The May House: A Novel

by Jillian Cantor

Three adult sisters inherit a beach house from their grandmother on the condition they return every May to spend one week together, earthing family secrets, unrequited love, and the deep bonds of sisterhood in this shimmering new novel from the USA TODAY bestselling author of The Fiction Writer and Beautiful Little Fools.

No matter what’s going on in the May sisters’ lives, the one thing they can rely upon is seeing each other for one week each year, while staying at their grandmother’s beachside home in gorgeous Coronado. As adults, Julia, Emily, and Nora aren’t particularly close, spread out across the country and busy with careers, relationships, and the minutia of life, but their promise to Grandma Vera keeps them anchored together, if only for one week every May.

One year Julia, the oldest and most dependable sister, doesn’t show. And suddenly Nora and Emily start to question how much they truly know about their sister’s life. Told in alternating points of view, spanning from their time together with Grandma Vera as kids into their adult lives, The May House explores how a decades-long family secret has unknowingly shaped each sister and, ultimately, how it brings them closer together.

Funny, poignant, and brimming with heart, The May House is an irresistible story about the special bond between sisters and figuring out what matters most in life, in all its ups and downs.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Adult, Literary Fiction, Adult Fiction

368 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication May 12, 2026

About the author

Jillian Cantor is the USA Today and internationally bestselling author of fifteen novels for teens and adults, which have been chosen for LibraryReads, Indie Next, Amazon Best of the Month, and have been translated into 15 languages. Born and raised in a suburb of Philadelphia, Cantor currently lives in Arizona with her husband and two sons.

Reviews

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The May House
By: Jillian Cantor
Pub Date: May 12, 2025
Publisher: Atria Books

If you have followed me any length of time you know I am a huge fan of Cantor and her books. I was elated to get approved for her latest book.

This novel follows three sisters who inherit a beach house from their grandmother. They grew up spending time at the beach house next door to a young man who looks forward to their visits every year.

Coronado is beautiful and they look forward to going to the beach house each year with their families even after their grandmother Vera’s health declined. Julia, Emily and Nora’s life’s change as they grown older as life happens, but they promise each other they will return to reconnect each year.
Told in alternating points of year and spanning their lives this novel will tug at your heart and really makes think and remember what is truly important in life. Always listen to your heart and be there for the ones you love.

Her writing is beautiful and this story is heartwarming. Be sure and read the author notes. Off to pre-order to add to the rest of my books by Cantor.

[Sue Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three sisters grow up without their mom, but their maternal grandma makes sure they have one week with her at her Coronado cottage.
When their grandma passes, she leaves the cottage to them, but with a condition: The girls must continue to meet one week at the end of May to carry on the tradition.
Time has a way of moving things forward, whether you want them to or not. Each one brings a bit of something to their dynamic...Julia, the oldest, is the glue. She makes sure it happens every year, complete with lists and a whole to do list.
One constant is their neighbor Nate.
One year Julia not only doesn't show up, but she seems to be missing. As they try to unravel where she might be, they realize that one week a year doesn't make for true close relationships.
This book was everything I'd hoped, and more. I read long into the night, and I'm paying for it today...but I highly recommend that you read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #TheMayHouse #JillianCantor #AtriaBooks

[Kate Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

The May House took me on such a journey, given that we see these three sisters facing life from early childhood up until their forties and early fifties. I picked up this novel expecting a story of sisterhood and a beloved beach home, and it definitely delivers on that promise, but it feels like the book offers so much more than that.

The way the author weaves in historical events and milestones throughout made it such a unique family saga. I felt for all three sisters as well as Grandma Vera and next-door neighbor Nate. I mourned with them over their familial losses and cheered for them to discover their own happiness.

No character in the story is faultless, but they’re trying, drawn together each May to the house left to them by their beloved grandmother. I enjoyed the way the timeline hopped around, taking us from the present day and back to various points in each sister’s life. It was an amazing forty-year journey that I didn’t want to put down.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC of this novel!

[Wendy Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley and Atria books for my advanced copy. I’ve loved all of Cantor’s books I’ve read so far and so happy to continue.
A quietly emotional, character-driven novel that explores grief, love, and the lasting impact of choice. Jillian Cantor weaves together the stories of Julia, Nora, and Emily through a well-balanced dual timeline that unfolds naturally and with purpose. Each woman feels distinct and fully realized, and the connections between their lives emerge with subtle emotional power. While the pacing slows slightly at times, the strong character development and thoughtful structure make this a rewarding and reflective read.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three sisters, one house, and a yearly pact that binds them through decades. This beautifully written, character‑driven novel follows the lives of three women who inherit their grandmother’s beach house under one condition: they must return every May to spend a week together. Spanning from their youth into their fifties, the story explores the evolving bonds of sisterhood, the complexities of love and marriage, and the weight of long‑buried family secrets.

I was especially drawn to how the author handles grief and healing. The sisters feel fully lived‑in, and their relationships are the heart of the novel.
That said, the alternating points of view and shifts across multiple years occasionally pulled me out of the story. While the structure adds depth, it sometimes disrupted the emotional momentum I wanted to stay immersed in.

Readers may want to check for trigger warnings, as some themes are heavy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Jaclyn Wingfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐️ The book follows three sisters throughout childhood into their mid 40s, mainly based around their one week visit every year to their grandmother’s house/cottage on the beach. The story touches on love, heartbreak, career changes, family secrets - almost like a coming-of-age novel? We got to see the sisters through life’s ups and downs, but their one week in May at the cottage always remains constant.

There are secondary characters that come in and out of the sister’s lives, which really added to the story and relatability of how people come and go from your life. But also the importance of those “side characters” in shaping who you are.

My one point of feedback (why I didn’t give it 5 stars) is that one of the main issues in this book felt a little unrealistic and the resolution of it felt too brief for me; however, I can understand what the author did in showcasing that you don’t always get closure and life is messy/incomplete at times.

As someone with two sisters, there were a lot of moments I found very relatable. Similar to this story, relationships with my sisters have changed over the years, depending on our age, what life phase we are in, etc. But no matter our differences, we are always there for each other.

This ARC was provided to me via NetGalley and Atria in exchange for an honest review.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED THIS thanks @huddy

[Constantine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ ½
Genre: Contemporary Fiction

The May House by Jillian Cantor follows three sisters (Julia, Emily, and Nora) who reunite for one week at their family home every May to spend time together. This was a promise they made to their grandmother in order to inherit the beach house there. One year, Julia doesn’t show up, so the story takes off from there, alternating between present and past.

The concept is really strong and quite engaging. The idea of three estranged sisters coming back together in a place loaded with emotional history has a lot of weight to it, and the novel taps into that well. There’s a constant sense that the house holds more than just memories, and I felt that there is some kind of underlying mystery that helps carry the narrative forward.

One of my favorite things about the book is the relationship between the sisters. It felt real to me—messy in a believable way, not overly dramatic but still emotional. Each sister has her own personality and baggage, and you can really feel that in how they interact. The story switches between their perspectives (in third person), which worked well in showing how differently they see the same past. As their history slowly comes out, their bond feels more layered, and some of their conversations are very relevant.

The author did a great job with the atmosphere of the book. It is excellent throughout. The setting of the May house has its own mood with an almost cozy but at the same time mysterious backdrop, which helps a lot in enhancing the emotional tone of the story. There’s a quiet intensity to the writing that keeps you immersed, even in slower moments.

Now, for what didn’t work for me—I think the main problem was with the non-linear timeline. There is a lot of back-and-forth between different points in time, which felt scattered and, at times, confusing. I have no idea why the author chose this method instead of the simple present and past periods. This sometimes made it harder to stay oriented within the story.

Overall, the book is still worth reading, so I’m giving it a solid 3.5 stars. The concept is compelling, the sisters’ relationship is well developed, and the atmosphere is a real strength. But the disjointed timeline holds it back from being as impactful as it could have been.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of this book.

https://constantinebooks.blogspot.com...

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three sisters, whose mother died in childbirth, come every year to visit their grandmother in Coronado California. Beginning in 1985, Julia, the eldest at twelve, is allowed to shepherd her nine year old sister Emily and six year old sister Nora, across the country to California from Chicago for one week in May. The one constant in their life is surfer dude, Nate, who lives next door to their grandmother. As the girls grow up, Nate becomes a central figure in their lives, especially for Julia as he goes from boyfriend to merely friend. The sisters follow different paths as they grow up-Julia gets perfect grades, has a perfect law practice and a seemingly perfect marriage. Emily becomes an underemployed art history student, and Nora tries to make it on the Broadway stage, with mixed results.
When grandma Vera dies, the sisters vow to continue meeting in May as a bonding event, and rent out the house at other times during the year-this way they can keep the house in the family while making some income from it. Nate takes on the job of rental agent/caretaker and stays in his family house through several unsuccessful relationships. Years later, in 2019, Emily and Nora return to the house but Julia isn't there yet. This was odd-it was always Julia there first to greet them with her list of scheduled events. As the days passed and they couldn't find anyone who knew where she was, they started to panic. Where was Julia and did her disappearance have anything to do with the stack of letters missing from their grandmother's living room bureau?
This is a good beach read, having all of the requisite elements-sister rivalries, family secrets, and the hunky but vulnerable guy next door. Having the setting be the peninsula of Coronado near San Diego doesn't hurt either. But it also has some good writing and a serious plot development that elevates it from summer fluff to something you have to think about. Spending some time in Coronado on the beach with your sisters is a great way to start your summer reading.

[Cory · Rating 3 out of 5]

Coming May 12, 2026, from Atria Books.

The May House by Jillian Cantor is a heartfelt, character-driven novel that beautifully captures the complexity of sisterhood, grief, and the passage of time. Following the three May sisters, bound by their grandmother’s final wish to reunite each May at a beloved beach house Grandma Vera owned, the story unfolds across decades, weaving together past and present to reveal long-buried secrets, shifting relationships, and the quiet ways love endures.

Cantor excels at creating deeply human, imperfect characters whose struggles with identity, marriage, and self-worth feel authentic and relatable, even when the nonlinear timeline occasionally feels disjointed. The Coronado setting adds a nostalgic, almost wistful atmosphere that mirrors the emotional weight of the story, building to a touching and satisfying conclusion.

Trigger warning: this book includes sensitive topics such as miscarriage, loss, and grief, which are handled with care but may be difficult for some readers. Overall, it’s an immersive and emotional read perfect for fans of family dramas centered on complicated yet enduring sisterhood bonds.

Although rated three stars, it really read more like a 3.5 for me because the first 30% of the book was spent with a lot of leading up to things and going back to tell more and I almost put it down. So if it feels a little slow at first, I would recommend to give it until the 40% mark before things really start moving. I enjoyed the May Day aspect of the story, the lovely neighbor, Nate, and the joy the sisters had with their sweet Grandma Vera.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Sara Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars ⭐️

The May House is a heartfelt, contemporary fiction about three very different sisters; Julia, Emily, and Nora who are bound by a promise to their late grandmother to reunite at her Coronado beach house every single May. Written in third person, this character driven story is a quiet, deeply emotional exploration of sisterhood, family dynamics, personal drama, secrets and the messy reality of love and loss.
I absolutely loved the atmosphere; the setting of the May House is described so vividly that you can practically feel the cozy, salt air vibes of this coastal house.
The sisters themselves are real and flawed; they don’t always see eye to eye, but they continue to show up for one another despite their individual life dramas and a long-buried family secret.
The author handles the heavy themes of grief and healing beautifully.
However, the one aspect that held this back for me was the structure of the timeline. Instead of a typical linear flow or a simple past/present, the story jumps back and forth between various years so frequently that it feels scattered and disjointed. This constant shifting often disrupted the emotions you’re feeling at a certain point in the story and I really found myself wishing the author had stuck to a simpler narrative path to let the feelings breathe.

Readers should definitely check for trigger warnings regarding loss, grief, and miscarriage, though they are addressed with great care.

A big Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Atria Books for the gifted ARC. All opinions are mine.

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[Alicia Garcia-Webster · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise was promising. But the execution faltered about two chapters in. This book reads less like a book, and more like a soap opera or a screen play for a movie-of-the-week. And there is nothing wrong with that, as soap operas have entertainment value and so do made-for-tv movies. So maybe if I had gone into reading this novel expecting fluff, I would not have been disappointed when that was what I found. As a reviewer, I have some rules that have to be met vis a vis fiction. If it is fantastical fiction that takes place on Planet Gorak, for example, then the rules are suspended. I can't have any expectations of either rhyme or reason in otherworldly realms. However, in stories that are meant to take place on planet earth, my inviolate rule is that at least one of the characters has to be likable OR so interesting that I am willing to make allowances for his or her tarnished moral compass. Unfortunately, neither qualification was met her. The three May sisters, their Grandmother Vera, their childhood friend, Nate, and every last one of their assorted friends and family members, were not people that I would wish to know, or interact with, in any capacity, in the real world. Or in the quasi-fictional world of Coronado, for that matter. This was not the book for me, alas, but those who like a light summer read a la Jackie Collins, or perhaps a Harlequin-style romance, might find that The May House works for them. **This ARC was provided to me by NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

[Rachel (storybookcorner) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this is the perfect beach read to me. It's an emotional family drama that will leave you turning the pages one after another and looking for any excuse to pick it up again. I was sucked in from the beginning. The ending left me with so many emotions and tears in my eyes.

I have a complicated relationship with my own siblings so I could relate to the May sisters in a way, although one week a year they come together and put everything aside. I don't have that nor do I really want it to be honest, but it was nice to live vicariously through these sisters and watch as their relationship evolves through the years.

Their story brought tears to my eyes multiple times. So what kept it from being five stars when normally a book that makes me cry is automatically give stars for me? I just felt like the constant jump back and forth over the years was a bit much. I understand it was needed for the storyline to play out, but just when I would get settled time would jump again causing the book to feel longer than it actually is at only 368 pages.

Please don't misunderstand me. I truly LOVED this book and I highly recommend to anyone who loves family dramas, especially set in a beach town. I will certainly read more from this author as she was new to me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[itsallaboutbooksandmacarons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time with family can be both comforting and complicated, and this story captures that feeling perfectly. It draws you into the lives of three sisters, their bonds, and the memories that shape them.

There’s something profoundly moving about following characters so close that you feel every breath they take. In this story, the bond between the three sisters is at the heart of everything, and it’s easy to feel the weight of their shared history and losses.

Every year, they meet at their grandmother’s house, a place that holds memories and traditions even after her passing. Though they live very different lives and carry their own struggles, this week together becomes a rare and precious time to reconnect, reflect, and confront what they have kept hidden.

The secrets between them, both known and unknown, give the story tension and depth. Their interactions feel real and layered, showing the complexity of family, love, and the ties that endure across time.

The introduction of a remarkable man adds another layer, influencing events and emotions in meaningful ways. His presence intertwines with the sisters’ growth and challenges, helping shape a story that is intimate, heartfelt, and unforgettable.

[Janet Fiorentino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any reader with a sister will enjoy Cantor’s newest novel, “May House.”

Three sisters (Julia, Emily and Nora) inherit their grandmother’s beach home in gorgeous Coronado. Because their mom died giving birth to her youngest daughter, Vera became their only mother figure. Each year, they’d spent a week with her in May, and after Vera passes, they continue the tradition.

However, the sisters wrestle with many secrets; when they see each other, they’re not always honest with one another. Add next door neighbor, Noah, to the mix, and it’s understandable why the sisters go months without talking to one another.

Told in the POV of each sister and spanning multiple decades, I found “May House” entertaining. Cantor wrestles with a wide variety of topics in this novel but handles them quite poignantly. In particular, the way Cantor portrays the grief of the sisters losing their grandmother—and their mother. I did find the timeline occasionally confusing—we’d be in 1999 and then suddenly in 2019.

The setting was gorgeous—I’ve been to San Diego but never Coronado. I also love “boy next door” stories, though any romance is only a side topic.

Thanks to Cantor, the publisher and Net Galley for a chance to read this evocative story.

[Sarah Pitcher-hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The May House was a lovely read; this story of the three May sisters and their annual tradition of meeting at their grandmother's house for a week in May certainly pulled at my heartstrings. Jillian Cantor did an excellent job developing all three May sisters - Julia, Nora, and Emily, as well as the character of Nate, the "guy next door." The story is told from their different viewpoints and jumps around in time so that you start with their most recent trip to the May House, where something is not quite right - don't want to give it away - and then go back in time to when they were younger and watch them grow up. If you have sisters, or really just siblings, and have laughed, cried, and yelled with and at them, you will love this story. One of the last lines will stay with me for a while: "Life is just seasons. You and I are going to walk into summer together, hand in hand." Go, get this book, spend a few days reading it, and enjoy! Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Fred · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely story about family conflicts and complexities, the secrets and histories that bind us together and tear us apart, and the fragile ties that connect siblings in difficult and easy times. Most of all, it's about how through time, distance, and shared history, the special connection sisters have can never be severed.

The three sisters in this story -- uber-organizer Julie, artsy Nora and middle sibling Emily -- share a troubled past, with a mother who died early in their childhood. They meet without fail yearly at Grandma Vera's, and when Vera passes she leaves them her house with the proviso they keep meeting each year. Each sister has her own secrets, but will their shared history be big enough to overcome the disconnectedness they feel to each other as adults?

This was an engaging and emotional read. The sisters' lives have ups and downs, separately and together. The author does a good job of making the characters believable, sympathetic and interesting in their own ways. A solid read about family, love, loss and togetherness.

[L A · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Three adult sisters inherit a beach house from their grandmother on the condition they return every May to spend one week together, earthing family secrets, unrequited love, and the deep bonds of sisterhood in this shimmering new novel from the USA TODAY bestselling author of The Fiction Writer and Beautiful Little Fools."
What a beautiful story told in alternating POVs through the eyes of sisters growing up together. Their mother died when they were young. When their grandmother Vera died she left them her beach house in Coronado with the assurance they would return each May to spend a week together. Julia, Emily and Nora share their lives, losses and love. They show how important family is and to spend time together. Even though they live very different lives and have different struggles, their relationship never changes. One year Julia doesn't show up and you must read it to find out why.
"Life is just seasons...." I enjoyed it and highly recommend it.
Thank you to the publisher Atria Books and author Jillian Cantor for my hard copy.

[Alissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed two of the author’s previous books so I was very excited to receive an advanced reader’s copy of this one. The May House follows the three sisters across childhood and into adulthood as they reunite each May for a week at the beach in the house they inherited from their grandmother. Told in two timelines…. One linearly and the other in 2019 when oldest sister Julia fails to show up at the house for the annual sisters’ week. I always like books about families and siblings - you can always find something to relate to, laugh at, etc - and if this was a book club book I’m sure there’d be plenty to discuss. But the two other books I read by Cantor seem much more creative so maybe my expectations were a bit high. That said, I did enjoy the book even if there weren’t any surprises. I definitely got a sense of each sister’s unique personality and of the house & town of Coronado. Recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Madae · Rating 5 out of 5]

As children Julia, Emily, and Nora May spend a week each year in May with their Grandma Vera. The sisters live with their father in Chicago. Their mother passed away after giving birth to Nora. The girls are close with their maternal grandmother, Vera, and cherish the week they spend with her each year. The tradition continues as adults, though the sisters aren't close. The story is told from all three sisters' point of view and spans from childhood through 2019. The story alternates between the sisters individual lives and their week at the May House. One year, Julie, the oldest, organized Type A sister, fails to show up leading Emily and Beth to search for her. I was captivated by this story at the beginning and couldn't put this book down. The May House is a heartfelt story of how sibling relationships can be complicated, yet unbreakable.

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for this ARC!

[Mairaed Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own.

The May House is a lovely homage to the complicated yet steadfast relationship between sisters and how, although it might now always be easy or joyful, it can always be counted on as one true constant in life. The plot was engaging, introducing the central conflict right away, and slowly revealing information in the form of a nonlinear plot outlining the tumultuous and ever changing chapters in the May sisters’ lives. Several mysteries were revealed early on, and though I had my theories fairly quickly about what they may reveal, I had to read until almost the end to discover if I was correct or not. I found each sister to be endearing, albeit a bit stressful when life was particularly dark and difficult for each of them, but I particularly enjoyed their relationship as a family unit. Though I sometimes wish more information was revealed slightly earlier, so I didn’t spend the entire book holding onto theories and collecting clues rather than simply enjoying the journey, I found I enjoyed the story. A satisfying ending, lasting familial love, and relatable conflicts anyone with a sister can understand, The May House was an enjoyable read, and I’d recommend it.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of three sisters. Their mom died when they were little and they spend one week every May at their grandmother's beach house. After she dies, she leaves the house to them and they continue the tradition. Of course there is also a cute guy that lives next door. We watch every year as their lives change but they still meet up once a year. They all end up in different states so this week seems sometimes it is the only time they see each other all year. We see the struggles and all of the secrets that are kept. I enjoyed the book and it made me think about secrets that families don't tell each other. I kept thinking, you would tell your sister, but then by the time they actually see each other, it is old news, so maybe you wouldn't tell your sister.

-"Sometimes, I forget my heart even exists. Then you come back here each May, and it starts beating again."

-"Sometimes it's better not to know the truth."

[books galore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have long been a fan of Jillian Cantor novels. The May House takes her writing to new levels of fabulous. Consider The May House equivalent to an Elin Hilderbrand or Mary Kay Andrews novel with a touch of Danielle Steel thrown in!

Cantor weaves a loving grandmother and father with three granddaughters/daughters and their subsequent lives from childhood to adulthood. Each character's path is both well thought out and surprising. The love affairs in the book are both magical and realistic with prose like "I'm tired of missing you."

Other quotes I loved, "Julia loved things that had neat beginnings and endings. Perfect bookends. She enjoyed the finality, the clarity, the completeness."

"When Nora felt stressed, she sometimes felt like she left her body and imagined her life as a scene."

Thank you Atria books for the early copy. All opinions and gushing are my own.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Stories like these are my favorite lately - complex family dynamics & sister relationships. The story centers around three sisters who grew up without their mom and who spend a week at their Grandma Vera's beach house every year. When she passes, she leaves them the beach house and we follow these sisters through past and present timelines throughout this week each year and throughout their lives. Once I picked this up, I found myself reaching for it whenever I had a free moment. These characters were messy and flawed and human but that's what I love about these types of stories. The loss and grief hit me hard throughout and I really could relate to these moments. A beautiful story about sisterhood, life & family.

Thank you so much Atria Books for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

[Lauren Kindt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

I wanted to love The May House so much. Based on the description of a book about the relationship between sisters and harbored secrets, I thought this would be so juicy and entertaining. It sadly, was not. I found the story to move incredibly slowly and I did not grow an attachment to any of the characters. I can respect the idea behind this book and I think that some readers will be moved to love it, but I found the pace as well as the storyline incredibly boring and difficult to move through. I also hated how politics seemed to be forced into the story when they were not relevant to the plot in any way whatsoever. I read to escape the stress of the world, not have it force-fed to me through works of fiction in ways that do not even make sense.

[Shawna Briseno · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is a sister? To the May girls, it’s someone who has always been there. Someone who has gone through the same devastation of losing your mother, your beloved grandmother, and eventually your father. Then a sister becomes the only blood family you have left. But even though they meet at the same time and place every year for their beach vacation, each sister is keeping secrets from the other. Out of shame, out of fear, out of self-doubt. Only when they’re completely honest with each other can their lives truly heal. Spanning the course of decades and told from alternating perspectives, this is a story of growing up and discovering your true self while nurturing your relationships with those you love.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would a great read in the summer, especially if you love books about sisters. There’s a dual timeline that goes from when the sisters are young to their ~50s. Each sister has their own romance and story, all different. In books with sisters, there is usually I like and one I dislike and I really disliked Nora. Having a long affair with a married man with a child and showing zero remorse? Trying to get with the first guy her sister loved and dated (when she was younger and older)? I liked her romance, but I couldn’t stand her. There is a lot of cheating in this.

My biggest issue is there was a lot going on, so some things never got explored. Otherwise, I had fun with this!

thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Lee Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story follows Julia, Emily, and Nora May who grow up spending one week every May with their Grandma Vera at the May House in Coronado. They look forward to every minute with Vera as their mother died while giving birth to Nora. Before her passing, Grandma Vera makes the sisters promise continue the tradition of spending that week together at the May House. In 2019 Julia does not show up for their annual week together. Told from each sister's perspective from childhood to 2019 the story weaves their lives and the secrets they keep from one another. This book explores the bonds of sibling relationships and a secret that will bring them closer together.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

[Janel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another great book by Jillian Cantor, one of my favorite authors. I liked the way the story unfolded. I kept reading because I couldn't wait to find out what Grandma Vera had in the top-left drawer of her large chestnut armoire. Toward the end of the book, I began to realize what secret was hidden there. And what a secret it is.

The characters were fully developed. I liked them all. The story line has many shifts from past to present. I had to make some notes to keep track of the years. Don't let the time shift discourage you. Just keep reading and it will all make sense as you read. I highly recommend this book and all of Cantor's other books.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for a chance to review this book.

[Sandy Barrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three adult sisters who were raised by their maternal grandmother inherited her beach house upon her death. They have been raised in that house since the youngest was born and they lost their mother. This story follows their lives from young girls until they are in their forties. I loved reading about all the ups and downs of their lives. Marriages, divorces, children, and careers come and go throughout. The characters are so well developed, you feel like you know them. All three struggle with their feelings and self worth and all finally come to terms with their circumstances thanks to a very surprising twist near the end of the book. Thanks to @NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I loved it!