A family of 6 piles into the family car, embarking on the annual summer beach holiday. They are looking forward to doing what they’ve always done whilst away – enjoying the long summer days each in their own way. Mattie is the eldest, gorgeous, blonde and the swan that emerged from the dorky duckling. Alex, mad on bats and biology, keen to study them further, Tamsin completely horse-mad and bursting to see her horse again. Then there is the narrator of the story, who shares their family with the reader, explaining their summer customs and friendships.

When the family arrives at the beach, they catch up with their beloved neighbours Mal and his girlfriend Hope who as a couple are bunched together as Malandhope. They too are part of the family traditions and they all quickly relax into their summer habits. Until the brothers Godden arrive.

Sons of an ageing film star, they are left with Mal and Hope for the summer. One is Hugo – surly, quiet, anti-social and aiming to be invisible. The other is Kit – languid, golden, friendly and… dangerous.

18 yr old Mattie is love struck. Her family are charmed. The narrator is intrigued, but wary. The inevitable love affair happens between Mattie and Kit – or so she believes. The narrator struggles to make a friend in Hugo, which is a never ending battle.

Malandhope announce their wedding, to be on the beach of course, and everyone is excited. But underneath the crazy comings and goings of multiple teenagers in and out of the house, an undercurrent is beginning to swirl. It’s slow at first, slippery and sly. It can strike at the inhabitants quickly and slip away again, just as fast.

Hugo is watching, burning, angry and aware, but no-one sees what’s coming.

Quick Review

This story is a quick read but a slow burn. The family’s summer holiday begins as it always has, and the banter between them is fun and authentic. They settle in quickly to their beach house, just as I did into the story. The arrival of the teen brothers soon shifts everything slightly on its axis, as the narrator watches and waits for the inevitable, but also wary of this ‘too-good-to-be-true’ golden boy at the same time.

The narrator’s name or gender is never mentioned, but I assumed it to be a girl. In retrospect, it could have easily been a boy observing his family and the changing dynamics due to the interlopers. This summer story might begin with sand, sun and family fun, but finishes with a stinging slap after one person delivers unbelievable damage without a backward glance.

Author – Meg Rosoff

Age – 13+

(2021, Bloomsbury, Summer, Holiday, Romance, Family, Wedding preparations, Hamlet, Acting, Relationships, Siblings, Brothers, Betrayal)