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Dawnland
On a fated summer getaway in Cape Cod, two families on the verge of fracture contend with the secrets of the past in a powerful and moving novel by the author of April & Oliver.
April, her brother-in-law Oliver, and their families reunite in Cape Cod on an exquisite stretch of beach called Dawnland. After eleven summers of building traditions—kayaking, whale watching, bonfires, and ocean swims—this year comes with new threats both on and off the coastline.
Before their marriages, April and Oliver had an intense but disastrous fling that they kept hidden. Although they moved on with their lives, their more recent fiery encounter is getting harder to keep secret—especially as the week unravels, revealing fault lines not only between husbands and wives but between brothers, fathers and sons, and children growing up amid discord and lies. Ground zero for conflict is April’s volatile teenage son, Lochlann.
The family structure begins to teeter. Secrets are surfacing. As everyone faces the consequences of their choices, the truth could finally forge them together or tear them apart forever.
ADVANCE PRAISE:
"Occasionally a book burns into your occipital lobe unable to leave you. How do you stop longing for something you can never have? Dawnland is a poignant reminder that the longings inside of us never go away. Tess Callahan killed me softly with this book. My heart is still in her hands…”
~ Tarryn Fisher, NY Times Bestselling Author of The Wives & Good Half Gone
"Tess Callahan writes with furious urgency about yearning and desire. As family secrets are gradually revealed, the reader begins to glimpse how we are all complicit in the dance. Emotionally powerful, Dawnland explores questions of betrayal, guilt and loss, and the high cost we must pay for genuine freedom. The ending will stay with you long after you turn the final page."
- Alan Watt, LA Times bestselling author of Diamond Dogs and The 90-Day Novel
“Tess Callahan works magic in her novel DAWNLAND, writing with mesmerizing lyricism and wisdom about an extended family’s fraught week on Cape Cod. On the eve of their widowed father’s second marriage, two brothers as different as night and day gather with their wives and children for an annual vacation by the ocean that turns out to be anything but mundane. DAWNLAND is a deeply intelligent story about marriage, parenting, adolescence, and the challenge of reckoning with one's choices. I loved it.”
~ Karen Dukess, author of The Last Book Party
April, her brother-in-law Oliver, and their families reunite in Cape Cod on an exquisite stretch of beach called Dawnland. After eleven summers of building traditions—kayaking, whale watching, bonfires, and ocean swims—this year comes with new threats both on and off the coastline.
Before their marriages, April and Oliver had an intense but disastrous fling that they kept hidden. Although they moved on with their lives, their more recent fiery encounter is getting harder to keep secret—especially as the week unravels, revealing fault lines not only between husbands and wives but between brothers, fathers and sons, and children growing up amid discord and lies. Ground zero for conflict is April’s volatile teenage son, Lochlann.
The family structure begins to teeter. Secrets are surfacing. As everyone faces the consequences of their choices, the truth could finally forge them together or tear them apart forever.
ADVANCE PRAISE:
"Occasionally a book burns into your occipital lobe unable to leave you. How do you stop longing for something you can never have? Dawnland is a poignant reminder that the longings inside of us never go away. Tess Callahan killed me softly with this book. My heart is still in her hands…”
~ Tarryn Fisher, NY Times Bestselling Author of The Wives & Good Half Gone
"Tess Callahan writes with furious urgency about yearning and desire. As family secrets are gradually revealed, the reader begins to glimpse how we are all complicit in the dance. Emotionally powerful, Dawnland explores questions of betrayal, guilt and loss, and the high cost we must pay for genuine freedom. The ending will stay with you long after you turn the final page."
- Alan Watt, LA Times bestselling author of Diamond Dogs and The 90-Day Novel
“Tess Callahan works magic in her novel DAWNLAND, writing with mesmerizing lyricism and wisdom about an extended family’s fraught week on Cape Cod. On the eve of their widowed father’s second marriage, two brothers as different as night and day gather with their wives and children for an annual vacation by the ocean that turns out to be anything but mundane. DAWNLAND is a deeply intelligent story about marriage, parenting, adolescence, and the challenge of reckoning with one's choices. I loved it.”
~ Karen Dukess, author of The Last Book Party
327 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2024
187 people are currently reading
4641 people want to read
About the author
Tess Callahan
5 books203 followersTess Callahan is the author of APRIL & OLIVER, (Grand Central Publishing/USA, Random House/UK) and DAWNLAND (Little A). She is a TEDx speaker on creativity and curator of the creative writing website: www.muse-feed.com, a toolbox for aspiring writers. Her short work has appeared in AGNI (Pushcart Prize nomination), Narrative Magazine (Story of the Week), The New York Times Magazine, National Public Radio’s “Three Books” series, Powell’s Books Original Essay Series, the Best American Poetry blog, Boston College Magazine and the anthology The BEST LITTLE BOOK CLUB IN TOWN. She holds a BA in English from Boston College and an MFA in Creative Writing from Bennington College. A dual citizen of the USA and Ireland, she lives in Northern NJ and Cape Cod. Her third novel is currently in the hopper.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
July 18, 2025
WOW. What a truly awe-inspiring novel. From the evocative prose to the transformative power within the thought-provoking plot, Dawnland took me on a journey that was truly a first. Well outside of my normal genres of mystery/thrillers, I was quite literally stunned into silence by what was a brilliant mashup of literary fiction and family drama. And oh what a family it was. Undeniably dysfunctional but also tied to one another in a way that only love can manage, these characters felt not only realistic, but like they were walking straight off of the page and into my mind.
While I was initially hesitant due to the departure from my norm, the distinct sense of place illustrated in Ms. Callahan’s words had me instantly hooked. Lyrical, moving, and downright hypnotic, I found my usual fast reading speed downshifting just to take in the beauty within every scene. From the descriptions of the characters’ roiling emotions to the atmospheric Cape Cod setting itself, there wasn’t a thing missing as I absorbed page after page. All told, it was beyond special—it transported me straight into the story.
Out of everything within this novel, however, the characters were the special sauce to its searing success. A breathtaking character study of an entire family, there was depth to their struggles as well as layers of palpable emotion. Together with an exceptional multi-generational cast that not only had me crying real tears but also laughing out loud, I could easily visualize this playing out on a screen near me one day soon. After all, if it could touch me this deeply as just paper and ink, who knows what it could do with the wider public in the form of a movie or series.
All in all, if there was ever a book to occupy my mind long after putting it down, this will unquestionably be it. Poignant and raw but also nuanced and subtle, it was almost like watching a storm cloud descend on the Summerland home. Just when I thought it was over, another thunderbolt hit out of the blue, leaving only wreckage in its wake—or perhaps just what everyone needed. With complex characters, serious themes, and plenty of juicy drama alongside some long-hidden secrets, I was not only immersed in this novel, I was utterly lost in the words. Rating of 5 stars.
*NOTE: One last word of advice, while this could technically be considered the second book in a series, I went in blind and had no problem approaching it as a standalone novel. While I’m sure there would have been even more character development had I read the first book, April & Oliver , I (obviously) loved it all on its own.
SYNOPSIS:
April, her brother-in-law Oliver, and their families reunite in Cape Cod on an exquisite stretch of beach called Dawnland. After eleven summers of building traditions―kayaking, whale watching, bonfires, and ocean swims―this year comes with new threats both on and off the coastline.
Before their marriages, April and Oliver had an intense but disastrous fling that they kept hidden. Although they moved on with their lives, their more recent fiery encounter is getting harder to keep secret―especially as the week unravels, revealing fault lines not only between husbands and wives but between brothers, fathers and sons, and children growing up amid discord and lies. Ground zero for conflict is April’s volatile teenage son, Lochlann.
The family structure begins to teeter. Secrets are surfacing. As everyone faces the consequences of their choices, the truth could finally forge them together or tear them apart forever.
Thank you to Tess Callahan and Little A for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: September 3, 2024 (out now)
Trigger warning: infidelity, alcohol abuse, mention of: suicide, rape, adoption
While I was initially hesitant due to the departure from my norm, the distinct sense of place illustrated in Ms. Callahan’s words had me instantly hooked. Lyrical, moving, and downright hypnotic, I found my usual fast reading speed downshifting just to take in the beauty within every scene. From the descriptions of the characters’ roiling emotions to the atmospheric Cape Cod setting itself, there wasn’t a thing missing as I absorbed page after page. All told, it was beyond special—it transported me straight into the story.
Out of everything within this novel, however, the characters were the special sauce to its searing success. A breathtaking character study of an entire family, there was depth to their struggles as well as layers of palpable emotion. Together with an exceptional multi-generational cast that not only had me crying real tears but also laughing out loud, I could easily visualize this playing out on a screen near me one day soon. After all, if it could touch me this deeply as just paper and ink, who knows what it could do with the wider public in the form of a movie or series.
All in all, if there was ever a book to occupy my mind long after putting it down, this will unquestionably be it. Poignant and raw but also nuanced and subtle, it was almost like watching a storm cloud descend on the Summerland home. Just when I thought it was over, another thunderbolt hit out of the blue, leaving only wreckage in its wake—or perhaps just what everyone needed. With complex characters, serious themes, and plenty of juicy drama alongside some long-hidden secrets, I was not only immersed in this novel, I was utterly lost in the words. Rating of 5 stars.
*NOTE: One last word of advice, while this could technically be considered the second book in a series, I went in blind and had no problem approaching it as a standalone novel. While I’m sure there would have been even more character development had I read the first book, April & Oliver , I (obviously) loved it all on its own.
SYNOPSIS:
April, her brother-in-law Oliver, and their families reunite in Cape Cod on an exquisite stretch of beach called Dawnland. After eleven summers of building traditions―kayaking, whale watching, bonfires, and ocean swims―this year comes with new threats both on and off the coastline.
Before their marriages, April and Oliver had an intense but disastrous fling that they kept hidden. Although they moved on with their lives, their more recent fiery encounter is getting harder to keep secret―especially as the week unravels, revealing fault lines not only between husbands and wives but between brothers, fathers and sons, and children growing up amid discord and lies. Ground zero for conflict is April’s volatile teenage son, Lochlann.
The family structure begins to teeter. Secrets are surfacing. As everyone faces the consequences of their choices, the truth could finally forge them together or tear them apart forever.
Thank you to Tess Callahan and Little A for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: September 3, 2024 (out now)
Trigger warning: infidelity, alcohol abuse, mention of: suicide, rape, adoption
August 29, 2024
One extended family takes their annual beach vacation to Cape Cod but it’s not as jovial and bright as it may sound. Each family member is dealing with their own secret or crisis: someone is being sued, someone is having an affair, someone is entering womanhood, someone is having trouble at school, someone is adopted and searching for their birth parents, marriages are falling apart, and the list continues. As the week tumbles forward, tensions rise and the family begins to crumble.
This story is filled with equal parts love and heartache; equally heart-filling and heart-wrenching. The prose is eloquent, vivid, and exquisite. Callahan shows off her talent for creating unforgettable characters and landscape; generating complex individuals and relationships among the backdrop of the luscious, salt-scented town. I could feel the sea breeze and the mist of the ocean on my skin while reading.
Dawnland explores so much within its pages—love, betrayal, addiction, adoption, childhood and generational trauma, shame, coming of age, mental illness, rape and hook-up culture—but it never felt like it was taking on more than it could handle. I would recommend this book a hundred times over. I loved it.
Thank you Little A Publishing and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Available 09/03/2024!
This story is filled with equal parts love and heartache; equally heart-filling and heart-wrenching. The prose is eloquent, vivid, and exquisite. Callahan shows off her talent for creating unforgettable characters and landscape; generating complex individuals and relationships among the backdrop of the luscious, salt-scented town. I could feel the sea breeze and the mist of the ocean on my skin while reading.
Dawnland explores so much within its pages—love, betrayal, addiction, adoption, childhood and generational trauma, shame, coming of age, mental illness, rape and hook-up culture—but it never felt like it was taking on more than it could handle. I would recommend this book a hundred times over. I loved it.
Thank you Little A Publishing and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Available 09/03/2024!
March 19, 2024
Do not hesitate; in the moment between emotion and decision/action, an entire world may be lost. That loss is one of the themes of this shattering book, so…do not hesitate.
Find yourself a copy (release date 16 July 2024) and let yourself drown in the churning net of Callahan’s characters, their relationships, and the rich, tidal landscape she conjures. You will not want to come up for air.
I was pinned to my chair by this book for hours—I ignored my teenage sons and my husband and my dog (they are fine). Dawnland sandblasted its way past the sounds of men rebuilding the roof of my home—even that one guy who kept tapping out “shave-and-a-haircut…”, then left my family hanging without the last two beats, the men in my life looking up at the ceiling in bewilderment. I did not care about the last two beats. It is a difficult job, being a roofer. If he needs to leave us hanging, so be it. He may not even be thinking of us at all. People are going to do what they need to do—and that’s another one of Callahan’s themes.
It may be of interest to know several things about me: I read widely and indiscriminately, but shun books that feature “romance” in favor of horror; I have been privileged enough to spend three weeks every summer for the past decade in Cape Cod (the titular “Dawnland”); I adore Anna Karenina; Hozier and Annie Lennox singing “I Put a Spell on You” is one of the best performances ever (fight me!), and my favorite animal is the Great White Shark. If you see contradictions in that list, welcome to my brain—that thing that got keelhauled by this book. All of these facts or loves are in harmony with this story. I feel as if I now own an entire bespoke wardrobe—and you will too, even if your list looks different from mine (Good Lord, I hope it does, for your sake!).
Dawnland is about love of all kinds—romantic, doomed, familial, fatalistic, erotic. It is about damaged people standing on cliffs both literal and metaphorical, and how music can slip a wedding ring off as quick as you please—with only a little pain at the knuckle.
Somehow, this book made cynical ol’ me dog-ear pages with lines like “still young, she had somehow believed love was a thing that happened to you like rain.” I loved that line because I feel as if the character who thought it, the multilayered April, was a real person. I was happily hijacked by musical Oliver, who, like me, thinks “the threshold spaces are where the juice comes through. Terror is the price of admission.” One ticket, please.
The book reveals the secrets of one family with great patience and inexorable weight; I particularly enjoyed the red herring (yes, I mean the pun) of the coffee-table book entitled “Secrets of the Sea,” which is turned by an unknown hand to showcase different creatures as the family vacation moves forward, day by fatal day.
Callahan does not hide in motifs, however. She comes out swinging for the bleachers by addressing alcoholism…
“Here’s the thing: Drinking is like a box of bonbons. If the first one doesn’t satisfy you, the second one never will…it was pointless to bring up booze. An animal trapped in barbwire will snap if you try to help it. Yet ___ believes himself free. He drinks to prove it.”
…or the terrible beauty of chosen isolation (btw, if you are a W.B. Yeats or Rumi or Robert Pinsky fan, you will love this book: Callahan is clearly a poetry hound)…
“Far below, the wind shears off the tops of combers, hurling spray in billowy manes. No one will come for her. She is alone. This is what it feels like to have no name, no age, no gender, no history.”
…the pain of not sharing one’s art with others…
“Our minds do all kinds of things to keep us feeling small and numb, because if we had any idea how big we really are, it might blow our circuits.”
…and the debt all of us owe to the original inhabitants of the land upon which we cast our little shadows…
“(Dawnland) is the Wampanoag name. This is their land, after all. They’re the People of the First Light…They helped the settlers survive their first bleak winter on the Cape, and then, in only three years, ninety percent of the Wampanoag died from diseases they had no immunity to. They called it the Great Dying. Bones everywhere. Nine out of ten people. Picture that. Of all of us here this week, only one would survive. And who would want to be that person?”
What follows that piece of dialogue is a story of incredible pathos. I will not detail it here, but it might be my favorite scene. Callahan honors the First Nations at the beginning, in this scene close to the middle, and at the end of the novel.
Close to the end, April asks a question I have struggled with my entire life: “Why is it so hard to live without hurting people?”
If you have read this far, thank you for helping me process this book. Since Covid, I have not been able to read as quickly as I once did—until the Dark family came into my life.
Find yourself a copy (release date 16 July 2024) and let yourself drown in the churning net of Callahan’s characters, their relationships, and the rich, tidal landscape she conjures. You will not want to come up for air.
I was pinned to my chair by this book for hours—I ignored my teenage sons and my husband and my dog (they are fine). Dawnland sandblasted its way past the sounds of men rebuilding the roof of my home—even that one guy who kept tapping out “shave-and-a-haircut…”, then left my family hanging without the last two beats, the men in my life looking up at the ceiling in bewilderment. I did not care about the last two beats. It is a difficult job, being a roofer. If he needs to leave us hanging, so be it. He may not even be thinking of us at all. People are going to do what they need to do—and that’s another one of Callahan’s themes.
It may be of interest to know several things about me: I read widely and indiscriminately, but shun books that feature “romance” in favor of horror; I have been privileged enough to spend three weeks every summer for the past decade in Cape Cod (the titular “Dawnland”); I adore Anna Karenina; Hozier and Annie Lennox singing “I Put a Spell on You” is one of the best performances ever (fight me!), and my favorite animal is the Great White Shark. If you see contradictions in that list, welcome to my brain—that thing that got keelhauled by this book. All of these facts or loves are in harmony with this story. I feel as if I now own an entire bespoke wardrobe—and you will too, even if your list looks different from mine (Good Lord, I hope it does, for your sake!).
Dawnland is about love of all kinds—romantic, doomed, familial, fatalistic, erotic. It is about damaged people standing on cliffs both literal and metaphorical, and how music can slip a wedding ring off as quick as you please—with only a little pain at the knuckle.
Somehow, this book made cynical ol’ me dog-ear pages with lines like “still young, she had somehow believed love was a thing that happened to you like rain.” I loved that line because I feel as if the character who thought it, the multilayered April, was a real person. I was happily hijacked by musical Oliver, who, like me, thinks “the threshold spaces are where the juice comes through. Terror is the price of admission.” One ticket, please.
The book reveals the secrets of one family with great patience and inexorable weight; I particularly enjoyed the red herring (yes, I mean the pun) of the coffee-table book entitled “Secrets of the Sea,” which is turned by an unknown hand to showcase different creatures as the family vacation moves forward, day by fatal day.
Callahan does not hide in motifs, however. She comes out swinging for the bleachers by addressing alcoholism…
“Here’s the thing: Drinking is like a box of bonbons. If the first one doesn’t satisfy you, the second one never will…it was pointless to bring up booze. An animal trapped in barbwire will snap if you try to help it. Yet ___ believes himself free. He drinks to prove it.”
…or the terrible beauty of chosen isolation (btw, if you are a W.B. Yeats or Rumi or Robert Pinsky fan, you will love this book: Callahan is clearly a poetry hound)…
“Far below, the wind shears off the tops of combers, hurling spray in billowy manes. No one will come for her. She is alone. This is what it feels like to have no name, no age, no gender, no history.”
…the pain of not sharing one’s art with others…
“Our minds do all kinds of things to keep us feeling small and numb, because if we had any idea how big we really are, it might blow our circuits.”
…and the debt all of us owe to the original inhabitants of the land upon which we cast our little shadows…
“(Dawnland) is the Wampanoag name. This is their land, after all. They’re the People of the First Light…They helped the settlers survive their first bleak winter on the Cape, and then, in only three years, ninety percent of the Wampanoag died from diseases they had no immunity to. They called it the Great Dying. Bones everywhere. Nine out of ten people. Picture that. Of all of us here this week, only one would survive. And who would want to be that person?”
What follows that piece of dialogue is a story of incredible pathos. I will not detail it here, but it might be my favorite scene. Callahan honors the First Nations at the beginning, in this scene close to the middle, and at the end of the novel.
Close to the end, April asks a question I have struggled with my entire life: “Why is it so hard to live without hurting people?”
If you have read this far, thank you for helping me process this book. Since Covid, I have not been able to read as quickly as I once did—until the Dark family came into my life.
January 30, 2026
Book Title: Dawnland
Author: Tess Callahan
Publishers: Little A & Brilliance Audio
Pub Date: September 3, 2024
Dates Read/Listened: January 24, 2026 – January 26, 2026
🗣️ 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎: This is technically a follow up to April & Oliver, and while it could be read as a standalone, I don’t recommend it. This book made so much more sense to me having read that first, and it also made me appreciate it a hell of a lot more. There is a bunch of family and relationship drama throughout this story, and it is something I would recommend to lit fic and family drama fans in a heartbeat. A lot of secrets end up blowing up in April and Oliver’s faces in this book, and a couple of them even made MY mouth drop open. This is definitely a slow burn story, but let me tell you, the end is worth all of that buildup.
🎧 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘕𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: Even though I do like having the same narrator if we are focused on the same characters in multiple books, I can’t deny that Xe Sands was my favorite narrator for these characters. She topped Craden’s narration from April & Oliver, and I loved every dang second of listening to her. I followed along in the physical book, but I just couldn’t pass up an opportunity to listen to one of my favorite narrators and she slayed it.
T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: 🦈🧬🫢💌
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Author: Tess Callahan
Publishers: Little A & Brilliance Audio
Pub Date: September 3, 2024
Dates Read/Listened: January 24, 2026 – January 26, 2026
🗣️ 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎: This is technically a follow up to April & Oliver, and while it could be read as a standalone, I don’t recommend it. This book made so much more sense to me having read that first, and it also made me appreciate it a hell of a lot more. There is a bunch of family and relationship drama throughout this story, and it is something I would recommend to lit fic and family drama fans in a heartbeat. A lot of secrets end up blowing up in April and Oliver’s faces in this book, and a couple of them even made MY mouth drop open. This is definitely a slow burn story, but let me tell you, the end is worth all of that buildup.
🎧 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘕𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: Even though I do like having the same narrator if we are focused on the same characters in multiple books, I can’t deny that Xe Sands was my favorite narrator for these characters. She topped Craden’s narration from April & Oliver, and I loved every dang second of listening to her. I followed along in the physical book, but I just couldn’t pass up an opportunity to listen to one of my favorite narrators and she slayed it.
T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: 🦈🧬🫢💌
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
March 24, 2024
“Why is it so hard to live without hurting people?”
Wow, this book really impressed me! I finished it in 1 day, I was so hooked. The writing is beautiful, and conjures such vivid and symbolic imagery. The characters are so well fleshed out that they feel real, and I loved the character development. Everyone is flawed and nuanced, there’s no ‘bad’ or ‘good’ stereotypes - just typical complicated humans. This book is a wistful, reflective, heart warming and yet heart breaking examination of the human experience. What is it to love? What is it to choose who we love? How will these decisions change the course of our lives? What ripples will they set in motion? So moving and so gripping.
Thank you Little A and Net Galley for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. Look out for this one when it’s published in July 2024!
Wow, this book really impressed me! I finished it in 1 day, I was so hooked. The writing is beautiful, and conjures such vivid and symbolic imagery. The characters are so well fleshed out that they feel real, and I loved the character development. Everyone is flawed and nuanced, there’s no ‘bad’ or ‘good’ stereotypes - just typical complicated humans. This book is a wistful, reflective, heart warming and yet heart breaking examination of the human experience. What is it to love? What is it to choose who we love? How will these decisions change the course of our lives? What ripples will they set in motion? So moving and so gripping.
Thank you Little A and Net Galley for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. Look out for this one when it’s published in July 2024!
October 16, 2024
This is the follow up book to Alice & Oliver by Tess Callahan. I read that one a few months ago and was excited to get back to see what April and Oliver are up to in the future. Just like the first book, this was so good. The writing was captivating and the way she describes the characters and setting makes the story so real. In this one April and Oliver have kids and go on vacation to Cape Cod. There's secrets, family drama, marital issues. This one pulled me in and kept me engaged the whole way through.
Thank you to the publisher, Suzy approved book tours and the author for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher, Suzy approved book tours and the author for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 6, 2024
What a whirlwind of a journey this story took me through. I was so happy to be back into the captivating and complex world that is April and Oliver. It took great lengths for me to put this book down. I had to know how they healed from and what’s happened since the conclusion of book 1 (April & Oliver). Dawnland was filled with heartache and twists which you can always expect from Tess Callahan’s lyrical writing and innate story telling ability. From the start, the prologue (as always) never fails to draw me in and set a tone of urgency to devour the rest of the book. The ending left me wanting more, I would give up dairy (queso runs through my veins) to read a book 3 all about two of my favorite (and equally frustrating) characters.
Rating: 5/5 ✨🐳🎹🌊🌌
“‘Your eyes are the color of the sky,’ __ said.
‘Yours are the ocean at night.’
‘Another reason we can’t work. The two can never meet.’
‘Just the opposite,’ __ said. ‘They can’t not touch.’”
Rating: 5/5 ✨🐳🎹🌊🌌
“‘Your eyes are the color of the sky,’ __ said.
‘Yours are the ocean at night.’
‘Another reason we can’t work. The two can never meet.’
‘Just the opposite,’ __ said. ‘They can’t not touch.’”
March 25, 2024
An exemplary tale of love and betrayal that spans the years in this sprawling continuation of April and Oliver’s stories. With characters’ layered histories and new family dynamics we are propelled through a week long family vacation full of with wisdom, regret, and the gradual untangling of time lost.
The diction, the prose, the character dynamics… you’ll hear me talking about this one for a long while to come.
The diction, the prose, the character dynamics… you’ll hear me talking about this one for a long while to come.
October 6, 2025
This is a follow-up book to April & Oliver, which I have not read, so I did not have the backstory in the beginning, but overall it read fine as a standalone. This is a slow-burn character-driven novel that took a little time for me to get into, and then before I knew it, I found myself unable to stop listening to the audio nor could I tear myself away from these characters. They are deeply flawed, and during a summer getaway in Cape Cod, everything comes to a head, and as the secrets kept coming up and out, I was a bit frozen as I was waiting to see how everyone would react and handle it all. I did not expect to love this book as much as I did; it is rare that a book like this grabs me so, but this one did, and I have not been able to stop thinking about this one since I read it. The writing is fantastic, and the character development is strong, and I cannot recommend it enough.
Thank you to the author, Tess Callahan, for the #gifted book to review.
Thank you to the author, Tess Callahan, for the #gifted book to review.
August 20, 2024
An exploration of the complexity of both family and love when combined with secrets and lies. 🤫
3.5 ⭐️ I had mixed feelings as I read, but ultimately ended up liking this book. While it started strong with a really engaging prologue, at around the 20% mark I had figured out all of the major plot points and where we were headed, so I found myself a bit bored as things unfolded. This is a literary book with many unlikable and morally gray characters and there will be plot points that make you roll your eyes, but the final 10% bumped it up to 3.5 stars for me. I was really absorbed by this cast of flawed characters and the fact that you can be wildly imperfect and still have a great love of family. (On an unrelated note, I also loved the accurate shark safety tips sprinkled throughout the book! I find that fiction more often than not perpetuates incorrect information and I was really impressed by how the author went about this! 🦈)
My thanks to NetGalley and Little A for a complimentary advance copy of this eBook, out 9/3/2024.
3.5 ⭐️ I had mixed feelings as I read, but ultimately ended up liking this book. While it started strong with a really engaging prologue, at around the 20% mark I had figured out all of the major plot points and where we were headed, so I found myself a bit bored as things unfolded. This is a literary book with many unlikable and morally gray characters and there will be plot points that make you roll your eyes, but the final 10% bumped it up to 3.5 stars for me. I was really absorbed by this cast of flawed characters and the fact that you can be wildly imperfect and still have a great love of family. (On an unrelated note, I also loved the accurate shark safety tips sprinkled throughout the book! I find that fiction more often than not perpetuates incorrect information and I was really impressed by how the author went about this! 🦈)
My thanks to NetGalley and Little A for a complimentary advance copy of this eBook, out 9/3/2024.
January 25, 2025
Generally speaking this is far too tragic for my taste, but it’s certainly an intriguing and incredibly well written character study.
On a basic level this is a family saga, and the tragic elements I’m referring to aren’t really about a catastrophic event, but rather the small cruelties people inflict on the ones they supposedly love.
I think I have a different opinion on this than some readers might, because I considered the way that both brothers talked to April (and frankly, to Meredith too) as unforgivable to the extent that I question any legitimacy as far as whether they love her at all. What’s interesting about this is how April’s backstory plays into this, and how questions about who owes who what and who saved who come into play.
It is, I suppose, the danger of being “saved” by someone. Even when you don’t need saving anymore,you’ll still play the role, and your “rescuers” will still play theirs, and that’s generally not a good thing.
There were a few things about this that I felt were a stretch (the brothers’ father feels a bit off in the sense that I can’t imagine this man having raised these two sons. And there is a lot of odd congress between the adults and the teens in this book that doesn’t feel at all likely.
But the examination of relationship dynamics is for the most part very well done, and I thought the setting was better rendered than what we usually get from a book like this. I’m unlikely to read more by this author, but that’s a taste issue, not one of quality. If you enjoy this type of book, I highly recommend this one.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
On a basic level this is a family saga, and the tragic elements I’m referring to aren’t really about a catastrophic event, but rather the small cruelties people inflict on the ones they supposedly love.
I think I have a different opinion on this than some readers might, because I considered the way that both brothers talked to April (and frankly, to Meredith too) as unforgivable to the extent that I question any legitimacy as far as whether they love her at all. What’s interesting about this is how April’s backstory plays into this, and how questions about who owes who what and who saved who come into play.
It is, I suppose, the danger of being “saved” by someone. Even when you don’t need saving anymore,you’ll still play the role, and your “rescuers” will still play theirs, and that’s generally not a good thing.
There were a few things about this that I felt were a stretch (the brothers’ father feels a bit off in the sense that I can’t imagine this man having raised these two sons. And there is a lot of odd congress between the adults and the teens in this book that doesn’t feel at all likely.
But the examination of relationship dynamics is for the most part very well done, and I thought the setting was better rendered than what we usually get from a book like this. I’m unlikely to read more by this author, but that’s a taste issue, not one of quality. If you enjoy this type of book, I highly recommend this one.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
April 30, 2024
The best novels lay a direct, spare framework that offers just enough detail and tension to weave us into the story. We’re transported without knowing how we got there.
In Dawnland, Tess Callahan takes us along on a seaside getaway. In lean prose Callahan builds the background of this perennial family gathering. We become familiar with the primary characters by visiting their perceptual bubbles during relevant experiences from the past, mixed with glimpses of current interactions. Slowly the deep resonance of the present moment accretes as we observe developments from multiple perspectives and time periods. We become familiar with who knows what, who doesn’t, and who has misinterpreted subtle clues to land them at a crucial remove from the truth.
Any getaway has a place. Cape Cod is an active personality in the story—but it could be any coastal vacation spot. Whales to hummingbirds, dunes to forests, features of the landscape play crucial roles to coax what has long-simmered toward a boil. We manage to control so little of what transpires in the individual experience of living. Best efforts and polite discretion only go so far. Eventually we live in the consequences with as much responsibility (or avoidance) as we can muster. There are universal metaphors here that translate across borders and cultures.
The landscape of intimacy, in all its shades, is depicted here with its own unique beauty. Callahan handles such scenes with respect and a deft restraint that allows us to bring them to life from our own imagination and experience. Is there any exchange in human experience more fragile?
It didn’t take long to find myself moving among characters interacting on their own recognizance. As the story plays out I’m in the family, with growing empathy for my relations, my own parallel secrets coming to light. Dawnland offers a solid foundation with just enough subtle guidance that the story will become yours as well.
-Don Freas
Author of IN BETWEEN, Creativity Set Free, and SWALLOWING THE WORLD, New and Selected Poems
In Dawnland, Tess Callahan takes us along on a seaside getaway. In lean prose Callahan builds the background of this perennial family gathering. We become familiar with the primary characters by visiting their perceptual bubbles during relevant experiences from the past, mixed with glimpses of current interactions. Slowly the deep resonance of the present moment accretes as we observe developments from multiple perspectives and time periods. We become familiar with who knows what, who doesn’t, and who has misinterpreted subtle clues to land them at a crucial remove from the truth.
Any getaway has a place. Cape Cod is an active personality in the story—but it could be any coastal vacation spot. Whales to hummingbirds, dunes to forests, features of the landscape play crucial roles to coax what has long-simmered toward a boil. We manage to control so little of what transpires in the individual experience of living. Best efforts and polite discretion only go so far. Eventually we live in the consequences with as much responsibility (or avoidance) as we can muster. There are universal metaphors here that translate across borders and cultures.
The landscape of intimacy, in all its shades, is depicted here with its own unique beauty. Callahan handles such scenes with respect and a deft restraint that allows us to bring them to life from our own imagination and experience. Is there any exchange in human experience more fragile?
It didn’t take long to find myself moving among characters interacting on their own recognizance. As the story plays out I’m in the family, with growing empathy for my relations, my own parallel secrets coming to light. Dawnland offers a solid foundation with just enough subtle guidance that the story will become yours as well.
-Don Freas
Author of IN BETWEEN, Creativity Set Free, and SWALLOWING THE WORLD, New and Selected Poems
February 16, 2025
April and Oliver are in-laws, old friends and once upon a time they were even more. Now the two couples and their children gather for a Cape Code vacation with Oliver and Al's widowed father Hal, as he introduces his new friend Beryl. This multi-generational story of parents and children, repeated challenges, memories and hurt comes together in a way that changes the family. And they will never be the same. Families are hard. Marriage is hard. And parenting is hard. Yet as imperfect as these connections are, they are what bring us joy, gratitude, lessons in patience and perhaps most importantly, love.
October 26, 2024
I skipped the synopsis, as I often do, and jumped straight into this audiobook, not realizing it was part of a series. But that didn’t stop me from quickly becoming immersed in these characters’ lives. Their personalities were so well-developed, and their shared history was hinted at so naturally, that I felt immediately invested. I ended up spending an entire Saturday captivated by their journey.
The family vacation setting was a surprise for me, as I usually prefer quieter, more solitary stories, but it worked perfectly here. The family dynamic added intensity and made the unfolding of long-kept secrets feel real and inevitable.
The narration was superb, bringing out the subtleties of each character and making their emotions vivid and memorable. Thank you, author, for sharing this story with me—it was a wonderful experience, and I feel grateful to have been along for the ride.
The family vacation setting was a surprise for me, as I usually prefer quieter, more solitary stories, but it worked perfectly here. The family dynamic added intensity and made the unfolding of long-kept secrets feel real and inevitable.
The narration was superb, bringing out the subtleties of each character and making their emotions vivid and memorable. Thank you, author, for sharing this story with me—it was a wonderful experience, and I feel grateful to have been along for the ride.
May 21, 2024
A riveting, atmospheric, and angst-filled story. The pull between April and Oliver is undeniable and threatens to upend their lives. The writing is lovely. Recommended to anyone looking for a tense and hopeful family and relationship drama.
Thank you to Little A and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.
Thank you to Little A and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.
August 30, 2024
I’d describe DAWNLAND by Tess Callahan as an intense family drama with an exciting little bonus—a love triangle. Oh boy. The relationships in this family are COMPLICATED! The novel is centered around an extended family on their annual beach vacation, but the major focus is on three of them—one woman and two men who happen to be brothers. One brother is her husband, the other is a past lover. Oooh-wee! Grab the popcorn! If you’re imagining some messy, intense, and heated moments, then you’d be correct. Buckle up—there’s a lot of them.
I must say that Callahan truly excels at character development. My goodness, did she ever bring these characters to life! I was caught up in their worries, dilemmas, and problems almost instantly. Their experiences felt so raw and real, and also brushed on some serious topics like addiction, infidelity, childhood trauma, rape culture, and adoption. This story definitely has some heaviness to it.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Family dynamics and secrets
- Sibling rivalry
- Insight on parenting teens
- Marriage and motherhood
- Cape Cod setting
- Family vacations
- Crazy love triangles
- Juicy drama
- Adoption stories
- Flawed and complex characters
If you like gritty and emotional stories about life and love, then you’ll absolutely adore DAWNLAND. It releases on September 3rd! 4/5 solid stars!
I must say that Callahan truly excels at character development. My goodness, did she ever bring these characters to life! I was caught up in their worries, dilemmas, and problems almost instantly. Their experiences felt so raw and real, and also brushed on some serious topics like addiction, infidelity, childhood trauma, rape culture, and adoption. This story definitely has some heaviness to it.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Family dynamics and secrets
- Sibling rivalry
- Insight on parenting teens
- Marriage and motherhood
- Cape Cod setting
- Family vacations
- Crazy love triangles
- Juicy drama
- Adoption stories
- Flawed and complex characters
If you like gritty and emotional stories about life and love, then you’ll absolutely adore DAWNLAND. It releases on September 3rd! 4/5 solid stars!
April 12, 2025
Dawnland isn’t just a pretty Cape Cod vacation. It’s a deep dive into family ties, hidden passions, and the secrets we bury beneath the sand.
The family returns for their annual vacation but old flames, secrets and unspoken resentments ripple through their usual routine. You will feel the storm brewing long before it breaks.
Tess Callahan writes with such heart. Her characters are flawed and achingly real. I now need to check out the first book- April & Oliver!
The family returns for their annual vacation but old flames, secrets and unspoken resentments ripple through their usual routine. You will feel the storm brewing long before it breaks.
Tess Callahan writes with such heart. Her characters are flawed and achingly real. I now need to check out the first book- April & Oliver!
October 27, 2024
beauty and terror.
March 9, 2025
Wow, these people do not communicate well! Two terrible marriages plus way too much drama. The kids who had to deal with it all were well written. And some good whales.
January 18, 2025
Wow I loved this book so much
December 30, 2024
When author Tess Callahan offered to share her book Dawnland (published September 2024), I couldn't wait to receive my copy. I wasn't sure how it would go since I hadn't read her prior book April and Oliver. But I needn't have worried. This was a thoroughly absorbing character driven family drama that I didn't know I needed.
Dawnland is set during a family's one-week stay on Cape Cod. April, her brother-in-law Oliver, and their respective families reunite as they have each summer with Oliver and Al's father, Hal. Before their marriages, however, April and Oliver had an intense but disastrous fling that they kept hidden. As long-held secrets begin to surface, the family structure begins to crack and crumble.
This was such a powerfully gripping and emotional story. Every character has their share of flaws but a few moments of tenderness emerge through the fog. And when April's troubled son Lochlan goes missing with cousin Phoebe, the stakes are undeniable.
This story provides all the drama and all the feels. And if, like me, you haven't read April and Oliver, fear not. The importance of their relationship is revealed through past and present timelines and was easy to pick up.
Highly recommend this if you enjoy well drawn characters and family drama. Rounding up to 4.5⭐️.
Dawnland is set during a family's one-week stay on Cape Cod. April, her brother-in-law Oliver, and their respective families reunite as they have each summer with Oliver and Al's father, Hal. Before their marriages, however, April and Oliver had an intense but disastrous fling that they kept hidden. As long-held secrets begin to surface, the family structure begins to crack and crumble.
This was such a powerfully gripping and emotional story. Every character has their share of flaws but a few moments of tenderness emerge through the fog. And when April's troubled son Lochlan goes missing with cousin Phoebe, the stakes are undeniable.
This story provides all the drama and all the feels. And if, like me, you haven't read April and Oliver, fear not. The importance of their relationship is revealed through past and present timelines and was easy to pick up.
Highly recommend this if you enjoy well drawn characters and family drama. Rounding up to 4.5⭐️.
September 9, 2024
Dawnland by Tess Callahan is a contemporary family life fiction filled to the brim with family secrets and misunderstandings.
April has been friends with brothers Allen and Oliver since childhood. Al was bold, athletic, and always pushing boundaries. Oliver was quiet, studious, and always towing the line. April came from a bad home and though she loved Oliver, never felt she deserved him - even after they share their love for one another while in Ireland. In the end, April chooses Al, making the next fifteen years difficult, at best.
The main portion of the story takes place during a one-week summer vacation on the Cape - something the family has done for years. Only this time, the pretense unravels and secrets come roaring out. The question is, who will survive unscathed when the dust settles?
I loved this story and can't get April, Al, Meredith, Oliver, Hal, Beryl, and the children out of my mind. It's a great read.
April has been friends with brothers Allen and Oliver since childhood. Al was bold, athletic, and always pushing boundaries. Oliver was quiet, studious, and always towing the line. April came from a bad home and though she loved Oliver, never felt she deserved him - even after they share their love for one another while in Ireland. In the end, April chooses Al, making the next fifteen years difficult, at best.
The main portion of the story takes place during a one-week summer vacation on the Cape - something the family has done for years. Only this time, the pretense unravels and secrets come roaring out. The question is, who will survive unscathed when the dust settles?
I loved this story and can't get April, Al, Meredith, Oliver, Hal, Beryl, and the children out of my mind. It's a great read.
October 24, 2024
Dawnland is a riveting sequel to Tess Callaghan’s 2009 debut novel, April & Oliver. The book authentically explores the relationships between spouses, parents and their children, and the unravelling of family secrets. As in the first book, the writing is eloquent and extremely vivid. "Dawnland” is the Wampanoag name for the land in Cape Cod where much of the story takes place, and this majestic setting has as much of a compelling backstory as the characters in the book. Callahan provides beautiful descriptive language of the landscape, and there are many scenes where the natural elements are seamlessly woven into the story. The book also includes darker subject matter, including infidelity, betrayal, adoption, unresolved childhood trauma, generational trauma, mental health issues, coming-of-age relationships, and family conflicts! There’s so much to digest in this book that reading it at a leisurely pace or at a slower audiobook speed is highly recommended!
The book excels in character development, with more compelling characters than the first book. April and Oliver take centre stage, but the secondary characters and subplots in the story are just as interesting and well developed. The story takes place fifteen years later, matching the publication years between books, yet April and Oliver still have a very complicated relationship. In a twist of fate, April is now married to Oliver‘s brother Al with two children. This is something that may bewilder readers at the start, but as the story progresses, with its many flashback scenes, the evolution of April and Al’s relationship is explicitly laid out and breathes a life of its own. April and Al have a complex dynamic, but there is also a profound love shared between them. Oliver, now married to an older woman with an adopted daughter, has his own troubled relationship with his wife. The couples’ dialogues include a full spectrum of emotions, from angst to heated passion to dramatic outbursts, making for a very captivating read or listen.
The children and young adults in this book have compelling stories of their own, making the book more than just about dysfunctional adults and marital secrets. This is also a story of sibling dynamics, rebellious teenage behaviour, and learning forgiveness that young adults will relate to. Much of the turmoil that the children experience makes some adults in this book very unlikeable at times, including April and Oliver. As the story comes to a close, there is still much uncertainty for the future well-being of the children, perfectly mimicking a real-life scenario.
Overall, this is another riveting, highly authentic, emotional story from Tess Callahan. It’s evident that Callahan’s writing has evolved, along with her ability to intricately layer together so many themes and characters in one book. If you’re looking for a book about family secrets, drama, and dysfunctional characters in an idyllic setting, this book should be high on your list. It’s highly recommended to read the first book, April & Oliver, to appreciate how much the characters grow and change. As real as our own life’s changes through the decades, these books are thought-provoking and leave some valuable lessons in their wake!
🎤NARRATOR PERFORMANCE🎤
Narrator Xe Sands does a great job narrating this audiobook. Sands uses a sardonic, matter-of-fact tone to narrate many of the adult characters, accurately portraying many of their stubborn qualities and flawed behaviors. Her narration of the dialogue is very intimate and compelling, easily drawing listeners into the unhealthy and tumultuous conversations between the adults, especially the married partners. Although Sands doesn’t provide a wide range of distinct voices for the characters, she delivers a unique performance and personality for each. With such a solid, engaging performance, the audiobook is definitely a great choice to experience this story. It’s definitely one of those audiobooks that’ll make you stop and re-listen to certain segments to ensure you captured all the captivating dialogue fully!
The book excels in character development, with more compelling characters than the first book. April and Oliver take centre stage, but the secondary characters and subplots in the story are just as interesting and well developed. The story takes place fifteen years later, matching the publication years between books, yet April and Oliver still have a very complicated relationship. In a twist of fate, April is now married to Oliver‘s brother Al with two children. This is something that may bewilder readers at the start, but as the story progresses, with its many flashback scenes, the evolution of April and Al’s relationship is explicitly laid out and breathes a life of its own. April and Al have a complex dynamic, but there is also a profound love shared between them. Oliver, now married to an older woman with an adopted daughter, has his own troubled relationship with his wife. The couples’ dialogues include a full spectrum of emotions, from angst to heated passion to dramatic outbursts, making for a very captivating read or listen.
The children and young adults in this book have compelling stories of their own, making the book more than just about dysfunctional adults and marital secrets. This is also a story of sibling dynamics, rebellious teenage behaviour, and learning forgiveness that young adults will relate to. Much of the turmoil that the children experience makes some adults in this book very unlikeable at times, including April and Oliver. As the story comes to a close, there is still much uncertainty for the future well-being of the children, perfectly mimicking a real-life scenario.
Overall, this is another riveting, highly authentic, emotional story from Tess Callahan. It’s evident that Callahan’s writing has evolved, along with her ability to intricately layer together so many themes and characters in one book. If you’re looking for a book about family secrets, drama, and dysfunctional characters in an idyllic setting, this book should be high on your list. It’s highly recommended to read the first book, April & Oliver, to appreciate how much the characters grow and change. As real as our own life’s changes through the decades, these books are thought-provoking and leave some valuable lessons in their wake!
🎤NARRATOR PERFORMANCE🎤
Narrator Xe Sands does a great job narrating this audiobook. Sands uses a sardonic, matter-of-fact tone to narrate many of the adult characters, accurately portraying many of their stubborn qualities and flawed behaviors. Her narration of the dialogue is very intimate and compelling, easily drawing listeners into the unhealthy and tumultuous conversations between the adults, especially the married partners. Although Sands doesn’t provide a wide range of distinct voices for the characters, she delivers a unique performance and personality for each. With such a solid, engaging performance, the audiobook is definitely a great choice to experience this story. It’s definitely one of those audiobooks that’ll make you stop and re-listen to certain segments to ensure you captured all the captivating dialogue fully!
May 26, 2024
A family drama for readers who enjoy Elizabeth Strout, Dawnland is equal parts lovely and tense. There were moments when I was in awe of Callahan's lyricism -- like a love letter to the Cape. Which is balanced with any scene around a dinner table (or in a car) ... the tension is palpable! Callahan's writing is thus that you can feel it.
Yet, it is the character development that will have you hooked. I find the likability of the adults VERY questionable, but I also find myself not caring. There were times I wanted to grab April by the shoulders to tell her about herself but only because I was rooting for her so deeply. I was rooting for every flawed character no matter the depth of their mistakes.
This is a must read - you'll be uncomfortable and you'll feel at peace; you'll be angry with a character and you'll cry for them.
In short, this novel is real life on paper.
Yet, it is the character development that will have you hooked. I find the likability of the adults VERY questionable, but I also find myself not caring. There were times I wanted to grab April by the shoulders to tell her about herself but only because I was rooting for her so deeply. I was rooting for every flawed character no matter the depth of their mistakes.
This is a must read - you'll be uncomfortable and you'll feel at peace; you'll be angry with a character and you'll cry for them.
In short, this novel is real life on paper.
December 7, 2024
If you’re looking for a novel packed with family drama, choice and consequence, and sudden revelations, Tess Callahan’s Dawnland will more than satisfy. The Nights – patriarch Hal, brothers Allen and Oliver, their wives April and Meredith, and children – have gathered on Cape Cod for their annual summer family vacation. Fractures broaden, secrets surface, bonds fray, and the resulting fallout extends beyond the adults to affect the families’ three young teenaged members, Lochlann, Nula, and Phoebe. Tess Callahan’s long-awaited sequel to April & Oliver is as tightly written, as unflinchingly observant as its predecessor, and maintains a touching and sensitive awareness of the land and sea with all their non-human inhabitants. Dawnland arrives on July 16, 2024 – just in time to make your summer reading list.
June 1, 2024
Definite read, I found it hard to put down, a real page turner! Brilliantly and uniquely set in Cape Cod, an annual family fun vacation turns into a fast paced, suspense filled read, full of twists, turns, secrets, fate full decisions and encounters. Dazzling prose creates a multi-generational mosaic of characters forced to interact with each other, and the Cape's thrilling creatures that surround them.
October 22, 2024
It had been many years since I read April & Oliver, but when I saw that Tess Callahan was reuniting these characters in her latest novel, I knew that I just had to read it. I pondered over whether or not to give April & Oliver a reread, but as it turned out, I was pulled back into the lives of these characters as if no time had passed.
This novel takes place years after April & Oliver. April and Oliver, their spouses, and their children meet every summer at Oliver and Al’s father’s house on Cape Cod. April and Oliver had been very close growing up, however, something happened between them years ago, and now April is married to Oliver’s brother. It is a jam-packed week of various activities, family meals, and a torrent of tension. Each couple is experiencing their own set of issues, they have teenaged children, and there are secrets that are on the precipice of being revealed.
Tess Callahan writes beautifully. Her vivid descriptions and emotive writing just made the whole story come to life. Despite the beauty of her words, she never lost sight of the raw, intense, angst-filled nature of the story. The heartache and the longing were palpable, the emotions were running rampant, and I felt as though it was all playing out right in front of me.
Dawnland was a captivating read. There was never a dull moment, but that was what I had expected from this family. Tess Callahan did an extraordinary job of following up with this family and all of their complexities.
I sincerely hope that this wonderful author writes another novel in the near future. It will definitely have a spot on my to-be-read list.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher (via NetGalley).
This novel takes place years after April & Oliver. April and Oliver, their spouses, and their children meet every summer at Oliver and Al’s father’s house on Cape Cod. April and Oliver had been very close growing up, however, something happened between them years ago, and now April is married to Oliver’s brother. It is a jam-packed week of various activities, family meals, and a torrent of tension. Each couple is experiencing their own set of issues, they have teenaged children, and there are secrets that are on the precipice of being revealed.
Tess Callahan writes beautifully. Her vivid descriptions and emotive writing just made the whole story come to life. Despite the beauty of her words, she never lost sight of the raw, intense, angst-filled nature of the story. The heartache and the longing were palpable, the emotions were running rampant, and I felt as though it was all playing out right in front of me.
Dawnland was a captivating read. There was never a dull moment, but that was what I had expected from this family. Tess Callahan did an extraordinary job of following up with this family and all of their complexities.
I sincerely hope that this wonderful author writes another novel in the near future. It will definitely have a spot on my to-be-read list.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher (via NetGalley).
December 5, 2024
“Dawnland”, so eloquently written! Author Tess Callahan has a finesse in descriptive detail leaving you with a feeling, a vision and a moment like you’re “there” seeing it first hand.
A tradition for the family’s of April and Oliver to reunite in Cape Cod on the exquisite beach called “Dawnland”, brings hidden secrets, growing pains and new memories to be cherished or concealed forever.
The desires of lust and true love are clearly evident in this family as Callahan takes us down a road of beguiled trust. A beach day, kayaking and whale watching keeps the teenage kids busy amongst the adult drama. “Real life” is evoked in each character as they handle “real” matters, decisions and the reasons behind the decisions.
Thoroughly entertaining! I absorbed every word! A page turner! Hard to put down! The storyline envelopes your interest leaving you wanting more!
It’s a “stand alone” read despite “April & Oliver “ which published in 2009. Can only imagine if you had their detailed history ahead of time.
Thanks to Author Tess Callahan and Suzy approved books for this book in exchange for my honest review!
A tradition for the family’s of April and Oliver to reunite in Cape Cod on the exquisite beach called “Dawnland”, brings hidden secrets, growing pains and new memories to be cherished or concealed forever.
The desires of lust and true love are clearly evident in this family as Callahan takes us down a road of beguiled trust. A beach day, kayaking and whale watching keeps the teenage kids busy amongst the adult drama. “Real life” is evoked in each character as they handle “real” matters, decisions and the reasons behind the decisions.
Thoroughly entertaining! I absorbed every word! A page turner! Hard to put down! The storyline envelopes your interest leaving you wanting more!
It’s a “stand alone” read despite “April & Oliver “ which published in 2009. Can only imagine if you had their detailed history ahead of time.
Thanks to Author Tess Callahan and Suzy approved books for this book in exchange for my honest review!
December 21, 2024
I am beyond happy Tess Callahan shared her latest release with me. I had seen a few reviews circling that captured my attention and when my copy arrived I dived right in! Immediately Tess grabbed my attention with the opening chapter and held it throughout the book with her character development and realistic portrait of human nature. This is about a family with secrets…coming together for an annual vacation in Cape Cod… and all hell breaks loose and I guarantee you will be flying through the pages.
This is a stand alone sequel to Tess’s first novel April & Oliver. I have not read that one just yet but it is 💯 on my list to read now! I’m usually a… must read books in order gal… but felt good about starting with Dawnland first and now I’m so excited I get to revisit these characters once more and get a bit more backstory!
Thank you Tess Callahan for sending me a copy 📖
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This is a stand alone sequel to Tess’s first novel April & Oliver. I have not read that one just yet but it is 💯 on my list to read now! I’m usually a… must read books in order gal… but felt good about starting with Dawnland first and now I’m so excited I get to revisit these characters once more and get a bit more backstory!
Thank you Tess Callahan for sending me a copy 📖
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...
September 11, 2024
Extended family vacations aren't always easy and this family's time away is one for the books. April was best friends with Oliver throughout her abusive childhood. How is it that she ended up married to his older brother, Al? Why, after all his philandering and drinking, is she still with him? Their son, Locke, is in a totally rebellious stage and seems to only relate to Oliver. Their daughter draws the monsters of her dreams. Oliver's wife spends all her time on her business and finds Oliver lacking in many ways. Their adopted daughter is searching for her biological parents from China. And, dad announces he's getting married again!
Over the course of the week, many secrets come out from both couples, sending everyone into their own dizzying thoughts. April's son and Oliver's daughter run away and this changes everything. A story full of hurt, yearning, not knowing who you are, and who to trust. This book was hard to put down. The characters are very well written and some you won't like, but end up rooting for them anyway. The premise is great, not an over done story. A lot of intense feelings. I highly recommend reading this one!
Over the course of the week, many secrets come out from both couples, sending everyone into their own dizzying thoughts. April's son and Oliver's daughter run away and this changes everything. A story full of hurt, yearning, not knowing who you are, and who to trust. This book was hard to put down. The characters are very well written and some you won't like, but end up rooting for them anyway. The premise is great, not an over done story. A lot of intense feelings. I highly recommend reading this one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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