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Sailing Lessons
Wrenn Bailey has lived all her life on Cape Cod with her mother and sisters. Her father—brilliant but troubled photographer Caleb—has long made a habit of drifting in and out of his girls’ lives. Until the one summer he left the Cape and did not return again.
Now, almost twenty years later, Caleb has come back one last time, suffering from pancreatic cancer and seeking absolution. Wrenn and her sisters each respond differently to their father’s return, determined to find closure. But that means returning to the past and revisiting old wounds—wounds that cause the tightknit Bailey women to confront their own wishes and wants, and admit to their own wrong-doings over the years.
Now, almost twenty years later, Caleb has come back one last time, suffering from pancreatic cancer and seeking absolution. Wrenn and her sisters each respond differently to their father’s return, determined to find closure. But that means returning to the past and revisiting old wounds—wounds that cause the tightknit Bailey women to confront their own wishes and wants, and admit to their own wrong-doings over the years.
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First published June 5, 2018
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About the author
Hannah McKinnon
13 books644 followersAuthor of The Lake Season, Mystic Summer, The Summer House, Sailing Lessons, The View From Here and two YA titles, Franny Parker and The Properties of Water
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June 8, 2018
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“ Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you back in.”
I really enjoyed this story. “Sailing Lessons” explores how a family copes after the father leaves but then drops back into their lives twenty-four years later.
Wren, Shannon, and Piper Bailey were used to their father coming and going when they were young. But one summer he leaves and doesn't return. His leaving effects his three daughters in very different ways.
Wren was the middle child. She’s now a single mother of six-year-old, Lucy. Wren has been working hard to prepare for the grand opening of her shop, “The Fisherman’s Daughter”. A whimsical and unique eco-boutique that she hopes both tourists and the locals will love.
And then an envelope comes in the mail. A handwritten envelope with handwriting that she hasn’t seen in twenty years. It’s a letter from her father, Caleb.
He’s coming home.
As the oldest of the Bailey sisters, Shannon appears to have it all. She married her best friend and has wonderful children. Shannon was hit the hardest by her father’s abandonment. Lately, her anxiety has been keeping her up at night. But for now, she’s found her own way of coping. She tells herself and others that she’s doing fine, but the cracks are beginning to show.
Piper is the youngest, and her memories of her father and that time are different from Shannon and Wren’s memories. There are things that Piper wants to remember and things her sisters want to forget.
The Bailey sisters all have a different reaction to the letter, especially to the fact that their father is coming back to The Cape. Their stepfather, Hank isn’t thrilled about Caleb coming back …..but he wants what’s best for all of his girls.
Why is Caleb Bailey coming back now? What does it mean for the sisters and the rest of the family?
Caleb Bailey isn’t the only one who has made mistakes and kept secrets. It seems that everyone has things that they need to face up to. Will Caleb coming back heal some of the hurt caused by his leaving or will it all end up in disaster?
As I already mentioned, I really enjoyed this novel. I loved reading about this family’s journey. The story is well-paced and told from multiple perspectives that were easy to follow. The character development was excellent. I loved the grandmother, with her wicked sense of humor. Hank was another of my favorites for many reasons. He reminds me of my stepfather, who is always there for us. Hank is a great stepfather, and he loves the girls like they were his own.
I thought this was a well-written story about complicated relationships and family dynamics. The author’s descriptions were so vivid, I could easily picture summer on the Cape. I was completely absorbed in this engaging story and finished it in just two sittings.
A beautiful and moving story about love, family, hurt, anger, and forgiveness.
This was my first read from Hannah McKinnon, but I know it won’t be my last!
I'd like to thank Emily Bestler Books/Atria for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
“ Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you back in.”
I really enjoyed this story. “Sailing Lessons” explores how a family copes after the father leaves but then drops back into their lives twenty-four years later.
Wren, Shannon, and Piper Bailey were used to their father coming and going when they were young. But one summer he leaves and doesn't return. His leaving effects his three daughters in very different ways.
Wren was the middle child. She’s now a single mother of six-year-old, Lucy. Wren has been working hard to prepare for the grand opening of her shop, “The Fisherman’s Daughter”. A whimsical and unique eco-boutique that she hopes both tourists and the locals will love.
And then an envelope comes in the mail. A handwritten envelope with handwriting that she hasn’t seen in twenty years. It’s a letter from her father, Caleb.
He’s coming home.
As the oldest of the Bailey sisters, Shannon appears to have it all. She married her best friend and has wonderful children. Shannon was hit the hardest by her father’s abandonment. Lately, her anxiety has been keeping her up at night. But for now, she’s found her own way of coping. She tells herself and others that she’s doing fine, but the cracks are beginning to show.
Piper is the youngest, and her memories of her father and that time are different from Shannon and Wren’s memories. There are things that Piper wants to remember and things her sisters want to forget.
The Bailey sisters all have a different reaction to the letter, especially to the fact that their father is coming back to The Cape. Their stepfather, Hank isn’t thrilled about Caleb coming back …..but he wants what’s best for all of his girls.
Why is Caleb Bailey coming back now? What does it mean for the sisters and the rest of the family?
Caleb Bailey isn’t the only one who has made mistakes and kept secrets. It seems that everyone has things that they need to face up to. Will Caleb coming back heal some of the hurt caused by his leaving or will it all end up in disaster?
As I already mentioned, I really enjoyed this novel. I loved reading about this family’s journey. The story is well-paced and told from multiple perspectives that were easy to follow. The character development was excellent. I loved the grandmother, with her wicked sense of humor. Hank was another of my favorites for many reasons. He reminds me of my stepfather, who is always there for us. Hank is a great stepfather, and he loves the girls like they were his own.
I thought this was a well-written story about complicated relationships and family dynamics. The author’s descriptions were so vivid, I could easily picture summer on the Cape. I was completely absorbed in this engaging story and finished it in just two sittings.
A beautiful and moving story about love, family, hurt, anger, and forgiveness.
This was my first read from Hannah McKinnon, but I know it won’t be my last!
I'd like to thank Emily Bestler Books/Atria for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 5, 2018
Four Come Sail Away stars to Sailing Lessons! ⛵️ ⛵️ ⛵️ ⛵️
I am beginning to rely on this author for summer, beachy reads centered around family with lots of heart. Every year, I am looking for Hannah McKinnon’s newest, and I was thrilled to be approved for an early copy of Sailing Lessons, which publishes tomorrow!
Cape Cod is the beatific setting, and Wrenn Bailey has lived there her entire life, along with her sisters, Shannon and Piper, and her mother, Lindy.
Wrenn’s father, Caleb, was absent from her life, and he would drift in and out of it like the sea. After a long period of being away, Caleb returns to Cape Cod and his daughters, now diagnosed with terminal cancer and looking for forgiveness. With three women, there are different responses to Caleb, various ways of seeking healing. I especially loved the focus on the father/daughter relationship, and the exploration of Caleb’s dynamics with each daughter.
Sailing Lessons packs an emotional punch. Keep your tissues handy. But it’s not all sadness and strife with Caleb’s return. There is plenty of hope, forgiveness, and altruistic love. If you enjoy summer reads with emotional depth, I highly recommend Sailing Lessons.
Thank you to Hannah McKinnon (I’m already looking forward to next summer’s book!), Atria/Emily Bestler Books, and Netgalley for the ARC. Sailing Lessons will be published on June 5, 2018.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
I am beginning to rely on this author for summer, beachy reads centered around family with lots of heart. Every year, I am looking for Hannah McKinnon’s newest, and I was thrilled to be approved for an early copy of Sailing Lessons, which publishes tomorrow!
Cape Cod is the beatific setting, and Wrenn Bailey has lived there her entire life, along with her sisters, Shannon and Piper, and her mother, Lindy.
Wrenn’s father, Caleb, was absent from her life, and he would drift in and out of it like the sea. After a long period of being away, Caleb returns to Cape Cod and his daughters, now diagnosed with terminal cancer and looking for forgiveness. With three women, there are different responses to Caleb, various ways of seeking healing. I especially loved the focus on the father/daughter relationship, and the exploration of Caleb’s dynamics with each daughter.
Sailing Lessons packs an emotional punch. Keep your tissues handy. But it’s not all sadness and strife with Caleb’s return. There is plenty of hope, forgiveness, and altruistic love. If you enjoy summer reads with emotional depth, I highly recommend Sailing Lessons.
Thank you to Hannah McKinnon (I’m already looking forward to next summer’s book!), Atria/Emily Bestler Books, and Netgalley for the ARC. Sailing Lessons will be published on June 5, 2018.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
June 19, 2018
3.5 stars for this contemporary fiction family drama, about an eventful summer for a family living on Cape Cod. Abandoned by their troubled father Caleb after a near-tragedy when the girls were young, the three Bailey sisters, now in their late twenties and early thirties, have grown up strong and close-knit. Shannon is a type A over-achiever who overschedules her kids’ lives but seems to have it all together. Wren is a single mother to five year old Lucy, opening a new artsy, eco-friendly store that will cater to tourists. Piper has just finished her teaching degree.
But each sister is dealing (or not) with some personal issues, and when their father comes back to Cape Cod after a 24-year absence, hoping to reconnect with his daughters, the cracks in their lives start to become more visible. Piper’s are the most immediately apparent: she’s flat broke, can’t commit to a career, and having an affair with one of her married professors. Shannon refuses to forgive or even meet with her father, and Wren is stressing out. And that’s not all, not by a long shot!
The novel focuses mostly on the lives of these three adult sisters, but about six different points of view that appear in this story. Every chapter switches to a different character's POV.
It’s a bit heavy-handed with all of the drama, and I was having issues sympathizing with some of the characters and their terrible decisions (looking at you especially, Piper). The drama gets predictable and then all wraps up with a nice neat bow in the end. On the positive side, the Cape Cod setting was lovely, the characters were well-drawn and felt realistic, and I appreciated some of the insightful writing. The life lessons, like the drama, aren't subtle, but the focus on family and sibling bonds was still heartwarming.
I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher for review. Thank you!
But each sister is dealing (or not) with some personal issues, and when their father comes back to Cape Cod after a 24-year absence, hoping to reconnect with his daughters, the cracks in their lives start to become more visible. Piper’s are the most immediately apparent: she’s flat broke, can’t commit to a career, and having an affair with one of her married professors. Shannon refuses to forgive or even meet with her father, and Wren is stressing out. And that’s not all, not by a long shot!
The novel focuses mostly on the lives of these three adult sisters, but about six different points of view that appear in this story. Every chapter switches to a different character's POV.
It’s a bit heavy-handed with all of the drama, and I was having issues sympathizing with some of the characters and their terrible decisions (looking at you especially, Piper). The drama gets predictable and then all wraps up with a nice neat bow in the end. On the positive side, the Cape Cod setting was lovely, the characters were well-drawn and felt realistic, and I appreciated some of the insightful writing. The life lessons, like the drama, aren't subtle, but the focus on family and sibling bonds was still heartwarming.
I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher for review. Thank you!
June 10, 2018
Alright... this one got to me. There were quite a few parallels to my own life, which I won't get into here. I'll just say this one made me cry a few times. It's a very powerful book, about family and forgiveness, love and moving on. A very emotional read in a beautiful, striking setting with some light, cute, and funny moments interspersed with the drama. The three sisters are the main characters, and they all have their own demons and have made their own mistakes. They've dealt with their father's abandonment in different ways, and they each react in their own unique way when Caleb suddenly reappears. It's been over twenty years, and they aren't little girls anymore... and their father is no longer the strong, strapping young man with a sense of adventure he once was. I loved each character for very different reasons.
Wren is the middle daughter, a single mother focused on opening her new business. Oldest Shannon is part of a power couple, always busy with work and giving her children the best life possible. Sadly, even her loving husband seems to be fooled by her brave face, as she struggles with her own problems. Piper is the baby of the family, highly educated but floating adrift without a job and in an inappropriate relationship. They all have their own worries this summer, but the letter that arrives one day can only add to them. Their father wants to come back to see them, after years and years of no contact. Their mother raised them very well with the help of their grandmother and stepfather, and they've formed a very strong family unit. Now everything is going to be thrown out of wack. Caleb returns with stories and secrets, determined to see his family again before it's too late... but not everyone wants to see him.
The entire family will be together in Cape Cod for the first time in two decades, and they have a lot to learn about each other and themselves. Even though all of the sisters have made some really bad decisions in their lives, it's easy to feel for all of them. Lindy and Hank are bright spots in the story, and I felt for Caleb as well. The author describes the setting so vividly it's easy to imagine, and this is a great emotional beach read.
Atria Books kindly sent me a copy of this book, and I chose to give an honest review. Thank you!
Wren is the middle daughter, a single mother focused on opening her new business. Oldest Shannon is part of a power couple, always busy with work and giving her children the best life possible. Sadly, even her loving husband seems to be fooled by her brave face, as she struggles with her own problems. Piper is the baby of the family, highly educated but floating adrift without a job and in an inappropriate relationship. They all have their own worries this summer, but the letter that arrives one day can only add to them. Their father wants to come back to see them, after years and years of no contact. Their mother raised them very well with the help of their grandmother and stepfather, and they've formed a very strong family unit. Now everything is going to be thrown out of wack. Caleb returns with stories and secrets, determined to see his family again before it's too late... but not everyone wants to see him.
The entire family will be together in Cape Cod for the first time in two decades, and they have a lot to learn about each other and themselves. Even though all of the sisters have made some really bad decisions in their lives, it's easy to feel for all of them. Lindy and Hank are bright spots in the story, and I felt for Caleb as well. The author describes the setting so vividly it's easy to imagine, and this is a great emotional beach read.
Atria Books kindly sent me a copy of this book, and I chose to give an honest review. Thank you!
June 18, 2018
Sailing Lessons
Hannah McKinnon
I have never read a book by Hannah McKinnon before but after reading SAILING LESSONS I will read every book she has written. I instantly felt like I was back on Cape Cod dodging seagulls and feeling the sand between my toes. Piper, Wren, and Shannon Bailey were used to their father, Caleb, leaving for a while when they were kids. But he always came home. Then one day, he leaves and doesn't come back. Obviously all their lives are effected by him leaving but their mom does the best she can to give them normal lives. Until, one day, Wren gets a letter in the mail from her father. Seriously? It's been twenty years since he left the last time. What could he possible want after all this time? Hold on people, it's going to be a crazy ride!
SAILING LESSONS is filled with family secrets and once you start reading, it is impossible to put down. Keep the tissues close by because this will be one heck of an emotional journey. Each of the sisters have different memories of their father and even now, different feelings after twenty years. Will they accept him back into their lives? Can any of them trust him once again? Once I started reading SAILING LESSONS I found myself cheering for this broken family and praying they could find their happily ever after. Sometimes, it just doesn't happen but I still had hope the whole time.
Hannah McKinnon really knows how to write about family drama, heartbreak, and forgiveness. I can not wait to read more by this wonderful and heart tugging author. I have many of her older books to read and that makes me so happy. SAILING LESSONS is all about letting go of the past and learning how to move on. It is filled with likable and relatable characters that will find their way into the readers heart. If you are looking for a book about a less than perfect family, SAILING LESSONS is the story for you. Spend the afternoon on your beach chair or on your couch devouring this beautiful story. You will love every minute of it!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Atria Books through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Hannah McKinnon
I have never read a book by Hannah McKinnon before but after reading SAILING LESSONS I will read every book she has written. I instantly felt like I was back on Cape Cod dodging seagulls and feeling the sand between my toes. Piper, Wren, and Shannon Bailey were used to their father, Caleb, leaving for a while when they were kids. But he always came home. Then one day, he leaves and doesn't come back. Obviously all their lives are effected by him leaving but their mom does the best she can to give them normal lives. Until, one day, Wren gets a letter in the mail from her father. Seriously? It's been twenty years since he left the last time. What could he possible want after all this time? Hold on people, it's going to be a crazy ride!
SAILING LESSONS is filled with family secrets and once you start reading, it is impossible to put down. Keep the tissues close by because this will be one heck of an emotional journey. Each of the sisters have different memories of their father and even now, different feelings after twenty years. Will they accept him back into their lives? Can any of them trust him once again? Once I started reading SAILING LESSONS I found myself cheering for this broken family and praying they could find their happily ever after. Sometimes, it just doesn't happen but I still had hope the whole time.
Hannah McKinnon really knows how to write about family drama, heartbreak, and forgiveness. I can not wait to read more by this wonderful and heart tugging author. I have many of her older books to read and that makes me so happy. SAILING LESSONS is all about letting go of the past and learning how to move on. It is filled with likable and relatable characters that will find their way into the readers heart. If you are looking for a book about a less than perfect family, SAILING LESSONS is the story for you. Spend the afternoon on your beach chair or on your couch devouring this beautiful story. You will love every minute of it!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Atria Books through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
November 13, 2018
The Bailey sisters grew up on Cape Cod--and overall, they are fairly close. The sisters are particularly bonded by the fact that their father, Caleb, left when they were small, after a traumatic incident that affected each sister in their own way. Wren remained on the island and is now raising her daughter, Lucy, while juggling an attempt to open a small business. Her older sister, Shannon, is a perfectionist leading a picture-perfect Cape life with her husband and three children: at least that's how it appears. As for the youngest, Piper, who barely even remembers her father: she fled to Boston, where she's spent years pursuing educational degrees she isn't sure she wants. And her love life? Don't ask. The girls' mother, Lindy, has settled down on the island with her second husband, Hank. All in all, everyone has a routine. But Caleb disturbs all that when he sends a letter, asking to return and see the girls again. Each sister responds differently to his return, and each much confront their own past--and present--in light of Caleb's presence.
I really enjoyed this book, and I found myself quite enraptured by its characters. I'm a sucker for some island-themed fiction (I'd love to go to the Cape or Nantucket someday, though I'll be so sad when everyone there isn't grappling with family issues and/or falling in love at first sight!). This was one of the books that I read at the right time, as I needed a story I could escape into. I started it while I was on "vacation" (a trip to Great Wolf Lodge with six-year-old twins - you determine if this counts as a vacation), and I found myself wishing I could transport myself to a beach somewhere to finish it.
The characters in this tale are simply interesting and fascinating. I don't know how else to say it, except I liked them, you know? OK, it took a little while to warm up to Shannon, but I could definitely relate to bits of her anxious characteristics. But I especially loved Wren and Hank. I could just picture them so easily, and I was rooting for them the entire way. (I sort of want Hank to be my Dad now.) Even Caleb was an intriguing sort of guy in his own way.
"He'd been given a talent for capturing images and a woman whom he'd loved with a fierceness that he could never seem to capture. And he'd lost it all."
So, yes, there's a bit of predictability to this one, but there's a comfortableness to it that I really liked (and needed). And there were definitely some pieces I didn't always see coming, too. Plus, I was so caught up in the characters that I was along for the ride, no matter what. They were well-written, and I was invested in their lives, which is a sign of good women's fiction, in my opinion. I had a bit of a dysfunctional childhood myself, so maybe I could relate well to this one; it just worked well for me.
"'Memory has weight. We carry it around with us in our baskets.' It had sounded lovely to her ears as a kid, this bountiful collection: a bushel of fruit, a bouquet of flowers. But as she grew, it took on a new meaning. There were days Shannon wished to set her basket of memories down; days she wished to abandon it altogether."
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Interesting characters, easy-moving plot--it was just a good read. I was actually a little sad to say goodbye to the sisters and their clan by the end. 4 stars.
I received my copy of this book through one of my favorite websites, Paperbackswap.com, where you can swap copies of all your favorite books (hardcover, paperback, and more). Look, I'm doing a little better at trying to read books I actually *own* (though this will be re-swapped soon)!
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I really enjoyed this book, and I found myself quite enraptured by its characters. I'm a sucker for some island-themed fiction (I'd love to go to the Cape or Nantucket someday, though I'll be so sad when everyone there isn't grappling with family issues and/or falling in love at first sight!). This was one of the books that I read at the right time, as I needed a story I could escape into. I started it while I was on "vacation" (a trip to Great Wolf Lodge with six-year-old twins - you determine if this counts as a vacation), and I found myself wishing I could transport myself to a beach somewhere to finish it.
The characters in this tale are simply interesting and fascinating. I don't know how else to say it, except I liked them, you know? OK, it took a little while to warm up to Shannon, but I could definitely relate to bits of her anxious characteristics. But I especially loved Wren and Hank. I could just picture them so easily, and I was rooting for them the entire way. (I sort of want Hank to be my Dad now.) Even Caleb was an intriguing sort of guy in his own way.
"He'd been given a talent for capturing images and a woman whom he'd loved with a fierceness that he could never seem to capture. And he'd lost it all."
So, yes, there's a bit of predictability to this one, but there's a comfortableness to it that I really liked (and needed). And there were definitely some pieces I didn't always see coming, too. Plus, I was so caught up in the characters that I was along for the ride, no matter what. They were well-written, and I was invested in their lives, which is a sign of good women's fiction, in my opinion. I had a bit of a dysfunctional childhood myself, so maybe I could relate well to this one; it just worked well for me.
"'Memory has weight. We carry it around with us in our baskets.' It had sounded lovely to her ears as a kid, this bountiful collection: a bushel of fruit, a bouquet of flowers. But as she grew, it took on a new meaning. There were days Shannon wished to set her basket of memories down; days she wished to abandon it altogether."
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Interesting characters, easy-moving plot--it was just a good read. I was actually a little sad to say goodbye to the sisters and their clan by the end. 4 stars.
I received my copy of this book through one of my favorite websites, Paperbackswap.com, where you can swap copies of all your favorite books (hardcover, paperback, and more). Look, I'm doing a little better at trying to read books I actually *own* (though this will be re-swapped soon)!
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June 14, 2018
This is my first Hannah Mckinnon book, though I own another. I have to say it will not be my last. I love stories centered around families and sisters especially. I did have a favorite sister - Wren. There was just something very relatable about her. Plus she opened a store in town and I so wanted to go shopping there! This book had a lot going on but it all worked. I love how it progressed even if it was a tad predictable at times. It was done well so I didn't care if I saw some things coming. Also, I have to mention the setting which was on Cape Cod. I so wanted to visit! Overall, I really enjoyed this story that wound up being quite emotional for me. Would recommend for sure.
I received this book for free from Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.This review was originally posted on Rebel Mommy Book Blog
I received this book for free from Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.This review was originally posted on Rebel Mommy Book Blog
July 14, 2020
Forgiveness is a key element in Sailing Lessons by Hannah McKinnon--forgiveness of others and more importantly, forgiveness of self.
The Bailey sisters have all dealt with their father's absence in their lives in different ways, so when he contacts Wren that he's returning to Cape Cod after 20 years, it's not surprising that Shannon, Wren, and Piper all react differently to his arrival and the news he brings with him.
Shannon, the oldest, has tried to live a perfect life and rejects her fathers return the most. Wren, the middle sister, has usually taken the safe paths in life, looking out for her daughter Lucy, but she has recently taken a risk and opened a boutique. The youngest, Piper, has few memories of their father and seems the most eager to get to know him though she has much to figure out in her own personal life.
The Bailey sisters as well as their mother and her husband Hank tackle Caleb Bailey's return with varying degrees of grace and success. Hank says it best in one of the last chapters: "They were all flawed, the whole lot of them. Each unique in the ways they carried those flaws. Some fractured along the way, small chips trailing their wake. Some withstood the concussions, one after the other, seemingly impenetrable until they cracked in one ominous split down the center. What mattered was not what broke you, or how you fell to pieces. Because at some point in life, everyone did. What mattered was who you surrounded yourself with when it came to picking up the pieces."
The Bailey sisters have all dealt with their father's absence in their lives in different ways, so when he contacts Wren that he's returning to Cape Cod after 20 years, it's not surprising that Shannon, Wren, and Piper all react differently to his arrival and the news he brings with him.
Shannon, the oldest, has tried to live a perfect life and rejects her fathers return the most. Wren, the middle sister, has usually taken the safe paths in life, looking out for her daughter Lucy, but she has recently taken a risk and opened a boutique. The youngest, Piper, has few memories of their father and seems the most eager to get to know him though she has much to figure out in her own personal life.
The Bailey sisters as well as their mother and her husband Hank tackle Caleb Bailey's return with varying degrees of grace and success. Hank says it best in one of the last chapters: "They were all flawed, the whole lot of them. Each unique in the ways they carried those flaws. Some fractured along the way, small chips trailing their wake. Some withstood the concussions, one after the other, seemingly impenetrable until they cracked in one ominous split down the center. What mattered was not what broke you, or how you fell to pieces. Because at some point in life, everyone did. What mattered was who you surrounded yourself with when it came to picking up the pieces."
June 21, 2018
Sailing Lessons
By
Hannah McKinnon
What it's all about...
The Bailey girls...Lindy, Shannon, Wren and Piper have lived for over 20 years without their father...a gifted brilliant alcoholic man. But now Caleb wants to come home. Not everyone wants this to happen. What is his reason for returning now? His family has no idea and some of them aren’t all that happy about his return. It’s quite an interesting turn of events...isn’t it?
Why I wanted to read it...
This book takes place on Cape Cod...which immediately made me want to read it. The issues that each daughter has with Caleb’s return are at the heart of this story. His abandonment has literally shaped each of their lives in different ways.
What made me truly enjoy this book...
Getting to know each sister and each sister’s flaws and talents was one of the best parts of this book. Again...the setting, the family and their ties made this book enjoyable. The writing was spot on...
Why you should read it, too...
Readers who love books about family issues will enjoy this book. The Cape Cod setting just makes this book even more enjoyable.
I received an advance reader’s copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley and Amazon. It was my choice to read it and review it.
By
Hannah McKinnon
What it's all about...
The Bailey girls...Lindy, Shannon, Wren and Piper have lived for over 20 years without their father...a gifted brilliant alcoholic man. But now Caleb wants to come home. Not everyone wants this to happen. What is his reason for returning now? His family has no idea and some of them aren’t all that happy about his return. It’s quite an interesting turn of events...isn’t it?
Why I wanted to read it...
This book takes place on Cape Cod...which immediately made me want to read it. The issues that each daughter has with Caleb’s return are at the heart of this story. His abandonment has literally shaped each of their lives in different ways.
What made me truly enjoy this book...
Getting to know each sister and each sister’s flaws and talents was one of the best parts of this book. Again...the setting, the family and their ties made this book enjoyable. The writing was spot on...
Why you should read it, too...
Readers who love books about family issues will enjoy this book. The Cape Cod setting just makes this book even more enjoyable.
I received an advance reader’s copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley and Amazon. It was my choice to read it and review it.
December 17, 2023
So far, I have not met a Hannah McKinnon novel that I have not liked and Sailing Lessons is no exception. She writes the best family dramas, and that is exactly what this is along with a focus on mother/daughter relationships as well as father/daughter relationships. The story is told from 5 different viewpoints, and I really liked that the author chose these to be the sisters Wren, Piper, and Shannon, their dad Caleb and their stepfather Hank. Caleb's POV definitely takes a backseat to the rest, and I found it a fascinating choice for McKinnon not to include the mom Lindy as a viewpoint. I feel like that would have colored my view of Caleb, and I much preferred to see through the eyes of their daughters which still gave me plenty of context.
This book originally came out in 2018, but the audiobook only just released in June of 2023, and I can't believe it took them 5 years to release on audio! This is also a very old (clearly) backlist title for me, and I'm glad I got to experience it through listening. It would have been nice to have at least 1 male and 1 female narrator, but Eleanor Caudill still did a wonderful job with all 5 of the POVs. I even thought she sounded a bit different for each of the sisters, and I loved that she didn't try to change her voice when she read from Hank and Caleb's viewpoints. If you are looking for a touching look at a family in pieces fitting themselves back together, I would recommend Sailing Lessons in any format.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This book originally came out in 2018, but the audiobook only just released in June of 2023, and I can't believe it took them 5 years to release on audio! This is also a very old (clearly) backlist title for me, and I'm glad I got to experience it through listening. It would have been nice to have at least 1 male and 1 female narrator, but Eleanor Caudill still did a wonderful job with all 5 of the POVs. I even thought she sounded a bit different for each of the sisters, and I loved that she didn't try to change her voice when she read from Hank and Caleb's viewpoints. If you are looking for a touching look at a family in pieces fitting themselves back together, I would recommend Sailing Lessons in any format.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
June 4, 2018
Review to come
August 7, 2018
The Bailey sisters, Wrenn, Shannon, and Piper, grew up on Cape Cod and although this sounds like an idyllic childhood, it wasn't always. For starters, the girls' father left them after an upsetting incident on the island and this has always haunted them. It's now twenty years later and the three women have families of their own as well as issues of their own. But one fateful summer, Caleb, their father, reenters their life without any warning. The girls aren't sure why he wants to reconnect with them and each woman deals with this differently. With Caleb's re-entrance into their life, each sister must face their own issues and come to terms with the past. Sailing Lessons is a novel about family, forgiveness, and sisterhood all set in beautiful Cape Cod, which makes it an entertaining beach read for fans of family dramas.
Read the rest of my review here:
http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
Read the rest of my review here:
http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
June 6, 2018
I loved this book! It is story about 3 sisters and losing their relationship with their father and slowly getting it back when he shows up after years of being away! Loved the relationships these sisters had together..I loved how each of them had a difference of opinion about how to accept him bck into their lives! Highly recommend. I was given an arc of this book from netgalley
May 30, 2019
3.5 stars - I love sister beach books and I really liked this one until it dissolved at the end. Way too quickly wrapped up and somewhat confusing in the last 20 or so pages which I was bummed about. I will read her future works though.
May 18, 2018
Sailing Lessons by author Hannah McKinnon is filled with family love, drama, secrets, and forgiveness. It is a wonderful story about Lindy Bailey and her daughters Shannon, Wrenn, and Piper who live on Cape Cod. They managed to pull together twenty years earlier when a very troubled Caleb left them after a boating accident.
The author brings out a very important point in the telling of this story. Each child may have a different experience with a parent as they are growing up due to the family dynamics and the various stage of maturity during their growing years. The oldest child Shannon has bitterness toward her father Caleb due to her memories of their family life together and his abandonment. The youngest daughter, Piper, has a different sense of the reality of life with her father Caleb due to her young age and the trust she had for him. Lindy's priority was to protect the girls form any negativity about their father, even after the accident and his leaving.
Now it is years later and the girls have made choices and have lives of their own. Lindy has a wonderful husband who proves to be a very wise and patient man in this family of Bailey women. and their dogs.
I won't post spoilers, but each daughter has her own unique problems and flawed thinking about life and relationships.
Wrenn receives a letter from her father asking if he can come for a visit, and now the sisters have a dilemma. Read the book to find out how the girls manage to deal with a prodigal father returning home, Each girl must come to terms with their memories, their current feelings, and decide how much kindness to show to the person they should have been able to trust during the years when they needed him the most.
Thie emotion in the story is beautifully written and also with respect to people who experience emotional problems and the choices they make within the family. I especially enjoyed the narration in some parts by Hank, his thoughts are tender and a bit funny!
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The author brings out a very important point in the telling of this story. Each child may have a different experience with a parent as they are growing up due to the family dynamics and the various stage of maturity during their growing years. The oldest child Shannon has bitterness toward her father Caleb due to her memories of their family life together and his abandonment. The youngest daughter, Piper, has a different sense of the reality of life with her father Caleb due to her young age and the trust she had for him. Lindy's priority was to protect the girls form any negativity about their father, even after the accident and his leaving.
Now it is years later and the girls have made choices and have lives of their own. Lindy has a wonderful husband who proves to be a very wise and patient man in this family of Bailey women. and their dogs.
I won't post spoilers, but each daughter has her own unique problems and flawed thinking about life and relationships.
Wrenn receives a letter from her father asking if he can come for a visit, and now the sisters have a dilemma. Read the book to find out how the girls manage to deal with a prodigal father returning home, Each girl must come to terms with their memories, their current feelings, and decide how much kindness to show to the person they should have been able to trust during the years when they needed him the most.
Thie emotion in the story is beautifully written and also with respect to people who experience emotional problems and the choices they make within the family. I especially enjoyed the narration in some parts by Hank, his thoughts are tender and a bit funny!
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
October 7, 2018
This is my kind of book. It is in the style of Elin Hilderbrand, Nancy Thayer and Nan Rossiter, some of my favorite novelists. It is the story of family, strong women, life and its events; no mystery, no historical flashbacks to past generations, just real life and how people handle it.
This is the story of the Bailey women, Lindy, the mother of three daughters, Shannon, Wren, and Piper. It starts when the girls are small children. Their mother has gone out and their father, Caleb, decides to take them out fishing on their small boat even though it is a blustery day. Wren can’t go because she is sick but decides to follow them at a distance anyway. At the top of the stairway in the dunes down to the shore, Wren hears a scream and sees that their boat has overturned in the rough waves. She watches as both Shannon and their father keep diving under the overturned boat. This is an event that will have long lasting effects on all their lives.
This is the story of the Bailey women, Lindy, the mother of three daughters, Shannon, Wren, and Piper. It starts when the girls are small children. Their mother has gone out and their father, Caleb, decides to take them out fishing on their small boat even though it is a blustery day. Wren can’t go because she is sick but decides to follow them at a distance anyway. At the top of the stairway in the dunes down to the shore, Wren hears a scream and sees that their boat has overturned in the rough waves. She watches as both Shannon and their father keep diving under the overturned boat. This is an event that will have long lasting effects on all their lives.
July 5, 2018
This books explores the lives of three young girls who grow into adulthood and their mother after their father disappears from their lives. Wrenn, Shannon and Piper , along with their mother Lindy, live in Cape Cod. Lindy does remarry and they have a wonderful step father who loves them and makes their mother happy. When father Caleb returns after 20 years, he confides to Wrenn that he is dying of cancer and wants her to keep his secret from her sisters. All the girls feel different about his return but they do all grow and learn to accept the past for what it was and enjoy their present day. Hannah McKinnon has written 5 novels that center on summer seashore living and I've enjoyed several of them. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
September 13, 2018
Hannah McKinnon weaves such heartfelt, beautiful stories in wonderful settings, it's impossible not to fall completely in love with her novels. I adore her tales about flawed families, loss, love and hope, and can't wait for the next one.
May 4, 2018
A book about 3 sisters whose father deserts the family when they are young. All three have coped with that in very different ways and they all have different reactions when the father reappears 20 years later. The family dynamics between the sisters, with their mother, their stepfather, and their returned father all make for a very good read. The book’s setting is Cape Cod and having grown up spending summers on a lake, I always think it’s interesting to read about a resort community and how the year round residents feel about and cope with the summer visitors who provide an annual boost to the local economy—very much a love-hate thing.
This was my first opportunity to read a book by this author and I will definitely be reading her other books. Thank you to Goodreads Giveaways for the advance reader copy.
This was my first opportunity to read a book by this author and I will definitely be reading her other books. Thank you to Goodreads Giveaways for the advance reader copy.
August 8, 2018
Such a great book about family, loss, redemption and courage to face the past. I love the Cape Cod setting and the characters kept you on your toes.
I hated some of the decisions from the characters and it drove me absolutely batty. The plot was predictable but that didn’t stop me from loving it. I loved the drama and how everything unfolded. If you love family dramas then this is a must read.
I hated some of the decisions from the characters and it drove me absolutely batty. The plot was predictable but that didn’t stop me from loving it. I loved the drama and how everything unfolded. If you love family dramas then this is a must read.
June 20, 2018
This was a good read. I enjoyed reading about this family on Cape Cod. I recommend this beachy read.
December 26, 2020
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
A few of the characters were incredibly unlikable. (Looking at you Shannon and Piper). But the setting was nice and some of the characters made up for the others. (I am now looking at you, Hank).
A few of the characters were incredibly unlikable. (Looking at you Shannon and Piper). But the setting was nice and some of the characters made up for the others. (I am now looking at you, Hank).
July 20, 2022
Loved it….
June 8, 2018
This story centers around three sisters and their father who returns to their lives after leaving them 24 years earlier. Their father wants to see them but each has very different feelings about letting him back into their lives. The hurt that his leaving caused has manifested very differently in each of them. This book is heart warming and heart breaking and does a decent job tying together a fractured family through understanding, perseverance and forgiveness. This story was relatable to me and I truly enjoyed it. Thank you netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this in return for an honest review.
June 19, 2018
Do you love chic lit, beach reads, or family drama (safely within a book of course)? Then you will thoroughly enjoy Sailing Lessons by Hannah McKinnon. Last summer, I read all of Nancy Thayer and Elin Hildebrand’s books, perfect beach reads set in places like Nantucket and Tuckernuck that involve families surviving turmoil and coming together. This summer, I will be reading Hannah McKinnon, whose work I was recently introduced to with Sailing Lessons.
Set in Cape Cod, the novel follows three sisters as adults, whose alcoholic father left them when they were children to be raised by their mother, who learned to be strong and set an example for the girls. Piper, who is lost after graduating and having never worked a job, must decide who she wants to be. Wren, who is venturing into the unknown opening her shop and raising her own daughter as a single mother must decide if she has chosen the right path, and Shannon, who must always be perfect to survive her own standards must learn to let go. All three women must come to terms with the past when their biological father returns to face what he left behind.
Throughout the story, we see the characters, who are well written and go beyond the surface, grapple with identity, the past, and what the future brings. The end of the book is a bit rushed, but the author works to tie the loose ends together, and the reader will walk beside each character through difficult life decisions and challenges, seeing three strong women in very different relationships at diverse points in their lives learn who they are and who they want to be, as well as how to break free from the past.
Set in Cape Cod, the novel follows three sisters as adults, whose alcoholic father left them when they were children to be raised by their mother, who learned to be strong and set an example for the girls. Piper, who is lost after graduating and having never worked a job, must decide who she wants to be. Wren, who is venturing into the unknown opening her shop and raising her own daughter as a single mother must decide if she has chosen the right path, and Shannon, who must always be perfect to survive her own standards must learn to let go. All three women must come to terms with the past when their biological father returns to face what he left behind.
Throughout the story, we see the characters, who are well written and go beyond the surface, grapple with identity, the past, and what the future brings. The end of the book is a bit rushed, but the author works to tie the loose ends together, and the reader will walk beside each character through difficult life decisions and challenges, seeing three strong women in very different relationships at diverse points in their lives learn who they are and who they want to be, as well as how to break free from the past.
June 1, 2018
This is a wonderful summer read, filled with family and mystery! You find yourself wondering what you would do in the sisters situation after all these years if your father came back, would you want to see him? Can he be trusted or will he leave again?!
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy for an honest review.
June 29, 2021
This was a special book for me, because the setting -- Chatham, MA, on Cape Cod -- is very dear to me. It is where I spent summers as a child and young adult. Both sets of grandparents built homes there. We still return there every summer. It is, in every sense of the word, "home" to me.
Secondly, the main plot of the book -- about a family whose father left when the children were young only to come back 20+ years later -- also rings true for me. My birth father died before I was born and he loved Chatham. My mother remarried (as did the mother in this story) and my stepfather loved, and the stepfather in the story love, their new families. I always wondered what would it have been like if my birth father hadn't died but returned to us instead.
I loved reading about all the places in Chatham in this book. The author does a great job of capturing life on Cape Cod during the height of the summer season. She is clearly familiar with the Cape, and Chatham in particular. The restaurants, stores, (Chatham Bars Inn, Where The Sidewalk Ends Bookstore), Beaches etc are all as she describes, so rest assured: she is on point!
The author chose to use the device of telling the story through different characters' perspectives. So each chapter moves from one family member to another to another. It isn't very difficult to follow, and it does keep the Reader's interest throughout the book, as one does not know which character's perspective is going to be viewed next.
My one "complaint," and I'm not really sure it's a "complaint" per se, is that nothing surprised me. I don't know if she tried and didn't succeed, or if she never meant for anything to be a "surprise" in the first place? Obviously, this is a book about a family and relationships that need to be mended. But I kept waiting for some sort of denouement, and I'm not exactly sure what that was. Because each character has his or her own concerns (and some interact with others more directly than others), each one has things happen that are important as the story progresses. It sort of resolves at the end...but not as neatly as I would have liked. Perhaps it is my own taste in books that I felt this way.
If someone is looking for a good "Beach Read," or wants something set on Cape Cod, this would be an excellent book to read.
Some foul language and sexual situations.
RECOMMEND
Secondly, the main plot of the book -- about a family whose father left when the children were young only to come back 20+ years later -- also rings true for me. My birth father died before I was born and he loved Chatham. My mother remarried (as did the mother in this story) and my stepfather loved, and the stepfather in the story love, their new families. I always wondered what would it have been like if my birth father hadn't died but returned to us instead.
I loved reading about all the places in Chatham in this book. The author does a great job of capturing life on Cape Cod during the height of the summer season. She is clearly familiar with the Cape, and Chatham in particular. The restaurants, stores, (Chatham Bars Inn, Where The Sidewalk Ends Bookstore), Beaches etc are all as she describes, so rest assured: she is on point!
The author chose to use the device of telling the story through different characters' perspectives. So each chapter moves from one family member to another to another. It isn't very difficult to follow, and it does keep the Reader's interest throughout the book, as one does not know which character's perspective is going to be viewed next.
My one "complaint," and I'm not really sure it's a "complaint" per se, is that nothing surprised me. I don't know if she tried and didn't succeed, or if she never meant for anything to be a "surprise" in the first place? Obviously, this is a book about a family and relationships that need to be mended. But I kept waiting for some sort of denouement, and I'm not exactly sure what that was. Because each character has his or her own concerns (and some interact with others more directly than others), each one has things happen that are important as the story progresses. It sort of resolves at the end...but not as neatly as I would have liked. Perhaps it is my own taste in books that I felt this way.
If someone is looking for a good "Beach Read," or wants something set on Cape Cod, this would be an excellent book to read.
Some foul language and sexual situations.
RECOMMEND
August 17, 2019
I received an ARC of this book in a giveaway. I read a lot of uncorrected proofs, and expect some typos, but his went beyond that. There were so many continuity errors-- Hank opens the book, stating he had been with Lindy for 15 years. Other chapters say 20 and 24. Caleb has been gone nearly 20, 23, or 24. Dates and ages are all over the place. Character names are changed mid-book (Alice to Angela back to Alice; Darby to Eric); descriptions vary (Lucy has James's dark eyes, which are later described as blue). This made it frustrating to read, but I would assume most of this was caught and corrected before the final printing.
Despite the Arc being a hot mess, I really liked the story. I loved the family dynamic between Beverly, Lindy, and the girls. I thought the 2 family matriarchs were strong, positive role models. Hank was the husband everyone wants to have-- kind and understanding and supportive. Even Caleb's return and the relationships he developed with his family were well-done. This book showed that families are messy, and sometimes people make huge mistakes, but they were there for each other and I liked that. (I did have issues with Shannon, especially as she drove her children to activities throughout the majority of the book-- to me some things are not so easily forgiven.)
I've lived in Massachusetts all of my life, and I loved the Cape setting of this book-- it was a great backdrop.
Despite the Arc being a hot mess, I really liked the story. I loved the family dynamic between Beverly, Lindy, and the girls. I thought the 2 family matriarchs were strong, positive role models. Hank was the husband everyone wants to have-- kind and understanding and supportive. Even Caleb's return and the relationships he developed with his family were well-done. This book showed that families are messy, and sometimes people make huge mistakes, but they were there for each other and I liked that. (I did have issues with Shannon, especially as she drove her children to activities throughout the majority of the book-- to me some things are not so easily forgiven.)
I've lived in Massachusetts all of my life, and I loved the Cape setting of this book-- it was a great backdrop.
June 28, 2019
Sailing Lessons was a remarkably emotional, moving novel in a “still waters run deep“ type of way. It was slow and subtle, meandering along its course at a pace that could not be rushed. It was a take-your-time type of novel, that you read with patience.
For much of the story, I strongly disliked most of the characters, and truly not a whole lot happens, action-wise. There were times I wanted to set the book aside, but something kept compelling me to pick it back up and carry on, drawing me back. In this particular case, the story was in the characters and I eventually came around, or the characters did. They showed their flawed selves for all to see, only to ultimately face the truth, learn the hard lessons of life, navigate change and come out on the other side renewed with a better perspective. It wasn’t a quick or tidy transformation, but it rarely is in real life. And honestly, I think that’s what got me. Because we are all flawed and we all fail, our vision is skewed by our past, but if we learn and grow, even in messy ways, then our humanity shines and our outlook on life improves. I appreciated the journey this book took me on and the deeper thoughts it challenged me to examine.
For much of the story, I strongly disliked most of the characters, and truly not a whole lot happens, action-wise. There were times I wanted to set the book aside, but something kept compelling me to pick it back up and carry on, drawing me back. In this particular case, the story was in the characters and I eventually came around, or the characters did. They showed their flawed selves for all to see, only to ultimately face the truth, learn the hard lessons of life, navigate change and come out on the other side renewed with a better perspective. It wasn’t a quick or tidy transformation, but it rarely is in real life. And honestly, I think that’s what got me. Because we are all flawed and we all fail, our vision is skewed by our past, but if we learn and grow, even in messy ways, then our humanity shines and our outlook on life improves. I appreciated the journey this book took me on and the deeper thoughts it challenged me to examine.
May 14, 2021
This was a 3.5 stars for me. I really liked the strength of the women in the book and how they work to overcome their own emotional issues. But the overall writing and pacing of the book felt slow and boring... like I was never going to get to the end. It is not a happy book, but rather a sad and interesting read. I did read all of it and I enjoyed the descriptions of the beach, but it just felt long without a purpose for being so long. My favorite character was Hank. He handles everything with so much grace and respect for those he loves. I think Caleb should have provided some kind of explanation as to what happened and how sorry he was. It felt like something was missing and I wasn't too pleased with all the details that were left out for Wren and James. I kinda had the feeling that the author wrote about herself in Wren's character. A nice interesting read, but very slow pacing and not too much that happens. Don't think I would read again and would only recommend if you feel like reading a slow-paced novel that doesn't really have happy moments, but it is still somewhat interesting. A very common theme of estranged parents and learning to cope with that situation as the years go by.
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