Summer's End

Gwen and Hal--each middle-aged, each alone after the death of a longtime spouse--marry after a whirlwind courtship. They have enough experience to know what they want, but their adult children are another story. When the newly merged clan comes together for an extended vacation at a remote lakeside cottage--a place without the helpful distractions of telephone and television--the stage is set for grieving, bonding and, of course, a fair bit of squabbling. Hal's daughter Phoebe struggles to come to terms with mourning her exceptional mother, and accept the family's transformation; rootless but resourceful Jack, Gwen's son, battles his attraction for new stepsister Amy, a famous ice-skater with a sound but untried heart. These are mild dramas, but Seidel's (Again) solid insight into family dynamics weaves the different threads into an entertaining story. Her affectionately drawn characters are admirable and irritating at once--just like real people--and both their petty and loving moments feel authentic. Despite a rather cumbersome start, this is a genuinely appealing and absorbing read. (June)