Vacationland

This summer, Louisa has traveled to her parents' home in Maine with all three of her children, a partially finished novel, and a trunk full of grudges. Her husband, who has vowed to resume taking up his part of home duties after this last round of financing at his business, is left behind in Brooklyn. Louisa is hopeful that the cool wind off Penobscot Bay would chase away her frustration with her decisions in life and replace it with a renewed passion for her job and her family.

But Maine isn't doing so well. Alzheimer's is affecting Louisa's father, a respected member of the community and retired judge. Louisa's mother is feigning nothing at all and then claiming everything is perfect. And one of Louisa's kids finds an incredibly poignant and perplexing letter that makes reference to something Louisa doesn't believe her father could have done.

This summer in Maine, Louisa is not the only one looking for anything. Kristie traveled from Pennsylvania via Greyhound bus, carrying a lot of luggage, $761, and one little suitcase. She is attempting to escape her past, unravel a secret, and deal with a new lover who is so incredibly wonderful that she is at a loss for words. She can't, however, prevent her several lives from merging indefinitely.

Secrets will be revealed, betrayals will surface, and Louisa and Kristie will question what they owe others and what they owe themselves as June goes into July and August.