between

"Wendy Francis brings the seaside retreat vibrantly to life and the idyllic setting perfectly balances the characters' weightier issues. The characters are brilliantly developed. . . . A warm and inviting story with a close-knit family whose love is strengthened by crisis."-- "Book Reviews and More by Kathy"

"Wendy Francis has created both a family and a story I did not want to leave. These three sisters on a summer vacation display the strong ties that can both hurt and heal a family. Filled with the sweet briny air of Cape Cod, this extraordinary tale shows that, together, we can weather all the seasons of life."--Patti Callahan Henry, author of The Stories We Tell

"Wendy Francis's book thrilled me like a ride in a race car along the coast with the top down. It is everything a summer read should be."--Elin Hilderbrand, author of The Rumor

"You are headed to Cape Cod even if you don't leave your front porch. . . . Watch as the family drama unfolds with lots of laughter, heartache, and healing."-- "The Sun Chronicle"

About the Author

Wendy Francis is the author of five novels: Summertime Guests, Bad Behavior, The Summer Sail, The Summer of Good Intentions, and Three Good Things. She is a former book editor whose work has appeared in Good Housekeeping, The Washington Post, Redbook, Yahoo Parenting, Salon, HuffPost, and WBUR's Cognoscenti. She lives outside of Boston with her husband and son.