Vacationland - by Meg Mitchell Moore

About the Book

Book Synopsis

A Sarah Selects Book Club Pick!

"As sophisticated and delicious as lobster bisque." --Amanda Eyre Ward, New York Times bestselling author

A shimmering summer read set in Maine about family secrets, marriage, motherhood, and privilege, from the bestselling author of Two Truths and a Lie and The Islanders.

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. Louisa 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 isn't 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 doesn't think her father could possibly have done.

Louisa's 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's trying to outrun, a secret she's trying to unpack, and a new boyfriend who's so impossibly kind she can't 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, and both Louisa and Kristie will ask themselves what they are owed and what they owe others. Both a delicious summer read and a compelling portrayal of family, responsibility, ambition, and loss, Vacationland is Meg Mitchell Moore at her best.

Review Quotes

"There's sun, sea and major drama--you'll be carried away." -- People

"Irresistible." -- vogue.com

"What a pleasure to open Vacationland by Meg Mitchell Moore and be invited for the summer to midcoast Maine. A novel full of rich, complex characters, deep blue-gray ocean views, and simmering secrets, Vacationland is as sophisticated and delicious as lobster bisque." -- Amanda Eyre Ward, New York Times bestselling author of The Jetsetters and The Lifeguards

"Engrossing....A truly lovely tale of families, love, mistakes, forgiveness, and, yes, happiness." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Delectable...Readers are in for a treat." -- Publishers Weekly

"Captures the breezy feel of a summer in Maine while addressing a variety of problems, from work/life balance to paternity, that will resonate with readers." -- Booklist

"Full of breathtaking Maine sunsets and family drama writ large and small, Vacationland is both an escapist summer read and a thoughtful examination of motherhood, privilege and what makes a family." -- Shelf Awareness

"[A] scintillating, dishy, and dark novel perfect for those who enjoyed Never Have I Ever and Big Little Lies." -- Bookreporter.com on Two Truths and a Lie

"Meg Mitchell Moore fills [Maeve Binchy's] big shoes....If you're feeling landlocked and water-deprived, The Islanders is the ticket to the getaway you need." -- New York Times Book Review