Vacationland by Meg Mitchell Moore: Audiobook Review

Vacationland is an emotional look at family over the course of one summer. The characters are well-developed and interesting. I really enjoyed it.

[book-info]

From The Publisher:

From the USA Today best-selling author of Two Truths and a Lie and The Islanders, a delicious summer listen set in midcoast Maine, tackling family secrets, marriage, motherhood, and privilege.

Louisa has come to her parents’ house in Maine this summer with all three of her kids, a barely written book, and a trunkful of resentment. Left behind in Brooklyn is her husband, who has promised that after this final round of fundraising at his startup he will once again pick up his share of the household responsibilities. Louisa is hoping that the crisp breeze off Penobscot Bay will blow away the irritation she is feeling with her life choices and replace it with enthusiasm for both her family and her work.

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 one small suitcase, $761, and a lot of baggage. She’s got 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. But she can’t keep her various lives from colliding forever.

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.

My Thoughts:

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.

What I Liked:

• The depth of character development
• The coastal Maine setting
• The way the two stories intersect

Acknowledgments:

I used an Audible credit to listen to this book.

Similar Books I’ve Reviewed:

Two Truths and a Lie by Meg Mitchell Moore

The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand

Slightly South of Simple by Kristy Woodson Harvey