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The House of Cavanaugh: A Novel
What if every belief you’ve ever held about your family was disproven? How do you forgive someone who is no longer alive to atone? How do two families integrate a staggering discovery into their intertwined histories?
In New York City in 1964, Joan Cavanaugh, an uncertain young wife and mother, and Peter ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson have a brief but passionate affair, yet during their almost 30 years of marriage, Joan and her husband Graham successfully raise their three daughters, Ceci, Anne and Carolyn. When Joan dies of metastatic breast cancer in 1989, she takes the truth of Anne’s paternity to her grave.
In 2014 in Portland, Carolyn and Julia are next-door neighbors and the closest of friends. During the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Graham travels from New York to visit his youngest daughter and her family. Julia’s parents, Hutch and Alice, have recently relocated to Portland from the East Coast, and by the time the carefully choreographed introduction of the women’s respective parents takes place, Hutch has realized that the family his lover left behind is now significant in his own daughter’s life.
What unfolds following Hutch’s discovery upends both families and threatens the foundation of two women’s established friendship.
Revisiting a family from Dugan’s linked story collection, "So Much a Part of You," "The House of Cavanaugh" explores the flaws of even the most seemingly stable and unblemished families, and how the ripple effects of a long-buried secret have the power to strengthen or destroy the closest ties between family and friends.
In New York City in 1964, Joan Cavanaugh, an uncertain young wife and mother, and Peter ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson have a brief but passionate affair, yet during their almost 30 years of marriage, Joan and her husband Graham successfully raise their three daughters, Ceci, Anne and Carolyn. When Joan dies of metastatic breast cancer in 1989, she takes the truth of Anne’s paternity to her grave.
In 2014 in Portland, Carolyn and Julia are next-door neighbors and the closest of friends. During the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Graham travels from New York to visit his youngest daughter and her family. Julia’s parents, Hutch and Alice, have recently relocated to Portland from the East Coast, and by the time the carefully choreographed introduction of the women’s respective parents takes place, Hutch has realized that the family his lover left behind is now significant in his own daughter’s life.
What unfolds following Hutch’s discovery upends both families and threatens the foundation of two women’s established friendship.
Revisiting a family from Dugan’s linked story collection, "So Much a Part of You," "The House of Cavanaugh" explores the flaws of even the most seemingly stable and unblemished families, and how the ripple effects of a long-buried secret have the power to strengthen or destroy the closest ties between family and friends.
248 pages, Paperback
Published October 7, 2025
6 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
About the author
Polly Dugan
8 books20 followersFollow Polly on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/PollyDuganAu...
Polly Dugan's writing captures a moment in time and follows it as the afterward unfolds. Her predominantly Irish Catholic characters are challenged by their flaws, faith, morality, mortality and circumstances. Although animals often appear in her stories, she does not write animal stories.
Polly Dugan is a graduate of Dickinson College, and a four-time attendee of the Tin House Writers Workshop where she worked with Steve Almond, Elissa Schappell, Meg Storey and Joy Williams. Her stories have appeared in Line Zero and Narrative and received Honorable Mention recognition in Glimmer Train's Short Story Award for New Writers August 2009.
She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, two sons, two black Labrador Retrievers and a brown tabby cat. Her collection of ten linked stories, SO MUCH A PART OF YOU, was published by Little, Brown in 2014. In 2015 Little, Brown published her novel, THE SWEETHEART DEAL, in which a confirmed bachelor is forced to honor a drunken pact made twelve years earlier to marry his best friend’s wife if he dies.
About SO MUCH A PART OF YOU:
From the Depression to the present, the emotional and moral burdens of alcoholism, abortion, infidelity, and the losses of friends, parents and children are seamlessly woven together in Dugan's stark and powerful writing. The ten linked stories in So Much a Part of You revolve around Anna Riley and Anne Cavanaugh, two women with a common lover, Peter Herring. While following the lives of Anna and Anne, and revisiting familiar characters, friendships are tested and family secrets are exposed, and the ripple effects of their emotional choices poignantly rise to the surface.
Her new novel, THE HOUSE OF CAVANAUGH, revisits a family who appear in five stories in SO MUCH A PART OF YOU, and will be published by Sibylline Press in October 2025.
In the novel, 50 years after an affair between Joan Cavanaugh and Peter Hutchinson in New York, and 25 years after Joan's death, the paternity of her middle daughter is revealed and two best friends in Portland discover they share a sister.
https://www.facebook.com/PollyDuganAu...
Polly Dugan's writing captures a moment in time and follows it as the afterward unfolds. Her predominantly Irish Catholic characters are challenged by their flaws, faith, morality, mortality and circumstances. Although animals often appear in her stories, she does not write animal stories.
Polly Dugan is a graduate of Dickinson College, and a four-time attendee of the Tin House Writers Workshop where she worked with Steve Almond, Elissa Schappell, Meg Storey and Joy Williams. Her stories have appeared in Line Zero and Narrative and received Honorable Mention recognition in Glimmer Train's Short Story Award for New Writers August 2009.
She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, two sons, two black Labrador Retrievers and a brown tabby cat. Her collection of ten linked stories, SO MUCH A PART OF YOU, was published by Little, Brown in 2014. In 2015 Little, Brown published her novel, THE SWEETHEART DEAL, in which a confirmed bachelor is forced to honor a drunken pact made twelve years earlier to marry his best friend’s wife if he dies.
About SO MUCH A PART OF YOU:
From the Depression to the present, the emotional and moral burdens of alcoholism, abortion, infidelity, and the losses of friends, parents and children are seamlessly woven together in Dugan's stark and powerful writing. The ten linked stories in So Much a Part of You revolve around Anna Riley and Anne Cavanaugh, two women with a common lover, Peter Herring. While following the lives of Anna and Anne, and revisiting familiar characters, friendships are tested and family secrets are exposed, and the ripple effects of their emotional choices poignantly rise to the surface.
Her new novel, THE HOUSE OF CAVANAUGH, revisits a family who appear in five stories in SO MUCH A PART OF YOU, and will be published by Sibylline Press in October 2025.
In the novel, 50 years after an affair between Joan Cavanaugh and Peter Hutchinson in New York, and 25 years after Joan's death, the paternity of her middle daughter is revealed and two best friends in Portland discover they share a sister.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 23, 2025
A long-buried secret. A friendship on the brink. A family forever changed.
Spanning fifty years and two generations, The House of Cavanaugh unravels the devastating consequences of a long-buried affair, when a chance reunion exposes a secret that binds, and threatens to break, two families forever.
For a novel under 230 pages, The House of Cavanaugh delivers an incredible emotional impact. Polly Dugan masterfully weaves a story that spans decades, exploring how one woman’s affair ripples through generations and forever alters the lives of two families.
I was completely engrossed from the first page, eager to see how the Cavanaughs and Hutchinsons’ lives would collide. The story is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. It’s an intimate portrait of love, loss, and the fragile bonds that define a family. It’s the kind of family drama that pulls you in with its raw emotion and refuses to let go.
Graham and Hutch were standout characters for me. Both were complex, deeply human, and impossible not to root for. Seeing how Joan’s choices affected both men decades later added depth and poignancy to the narrative. I found myself wishing for more time with them, to see how they navigated the aftermath of long-buried secrets.
If I had one critique, it’s that the book ended too soon. I wanted more of the Cavanaughs, more resolution, more time in Dugan’s beautifully written world. But perhaps that’s the mark of a great story, it leaves you wanting just a little more. If you love messy family dramas filled with secrets, loss, and forgiveness, this one is not to be missed.
Thank you BookSparks for a gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
Spanning fifty years and two generations, The House of Cavanaugh unravels the devastating consequences of a long-buried affair, when a chance reunion exposes a secret that binds, and threatens to break, two families forever.
For a novel under 230 pages, The House of Cavanaugh delivers an incredible emotional impact. Polly Dugan masterfully weaves a story that spans decades, exploring how one woman’s affair ripples through generations and forever alters the lives of two families.
I was completely engrossed from the first page, eager to see how the Cavanaughs and Hutchinsons’ lives would collide. The story is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. It’s an intimate portrait of love, loss, and the fragile bonds that define a family. It’s the kind of family drama that pulls you in with its raw emotion and refuses to let go.
Graham and Hutch were standout characters for me. Both were complex, deeply human, and impossible not to root for. Seeing how Joan’s choices affected both men decades later added depth and poignancy to the narrative. I found myself wishing for more time with them, to see how they navigated the aftermath of long-buried secrets.
If I had one critique, it’s that the book ended too soon. I wanted more of the Cavanaughs, more resolution, more time in Dugan’s beautifully written world. But perhaps that’s the mark of a great story, it leaves you wanting just a little more. If you love messy family dramas filled with secrets, loss, and forgiveness, this one is not to be missed.
Thank you BookSparks for a gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 22, 2025
Two families and one life-altering secret that will shatter their stability and threaten so many of their beliefs …
And the person who decided to keep this secret buried is our main character, Joan, who is dying due to breast cancer.
So she’s not even here to explain it all…
✍🏻“𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞.”
If you love family sagas, this one is for you!
It’s short (220 pages) yet depicts with depth what different family members go through when facing the shocking truth about someone they love.
The storytelling is gripping and the back and forth between the past and present will ease you into the life of these families and their emotional dynamics; we even accompany them in the many years that follow the exploding twist!
This story will make you think about how some actions taken at a younger age can have long-lasting effects on people in generations to come … there is no right or wrong decision, only different consequences. And at the end, despite the rocky road, forgiveness and love will prevail.
I definitely recommend it!
Thank you Booksparks for this gifted copy and great reading opportunity 🫶🏻
And the person who decided to keep this secret buried is our main character, Joan, who is dying due to breast cancer.
So she’s not even here to explain it all…
✍🏻“𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞.”
If you love family sagas, this one is for you!
It’s short (220 pages) yet depicts with depth what different family members go through when facing the shocking truth about someone they love.
The storytelling is gripping and the back and forth between the past and present will ease you into the life of these families and their emotional dynamics; we even accompany them in the many years that follow the exploding twist!
This story will make you think about how some actions taken at a younger age can have long-lasting effects on people in generations to come … there is no right or wrong decision, only different consequences. And at the end, despite the rocky road, forgiveness and love will prevail.
I definitely recommend it!
Thank you Booksparks for this gifted copy and great reading opportunity 🫶🏻
July 15, 2025
Wow. I loved this. It's a novel that creeps up on you, in a way that reminded me of Alice McDermott. You're reading along, enjoying it, and about a quarter of the way through you suddenly realize you are 100% invested in every single character. I was really impressed by what the writer does with time. If I'd seen an outline of the structure, I would have said, oh, I don't think that's going to work. But it works beautifully! The scope -- the story takes place over half a century -- is what gives the novel its power.
October 21, 2025
How do you forgive the dead?
The House of Cavanaugh by Polly Dugan will have you mesmerized from the first chapter.
This is definitely not my normal read, but I just couldn't put it down. Family drama... we all have it, but what is considered unforgivable?
Family drama, hidden secrets, and the aftermath of choices made decades prior.
It is a stunning story that is beautifully written.
The House of Cavanaugh by Polly Dugan will have you mesmerized from the first chapter.
This is definitely not my normal read, but I just couldn't put it down. Family drama... we all have it, but what is considered unforgivable?
Family drama, hidden secrets, and the aftermath of choices made decades prior.
It is a stunning story that is beautifully written.
October 16, 2025
Thank you @Booksparks @Polly.DuganAuthor for the #gifted copy of The House of Cavanaugh! #FRC2025 #PracticalBookMagic #booksparks #TheHouseOfCavanaugh #PollyDugan #SibyllinePress
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐃𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐧
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
4.5★
This was such an emotionally charged multigenerational family saga. I really enjoyed Dugan’s writing style and felt like for 221 pages, this book packed quite the punch. It was full of secrets and family drama and the type of book that you will pick up and won’t put down. This book really had me thinking as I was reading about the choices we make and their consequences. Also, the whole concept of forgiveness when someone is no longer living was something I really thought a lot about too with Joan’s character. There are so many great themes in this book that it could make a really great book club selection (and as a bonus, there are discussion questions at the end). Overall, I really enjoyed this one and it’s one I’m still thinking about and would definitely recommend it!
🖤Lifelong Secrets
🖤Family Drama
🖤Choices & Consequences
🖤Dual Timeline
🖤Friendship
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐃𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐧
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
4.5★
This was such an emotionally charged multigenerational family saga. I really enjoyed Dugan’s writing style and felt like for 221 pages, this book packed quite the punch. It was full of secrets and family drama and the type of book that you will pick up and won’t put down. This book really had me thinking as I was reading about the choices we make and their consequences. Also, the whole concept of forgiveness when someone is no longer living was something I really thought a lot about too with Joan’s character. There are so many great themes in this book that it could make a really great book club selection (and as a bonus, there are discussion questions at the end). Overall, I really enjoyed this one and it’s one I’m still thinking about and would definitely recommend it!
🖤Lifelong Secrets
🖤Family Drama
🖤Choices & Consequences
🖤Dual Timeline
🖤Friendship
July 4, 2025
Secrets surface, lives are upended, but love prevails....
The House of Cavanaugh explores how one woman’s long-ago indiscretion—kept secret for decades—is revealed after she dies, wreaking havoc with the people who loved her. Joan Cavanaugh, the woman at the heart of this story, is smart, beautiful, and loving. She’s also a liar, or at the very least, a truth-witholder. When her secrets are finally revealed, two families are set reeling, and Joan becomes a mystery to those who thought they knew her best.
This novel is a textured portrait of family life, made all the richer for investigating lies and loss as well as love, and showing how close-knit families can unravel when their home truths are called into question.
This author is at the height of her powers when she writes of loss and grief: the heartbreak, the toll on relationships, and how people never forget but manage to move forward. I was deeply moved by how the characters in this story steered their grief like a leaky boat in a raging storm.
The author also writes movingly about how families come together and fall apart, and how people fall for each other, whether as lovers or friends. I loved the portrayals of female friendships, as well as insights into what really goes on in long-term relationships.
I recommend this novel unreservedly.
The House of Cavanaugh explores how one woman’s long-ago indiscretion—kept secret for decades—is revealed after she dies, wreaking havoc with the people who loved her. Joan Cavanaugh, the woman at the heart of this story, is smart, beautiful, and loving. She’s also a liar, or at the very least, a truth-witholder. When her secrets are finally revealed, two families are set reeling, and Joan becomes a mystery to those who thought they knew her best.
This novel is a textured portrait of family life, made all the richer for investigating lies and loss as well as love, and showing how close-knit families can unravel when their home truths are called into question.
This author is at the height of her powers when she writes of loss and grief: the heartbreak, the toll on relationships, and how people never forget but manage to move forward. I was deeply moved by how the characters in this story steered their grief like a leaky boat in a raging storm.
The author also writes movingly about how families come together and fall apart, and how people fall for each other, whether as lovers or friends. I loved the portrayals of female friendships, as well as insights into what really goes on in long-term relationships.
I recommend this novel unreservedly.
October 21, 2025
I loved the dual timeline with interesting characters that I became invested in quickly. The suspense of Joan’s secret, plus its implications and fallout for her family and their relationships in present times, made for an entertaining plot. Fans of family drama and suspense will love this book.
October 19, 2025
Thank you to Polly Dugan and BookSparks for the gifted book!
Title: The House of Cavanaugh
Author: Polly Dugan
Publication Date: October 7, 20215-OUT NOW
Genre: Fiction (family drama)
Format: Paperback
This BookSparks track is bringing books into my life that I would not have heard of otherwise! I truly love that!
The House of Cavanaugh was such a fascinating book. First of all, it spanned over many years which I really enjoyed. You saw several different characters' perspectives. This was a book that showed what one generation does can impact generations to come. It is real and messy. It is hopeful.
I enjoyed all the sibling/parent dynamics and thoughts in the book! It truly made it an interesting read!
Have you ever taken a DNA test? Would you? Why or why not?
Synopsis:
A long-buried secret. A friendship on the brink. A family forever changed.
New York City, 1964. Joan Cavanaugh—a young wife and mother yearning for more falls into a passionate affair with Peter “Hutch” Hutchinson. When the affair ends, she returns to her marriage, raising three daughters with her devoted husband, Graham. For nearly three decades, she keeps her secret locked away, taking the truth of her daughter Anne’s paternity to her grave when she succumbs to cancer in 1989.
Portland, 2014. Carolyn Cavanaugh and Julia Hutchinson are next door neighbors and the closest of friends. But when Carolyn’s father, Graham, visits for Thanksgiving, his path collides with Julia’s parents, Hutch and Alice. The revelation that unfolds following Graham’s trip upends both families, bringing a truth to light that will shake two families to their core.
As decades of deception unravel, bonds are tested, loyalties waver, and the meaning of family is forever redefined.
Title: The House of Cavanaugh
Author: Polly Dugan
Publication Date: October 7, 20215-OUT NOW
Genre: Fiction (family drama)
Format: Paperback
This BookSparks track is bringing books into my life that I would not have heard of otherwise! I truly love that!
The House of Cavanaugh was such a fascinating book. First of all, it spanned over many years which I really enjoyed. You saw several different characters' perspectives. This was a book that showed what one generation does can impact generations to come. It is real and messy. It is hopeful.
I enjoyed all the sibling/parent dynamics and thoughts in the book! It truly made it an interesting read!
Have you ever taken a DNA test? Would you? Why or why not?
Synopsis:
A long-buried secret. A friendship on the brink. A family forever changed.
New York City, 1964. Joan Cavanaugh—a young wife and mother yearning for more falls into a passionate affair with Peter “Hutch” Hutchinson. When the affair ends, she returns to her marriage, raising three daughters with her devoted husband, Graham. For nearly three decades, she keeps her secret locked away, taking the truth of her daughter Anne’s paternity to her grave when she succumbs to cancer in 1989.
Portland, 2014. Carolyn Cavanaugh and Julia Hutchinson are next door neighbors and the closest of friends. But when Carolyn’s father, Graham, visits for Thanksgiving, his path collides with Julia’s parents, Hutch and Alice. The revelation that unfolds following Graham’s trip upends both families, bringing a truth to light that will shake two families to their core.
As decades of deception unravel, bonds are tested, loyalties waver, and the meaning of family is forever redefined.
November 11, 2025
My thanks to Polly Dugan and BookSparks for the gifted book.
Having never read this author before, I was happily surprised how Polly Dugan's novel captivated me early on and maintained its grip until the end. The narrative is a blend of timelines and perspectives, creating a multi-layered story that immediately drew me in and kept the pages turning.
The story begins in 1964 and spans across decades until 2015. This sweeping timeline added to the growth of each character. However, some characters didn’t feel as vividly real as I hoped. Despite this, their reactions to events felt authentic and relatable, adding to the story’s emotional impact. A longer book might have allowed for more character development, showcasing each individual's unique traits.
I also felt the ending was a bit abrupt and unfinished. But after thinking about it, it was perfect. Anything more would have felt like a cliche, fairy tale ending. And that wouldn’t have worked. So, in retrospect Dugan, it was perfect.
The plot required a certain suspension of disbelief, but this was a small price to pay for the compelling drama that unfolded. The story weaved themes of infidelity, love, family, secrets, and death, all of which are handled with a skillful touch.
If you love emotionally rich sagas that effortlessly switch between past and present, Polly Dugan's novel is one you shouldn't miss. In my reviews I choose not to tell much of the story, because I want to discover each thing, not be aware of it in advance. I’m assuming there are some who might feel the same. So, whether or not you dive into the synopsis first, is your choice, but this is a short book that shouldn’t be overlooked. I highly recommend it.
Having never read this author before, I was happily surprised how Polly Dugan's novel captivated me early on and maintained its grip until the end. The narrative is a blend of timelines and perspectives, creating a multi-layered story that immediately drew me in and kept the pages turning.
The story begins in 1964 and spans across decades until 2015. This sweeping timeline added to the growth of each character. However, some characters didn’t feel as vividly real as I hoped. Despite this, their reactions to events felt authentic and relatable, adding to the story’s emotional impact. A longer book might have allowed for more character development, showcasing each individual's unique traits.
I also felt the ending was a bit abrupt and unfinished. But after thinking about it, it was perfect. Anything more would have felt like a cliche, fairy tale ending. And that wouldn’t have worked. So, in retrospect Dugan, it was perfect.
The plot required a certain suspension of disbelief, but this was a small price to pay for the compelling drama that unfolded. The story weaved themes of infidelity, love, family, secrets, and death, all of which are handled with a skillful touch.
If you love emotionally rich sagas that effortlessly switch between past and present, Polly Dugan's novel is one you shouldn't miss. In my reviews I choose not to tell much of the story, because I want to discover each thing, not be aware of it in advance. I’m assuming there are some who might feel the same. So, whether or not you dive into the synopsis first, is your choice, but this is a short book that shouldn’t be overlooked. I highly recommend it.
September 6, 2025
Spanning the years from 1964 to 2014, this multigenerational drama unfolds in two key phases:
* 1964 (New York City): Joan Cavanaugh—an unsettled young wife and mother—embarks on a brief but passionate affair with Peter “Hutch” Hutchinson while law studies consume her husband Graham.
* 1980s–2014 (Portland, Oregon): Joan dies of cancer in 1989, keeping the truth of Anne’s paternity secret. In 2014, her daughters Carolyn and Julia (Hutch’s daughter) were best friends—and neighbors—in Portland, until a DNA test revealed that Anne was biologically Hutch’s daughter, not Graham’s. The revelation occurs during Thanksgiving when Graham and Hutch’s paths cross, threading two families together in an explosive moment.
A well-paced, chatty generational drama that holds the reader’s interest as the decades progress.” The brisk pace helps sustain reader engagement through the unfolding emotional and familial revelations. The House of Cavanaugh is a moving and accessible family drama, ideal for readers who enjoy emotionally rich sagas that alternate between past and present. Though dialogue may be occasionally uninspired, the novel’s narrative momentum and thematic depth make it a powerful exploration of legacy, identity, and the burdens of long-held secrets.
* 1964 (New York City): Joan Cavanaugh—an unsettled young wife and mother—embarks on a brief but passionate affair with Peter “Hutch” Hutchinson while law studies consume her husband Graham.
* 1980s–2014 (Portland, Oregon): Joan dies of cancer in 1989, keeping the truth of Anne’s paternity secret. In 2014, her daughters Carolyn and Julia (Hutch’s daughter) were best friends—and neighbors—in Portland, until a DNA test revealed that Anne was biologically Hutch’s daughter, not Graham’s. The revelation occurs during Thanksgiving when Graham and Hutch’s paths cross, threading two families together in an explosive moment.
A well-paced, chatty generational drama that holds the reader’s interest as the decades progress.” The brisk pace helps sustain reader engagement through the unfolding emotional and familial revelations. The House of Cavanaugh is a moving and accessible family drama, ideal for readers who enjoy emotionally rich sagas that alternate between past and present. Though dialogue may be occasionally uninspired, the novel’s narrative momentum and thematic depth make it a powerful exploration of legacy, identity, and the burdens of long-held secrets.
November 9, 2025
What I love most about House of Cavanaugh is that Polly Dugan writes about love the way it really works. Love is hard. It's complicated, imperfect, and family love is often shaped by choices that echo across generations. The novel begins with one secret that seems containable, even forgivable, yet its quiet unraveling pulls two families into a reckoning that feels heartbreakingly believable. It makes you pay heed to secrets of your own.
Dugan doesn’t write for escapism. Her storytelling is grounded in truth, in the messy, human side of love, guilt, and forgiveness. She reminds us that even the ugliest secrets begin with good intentions and that facing them can be both devastating and redemptive.
What sets this book apart is Dugan’s compassion for her characters and her ability to find grace in imperfection. House of Cavanaugh isn’t about fantasy or formulaic romance, it’s about endurance, honesty, and the fragile hope that love, in its truest form, can survive anything. I couldn't put this one down.
Dugan doesn’t write for escapism. Her storytelling is grounded in truth, in the messy, human side of love, guilt, and forgiveness. She reminds us that even the ugliest secrets begin with good intentions and that facing them can be both devastating and redemptive.
What sets this book apart is Dugan’s compassion for her characters and her ability to find grace in imperfection. House of Cavanaugh isn’t about fantasy or formulaic romance, it’s about endurance, honesty, and the fragile hope that love, in its truest form, can survive anything. I couldn't put this one down.
October 21, 2025
“A happy marriage can’t be intruded on by a third party.”
As decades of deception unravel, bonds are tested, loyalties waver, and the meaning of family is redefined. A poignant and gripping exploration of love, betrayal, and the unexpected ways secrets can bind us—or break us apart.
Have you ever seen The Bridges Of Madison County with Meryl Streep? I LOVED that movie and felt a lot of those same vibes with this book. I was immediately sucked into Joan’s story as she’s dying from cancer and laying all of her secrets bare.
Joan has three children she adores. She has a husband she adores. And yet, she had an affair in the beginning of her marriage. That affair had long lasting effects and this story follows that decision, the revealing of it, and how it shaped and defined their lives and family going forward.
This story is emotional and heartfelt and I just simply loved it!
Thank you to @BookSparks and @Polly.DuganAuthor for the #gifted copy.
As decades of deception unravel, bonds are tested, loyalties waver, and the meaning of family is redefined. A poignant and gripping exploration of love, betrayal, and the unexpected ways secrets can bind us—or break us apart.
Have you ever seen The Bridges Of Madison County with Meryl Streep? I LOVED that movie and felt a lot of those same vibes with this book. I was immediately sucked into Joan’s story as she’s dying from cancer and laying all of her secrets bare.
Joan has three children she adores. She has a husband she adores. And yet, she had an affair in the beginning of her marriage. That affair had long lasting effects and this story follows that decision, the revealing of it, and how it shaped and defined their lives and family going forward.
This story is emotional and heartfelt and I just simply loved it!
Thank you to @BookSparks and @Polly.DuganAuthor for the #gifted copy.
October 7, 2025
This is the second book in my track from the BookSparks #FRC2025 Fall Reading Challenge.
House of Cavanaugh revolves around the worst kind of secret: an affair that led to a pregnancy, that neither the woman's husband, her daughter, nor the father knows about.
Through a series of coincidences and accidental revelations after she dies, Joan's husband, children, former lover, and his daughter are thrust into circumstances they could never have predicted. This is the story of how they handle it, and the complexities of relationships in the aftermath of a life-changing event.
The story is told with an angst that felt so real at times, and so intensely personal, that it was hard to put the book down, and I surprised myself by reading it in one day.
Many thanks to Sibylline Press and to BookSparks for an advance reader's copy by this new-to-me author.
House of Cavanaugh revolves around the worst kind of secret: an affair that led to a pregnancy, that neither the woman's husband, her daughter, nor the father knows about.
Through a series of coincidences and accidental revelations after she dies, Joan's husband, children, former lover, and his daughter are thrust into circumstances they could never have predicted. This is the story of how they handle it, and the complexities of relationships in the aftermath of a life-changing event.
The story is told with an angst that felt so real at times, and so intensely personal, that it was hard to put the book down, and I surprised myself by reading it in one day.
Many thanks to Sibylline Press and to BookSparks for an advance reader's copy by this new-to-me author.
October 21, 2025
The story hits hard. It starts in 1964 with Joan, a married woman who has an affair she plans to take to the grave. Fast forward to 2014, her daughter lives next door to the daughter of Joan’s long-ago lover, and one DNA test blows everyone’s lives wide open.
This emotional story digs deep into family secrets, choices, and the ripple effects of truth. It’s raw, relatable, and heartbreakingly real. I especially connected with it—having taken my own DNA test at sixty, while reading this book, and uncovering my dad isn’t my dad. I felt every twist of this story. One minute I was crying, the next I was thankful to have a friend on this journey, as the fallout crashed on all of us. In the end, the House of Cavanaugh is a reminder that the truth, no matter how painful, can also set you free.
This emotional story digs deep into family secrets, choices, and the ripple effects of truth. It’s raw, relatable, and heartbreakingly real. I especially connected with it—having taken my own DNA test at sixty, while reading this book, and uncovering my dad isn’t my dad. I felt every twist of this story. One minute I was crying, the next I was thankful to have a friend on this journey, as the fallout crashed on all of us. In the end, the House of Cavanaugh is a reminder that the truth, no matter how painful, can also set you free.
October 21, 2025
I just finished The House of Cavanaugh and I am shook.
What if everything you believed about your family turned out to be a lie? This story follows two families whose lives become unexpectedly intertwined after a long-buried secret comes to light—one that threatens the foundation of lifelong friendships and challenges the meaning of forgiveness and family.
I love a messy family dynamic, and this one truly takes the cake. The dual timelines were so well done, giving just enough backstory to each character while seamlessly tying everything together as the truth unfolds. It’s quick and easy to devour in one sitting, yet deeply emotional and layered. This book had me in tears—and honestly, I’d give anything to read it again for the first time.
What if everything you believed about your family turned out to be a lie? This story follows two families whose lives become unexpectedly intertwined after a long-buried secret comes to light—one that threatens the foundation of lifelong friendships and challenges the meaning of forgiveness and family.
I love a messy family dynamic, and this one truly takes the cake. The dual timelines were so well done, giving just enough backstory to each character while seamlessly tying everything together as the truth unfolds. It’s quick and easy to devour in one sitting, yet deeply emotional and layered. This book had me in tears—and honestly, I’d give anything to read it again for the first time.
July 31, 2025
The House of Cavanaugh by Polly Dugan was so good I immediately read it again to see if I had missed any clues along the way. Dugan is straightforward in her telling of the affair of the young wife and mother, Joan Cavanaugh. The story is believable and compelling, with all the twists and turns and life changing consequences even though they are revealed years after the death of the main character. It could be a cautionary tale of "your sins will find you out" while also just exploring longing in a time of limited choices for women. An excellent book. Thank you Booksprout for the ARC.
October 22, 2025
Thank you @booksparks for the #gifted copy as part of the BookSparks Fall Reading Challenge! #FRC2025
Two families are connected by a secret held deep in the heart of one woman. As decades of deception unravel, bonds are tested, loyalties waver, and the meaning of family is forever redefined.
This was a poignant and emotional story of love, family, and forgiveness that completely captivated me. The writing was beautiful and I loved getting the perspective of each character. I would recommend going into this one blind and with a box of tissues.
Rating 4.5⭐️
Two families are connected by a secret held deep in the heart of one woman. As decades of deception unravel, bonds are tested, loyalties waver, and the meaning of family is forever redefined.
This was a poignant and emotional story of love, family, and forgiveness that completely captivated me. The writing was beautiful and I loved getting the perspective of each character. I would recommend going into this one blind and with a box of tissues.
Rating 4.5⭐️
November 10, 2025
I don’t know what I was expecting when I dove into this one, and it is not my typical novel, but it was really enjoyable! Joan makes a choice early in her marriage that she must keep secret (and she does until her death). After her death, the secret almost can’t help but be revealed, throwing together two families in a strange relationship. I liked the alternating timelines. I thought the writing was really well done. The chapters are short, and I feel like you can make a lot of progress reading it in a short amount of time. Thank you so much to BookSparks for my copy!
October 3, 2025
It's 1989, and Joan Cavanaugh, wife and mother of three young women, has succumbed to breast cancer at the age of 48. She had intended to take a deep family secret to her grave—the true paternity of one of her daughters. The story shifts to 1964, when Joan is caring for her first daughter, Ceci. Husband Graham is focused on his law degree, leaving Joan alone in their New York City apartment, and feeling unfulfilled. When Joan meets Peter “Hutch” Hutchinson, a sweet friendship develops that quickly turns passionate. After their brief relationship ends, Joan devotes herself to Graham and her children, which soon includes daughters Anne and Carolyn. After Joan's death, her memory becomes revered by her grieving family. They frequently asked themselves the question WWJD: "What Would Joan Do?" when faced with tough decisions. By 2014, Carolyn is living with her family in Portland, and in a twist of fate, her next-door neighbor and best friend happens to be Julia, Hutch's daughter. When Anne receives the results of a DNA test, the lives of all concerned are thrown into complete disarray.
The House of Cavanaugh by Polly Dugan is an engaging exploration of two complex families confronted with a shattering secret. This emotional story delves into the choices people make and their consequences. Was Joan being selfish by hiding her secret, or was she protecting those she loved? This short yet rich novel leaves a lot to think about.
Many thanks to Sibylline Press for the opportunity to read this book in advance.
4.25 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
The House of Cavanaugh by Polly Dugan is an engaging exploration of two complex families confronted with a shattering secret. This emotional story delves into the choices people make and their consequences. Was Joan being selfish by hiding her secret, or was she protecting those she loved? This short yet rich novel leaves a lot to think about.
Many thanks to Sibylline Press for the opportunity to read this book in advance.
4.25 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
October 7, 2025
Thank you BookSparks for the copy of The House of Cavanaugh - I really enjoyed it!
I really didn’t expect to love this book as much as I did, but I was fully invested from the start. Following this family over 50 years, from the mother’s youth through the kids’ lives, was wonderful to experience. Full of lasting relationships, personal flaws, family drama, and lifelong secrets.
The book had great pacing, and I enjoyed the flashbacks and oscillating through time. It’s a relatively short book, which I read in one day, but told a complete and beautiful story.
I really didn’t expect to love this book as much as I did, but I was fully invested from the start. Following this family over 50 years, from the mother’s youth through the kids’ lives, was wonderful to experience. Full of lasting relationships, personal flaws, family drama, and lifelong secrets.
The book had great pacing, and I enjoyed the flashbacks and oscillating through time. It’s a relatively short book, which I read in one day, but told a complete and beautiful story.
June 2, 2025
In the beginning, the reader meets Joan who is dying from Breast Cancer. We learn that she has kept a secret from her husband about the paternity of their second daughter. Jump to the present where the truth comes out and how it affects two families going forward. An interesting book dealing with family secrets.
February 19, 2026
I really enjoyed this exploration of the complexity of love and grief in its various forms. We spend decades with this family, moving deftly across decades to experience major life events and then the repercussions of decisions that are felt years later. I liked that this novel explores a lot of gray areas, which is the way life really unfolds. A rewarding read.
February 25, 2026
Once I started, I couldn't put it down.
And once I finished, I went back and read it a second time!
I loved how the story evolved over many years and two different coasts. And I really enjoyed getting to know the characters as they discovered how their two families were connected.
As an Oregonian that lived in NYC for a bit, it was fun to read about familiar places.
But mostly I was taken with the tender way that Polly writes about the losses these people faced. Their experiences of grieving, and working to find a way forward, resonated deeply with me.
Highly recommend this book.
And once I finished, I went back and read it a second time!
I loved how the story evolved over many years and two different coasts. And I really enjoyed getting to know the characters as they discovered how their two families were connected.
As an Oregonian that lived in NYC for a bit, it was fun to read about familiar places.
But mostly I was taken with the tender way that Polly writes about the losses these people faced. Their experiences of grieving, and working to find a way forward, resonated deeply with me.
Highly recommend this book.
July 22, 2025
A lovely and bittersweet novel about two families united by tragic deaths and a shattering secret revealed decades later. I cared deeply for these thoughtful characters and their messy, tangled lives. Polly Dugan's The House of Cavanaugh is a wonderful read!
November 6, 2025
My first Polly Dugan novel, and I was struck by the emotional precision of her writing. The House of Cavanaugh unravels the long reach of a family secret with honesty and grace—an intricate, beautifully told story of love, guilt, and forgiveness.
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