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The News From The End Of The World: A Cape Cod Family Drama – Twins, an Affair, and Secrets That Define Them
“This one’s a winner.” —People
Vance Lake is broke, jobless, and recently dumped. Taking refuge with his twin brother, Craig, on Cape Cod, he unwittingly finds himself in the middle of a crisis that would test even the most cohesive family, let alone the Lakes. Seventeen-year-old Amanda is pregnant. Craig is heartbroken and full of rage; his exasperated wife, Gina, is on the brink of an affair; and Amanda is indignant, ashamed, and very, very scared.
Told in alternating points of view by each member of this colorful New England clan, and infused with the quiet charm of the Cape in the off-season, The News from the End of the World follows one family into a crucible of pent-up resentments, old and new secrets, and memories long buried. Only by coming to terms with their pasts, as individuals and together, do they stand a chance of emerging intact.
“My favorite kind of book, bighearted and full of complicated flawed characters stumbling through love and life, making hard choices, making mistakes, and making the reader fall in love with every one of them. I loved this novel!” — Ann Hood, author of The Book That Matters Most
“With wonderfully crafted characters and expert pacing, Miller has written the kind of narrative that readers crave: a beautifully written, hard-to-put-down story that will stay long after the book has been closed.” — Booklist
Vance Lake is broke, jobless, and recently dumped. Taking refuge with his twin brother, Craig, on Cape Cod, he unwittingly finds himself in the middle of a crisis that would test even the most cohesive family, let alone the Lakes. Seventeen-year-old Amanda is pregnant. Craig is heartbroken and full of rage; his exasperated wife, Gina, is on the brink of an affair; and Amanda is indignant, ashamed, and very, very scared.
Told in alternating points of view by each member of this colorful New England clan, and infused with the quiet charm of the Cape in the off-season, The News from the End of the World follows one family into a crucible of pent-up resentments, old and new secrets, and memories long buried. Only by coming to terms with their pasts, as individuals and together, do they stand a chance of emerging intact.
“My favorite kind of book, bighearted and full of complicated flawed characters stumbling through love and life, making hard choices, making mistakes, and making the reader fall in love with every one of them. I loved this novel!” — Ann Hood, author of The Book That Matters Most
“With wonderfully crafted characters and expert pacing, Miller has written the kind of narrative that readers crave: a beautifully written, hard-to-put-down story that will stay long after the book has been closed.” — Booklist
288 pages, Paperback
First published February 21, 2017
About the author
Emily Jeanne Miller
2 books39 followersEmily Jeanne Miller is the author of the novels BRAND NEW HUMAN BEING (HMH 2012) and THE NEWS FROM THE END OF THE WORLD (HMH 2017). She currently lives on Cape Cod with her husband, daughter and dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
December 24, 2016
I'd rate this 3.5 stars.
Things aren't going so well for Vance Lake. He's just lost his job teaching college, he's broke, and yet another relationship has ended. With no other alternative, he heads up to Cape Cod for his twin brother Craig's house, where he hopes to lick his wounds and figure out his next move. But when he arrives at Craig's, he discovers that he's not the only Lake in the midst of serious turmoil.
Craig, too, is struggling financially, as he and his wife Gina recently did a great deal of remodeling of their home, which Craig was counting on being paid for by business from his design-build firm. He's gaining weight, losing money, his wife is considering having an affair with one of his best friends (although he's unaware of this), and his biggest disappointment is that his 17-year-old daughter Amanda, who should be getting ready to start at Dartmouth in the fall, is in a downward spiral, and now she's pregnant.
The Lake brothers handle their crises in different ways—Vance prefers getting stoned, while Craig alternates between sullen silence and fits of rage, directed at everyone—Gina, Amanda, himself, and his favorite target, his misfit twin brother. For the longest time, Vance is kept in the dark about what is happening with Amanda, and he tries desperately to help, as he's always had a special place in his heart for his niece, but when he learns the truth, it stirs up memories he had tried to forget.
Amanda is upset she let her father down but is angry at the way he's treating her, and she also feels betrayed and alone. She knows the decision she needs to make to get her life back on track, but isn't sure she can. And Gina, who has always stuck by Craig through the hard times, finds it growing more difficult to do so, especially when one of his longtime friends starts making her feel beautiful again. But mostly, she's trying to be supportive of Amanda, regardless of the friction that decision could bring to her marriage.
The News from the End of the World takes place over a period of four tumultuous days, and chapters are narrated alternately by Vance, Craig, Gina, and Amanda. This is a family with all sorts of problems, and most of them don't seem to be handling things well at all. But of course, if they were willing to communicate with each other honestly instead of gravitating to anger and rehashing old grudges, things would certainly be better!
I thought this was a good, if predictable, look at a family in crisis. Emily Jeanne Miller has thrown a lot of things at her characters and they're not sure if they'll sink or swim. Miller knows how to tell a story and make you want to keep reading, but some of her characters have so many issues and unresolved feelings, that they're not particularly sympathetic. (Hell, Craig is a total jerk through most of the book, even though you understand why.) But you do want to know what happens to everyone, even if you may have your suspicions.
NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
Things aren't going so well for Vance Lake. He's just lost his job teaching college, he's broke, and yet another relationship has ended. With no other alternative, he heads up to Cape Cod for his twin brother Craig's house, where he hopes to lick his wounds and figure out his next move. But when he arrives at Craig's, he discovers that he's not the only Lake in the midst of serious turmoil.
Craig, too, is struggling financially, as he and his wife Gina recently did a great deal of remodeling of their home, which Craig was counting on being paid for by business from his design-build firm. He's gaining weight, losing money, his wife is considering having an affair with one of his best friends (although he's unaware of this), and his biggest disappointment is that his 17-year-old daughter Amanda, who should be getting ready to start at Dartmouth in the fall, is in a downward spiral, and now she's pregnant.
The Lake brothers handle their crises in different ways—Vance prefers getting stoned, while Craig alternates between sullen silence and fits of rage, directed at everyone—Gina, Amanda, himself, and his favorite target, his misfit twin brother. For the longest time, Vance is kept in the dark about what is happening with Amanda, and he tries desperately to help, as he's always had a special place in his heart for his niece, but when he learns the truth, it stirs up memories he had tried to forget.
Amanda is upset she let her father down but is angry at the way he's treating her, and she also feels betrayed and alone. She knows the decision she needs to make to get her life back on track, but isn't sure she can. And Gina, who has always stuck by Craig through the hard times, finds it growing more difficult to do so, especially when one of his longtime friends starts making her feel beautiful again. But mostly, she's trying to be supportive of Amanda, regardless of the friction that decision could bring to her marriage.
The News from the End of the World takes place over a period of four tumultuous days, and chapters are narrated alternately by Vance, Craig, Gina, and Amanda. This is a family with all sorts of problems, and most of them don't seem to be handling things well at all. But of course, if they were willing to communicate with each other honestly instead of gravitating to anger and rehashing old grudges, things would certainly be better!
I thought this was a good, if predictable, look at a family in crisis. Emily Jeanne Miller has thrown a lot of things at her characters and they're not sure if they'll sink or swim. Miller knows how to tell a story and make you want to keep reading, but some of her characters have so many issues and unresolved feelings, that they're not particularly sympathetic. (Hell, Craig is a total jerk through most of the book, even though you understand why.) But you do want to know what happens to everyone, even if you may have your suspicions.
NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
February 23, 2017
After getting fired from his job and kicked out of his house by his fiance, Vance Lake has decided to surprise his twin brother, Craig, with an unannounced visit. Hoping to lay low for a few days while he sorts out his life, Vance is surprised to discover that Craig is experiencing some major turmoil of his own. Though everyone is hush-hush at first about the source of the tension, eventually Vance comes to understand that Craig's 17-year old daughter, Amanda, is pregnant.
Vance is, naturally, shocked to discover his favorite niece is expecting, and he's sad that everyone, especially Amanda, is struggling so much. While he knows he doesn't have a reputation for being the solid and dependable one of the family, he becomes determined to help and comfort in whatever way he can. Unfortunately, Craig just seems to want Vance to leave. The book is told from alternating perspectives and takes place over a period of four days--which, apparently, is just enough time for this flustered family to kick up some serious, Bravo-level drama.
The crazy thing about this book is that I enjoyed reading it more than I enjoyed the actual story. Which basically makes no sense, I know. All I can say is that, on the one hand, I was dead to the world while I was reading this book. I was hooked from the first page and desperate to get to the last with as few interruptions as possible. There is just such delicious family drama here, and the characters are so realistically developed, so endearingly flawed. I couldn't put it down.
But on the other hand, the book still disappointed me--especially after I finished it. Once I knew all the secrets, I realized, looking back, that interactions between characters could have been a lot tighter and more forthright. I think author Emily Miller drags out certain plot points too long--probably because she wants to build tension and suspense--but it irritated me to have so many hints of a Big Reveal and then take forever to just get there already.
Also, when it came time to wrap everything up, the ending, ironically, felt abrupt and unfinished. Where does Vance go from here? What happens in his relationships with Celeste, Gina, and Craig? What happens with Helen? And what about Craig's job situation? I was left with all these unanswered questions, and that was a bummer.
One thing I do really appreciate about the book, though, is that Miller deals with the issue of teen pregnancy and abortion in an honest, thoughtful, and balanced way. I can't think of too many authors who have tackled this tricky and emotionally-charged subject as effectively as Miller does here. In my opinion, Amanda's story arc is perfect.
So this one gets four stars from me. Despite some flaws, it was so fun to read. I will definitely be on the lookout for new books from Emily Miller.
ARC provided through Amazon Vine.
Check out my other book reviews at www.BugBugBooks.com!
Vance is, naturally, shocked to discover his favorite niece is expecting, and he's sad that everyone, especially Amanda, is struggling so much. While he knows he doesn't have a reputation for being the solid and dependable one of the family, he becomes determined to help and comfort in whatever way he can. Unfortunately, Craig just seems to want Vance to leave. The book is told from alternating perspectives and takes place over a period of four days--which, apparently, is just enough time for this flustered family to kick up some serious, Bravo-level drama.
The crazy thing about this book is that I enjoyed reading it more than I enjoyed the actual story. Which basically makes no sense, I know. All I can say is that, on the one hand, I was dead to the world while I was reading this book. I was hooked from the first page and desperate to get to the last with as few interruptions as possible. There is just such delicious family drama here, and the characters are so realistically developed, so endearingly flawed. I couldn't put it down.
But on the other hand, the book still disappointed me--especially after I finished it. Once I knew all the secrets, I realized, looking back, that interactions between characters could have been a lot tighter and more forthright. I think author Emily Miller drags out certain plot points too long--probably because she wants to build tension and suspense--but it irritated me to have so many hints of a Big Reveal and then take forever to just get there already.
Also, when it came time to wrap everything up, the ending, ironically, felt abrupt and unfinished. Where does Vance go from here? What happens in his relationships with Celeste, Gina, and Craig? What happens with Helen? And what about Craig's job situation? I was left with all these unanswered questions, and that was a bummer.
One thing I do really appreciate about the book, though, is that Miller deals with the issue of teen pregnancy and abortion in an honest, thoughtful, and balanced way. I can't think of too many authors who have tackled this tricky and emotionally-charged subject as effectively as Miller does here. In my opinion, Amanda's story arc is perfect.
So this one gets four stars from me. Despite some flaws, it was so fun to read. I will definitely be on the lookout for new books from Emily Miller.
ARC provided through Amazon Vine.
Check out my other book reviews at www.BugBugBooks.com!
July 16, 2018
4 Stars
December 29, 2016
I really enjoyed The News From The End Of The World by Emily Jeanne Miller. It’s a bit of a short read, as we breeze through just one week of a dysfunctional but loving Cape Cod-living family. Full of secrets, harbored hate, and kids finding their way in the world, Miller creates a vivid portrait of a family trying to keep it together.
Focused on sixteen year old Amanda, and the mysterious reason she was sent home from a high school trip abroad to Chile, and her lovable uncle Vance who has escaped his life in DC to Amanda’s family home, the story moves swiftly between those two, Amanda’s Dad, her stepmom and two step kids, and lots of others from the small town. Miller does a wonderful job getting to the heart of what is it like to be both seventeen, and those who try to understand what it’s like to be seventeen.
I really loved Helen, the youngest stepdaughter. She is precocious and somewhat annoying, though once we get a peek inside her story and mind, we watch her struggle with her knowledge of this and ache for her to also find her place in the world, and first, in her large dysfunctional family.
This is not a groundbreaking or unique story, but I do like novels that swirl around a big family with secrets, and the setting of New England is perfect and vivid.
Focused on sixteen year old Amanda, and the mysterious reason she was sent home from a high school trip abroad to Chile, and her lovable uncle Vance who has escaped his life in DC to Amanda’s family home, the story moves swiftly between those two, Amanda’s Dad, her stepmom and two step kids, and lots of others from the small town. Miller does a wonderful job getting to the heart of what is it like to be both seventeen, and those who try to understand what it’s like to be seventeen.
I really loved Helen, the youngest stepdaughter. She is precocious and somewhat annoying, though once we get a peek inside her story and mind, we watch her struggle with her knowledge of this and ache for her to also find her place in the world, and first, in her large dysfunctional family.
This is not a groundbreaking or unique story, but I do like novels that swirl around a big family with secrets, and the setting of New England is perfect and vivid.
March 31, 2021
This is a story that moves slowly. It does a good job of captivating this family in crisis. There are secrets everyone keeps. Some secrets can’t be kept. This story belongs mostly to Vance and Amanda as they traverse this difficult time. Amanda has to make a big choice, but she needs to tell her father first. Vance is there for her when she needs to trust someone. Everyone here has something they are hiding and it almost destroys them.
I loved the setting for this story, Cape Cod off season. I think all of the characters brought something important to the story, It is hard for me to say whose story I enjoyed most, but the person I thought about most was Craig. Although he comes off as the bad guy, he has made some tough choices for his family. Of course, he is the last to know about his daughter. The issue of teen pregnancy is dealt with in a realistic manner. Craig’s reasons made the most sense to me, but Amanda chooses to go another way.
The problem I had with this story, other than the fact that there was no apocalypse, is that nothing much got resolved in this story. Amanda makes her choice, every has a reaction, and that’s it. We find out what happened to Gina, but Craig and Vance don’t get an ending. I was really interested in this book while reading it, but now I can’t put my finger on why. It wasn’t a bad story, it just wasn’t the most interesting family drama. This is a character driven book mostly, so folks that enjoy that will find themselves loving this.
February 22, 2017
Based on very little information about the author, I decided to request a copy of The News of the End of the World: I've had good luck with other novels from this publisher, I liked the cover, the setting (Cape Cod, in the off season), and the promise of dysfunctional family dynamics. Shortly after the first couple of paragraphs (a description of a dream), I decided that I'd made a good choice.
"When he opens his eyes it’s dark, and it takes a few moments for him to remember where he is - that he’s not at home, not with Celeste. He’s in his brother’s attic, sweating under an itchy army blanket that smells of mothballs, of the past. Only the heaviness he felt in the dream is real. As his eyes adjust he sees that the thing holding him down is a person: his niece, Helen, is sitting on his chest."
While the marketing blurb might suggest that the center of the drama is an unwanted teen pregnancy, none of the characters in this story are lacking in problems: Vance, the outsider, has returned to his hometown due to the unfortunate loss of both his job and his significant other; Craig, older brother, is struggling to make ends meet in his construction business and hiding it from his wife, Gina; Gina is contemplating adultery; her oldest daughter, Amanda, has returned home from an international study trip, pregnant; and then there's Helen, daughter of Craig and Gina, who is, understandably, trying to garner the attention of any adult that will listen.
"He struck her as so strong, so self-contained. He didn’t need to be coddled or taken care of like the men she’d been with before. But after a while - maybe when she was carrying Helen - she began to find herself feeling lonely and wishing that he needed her more."
The story is told in alternating voices and, while that can often be a challenge, Miller pulls it off with wise, and also hilarious, writing; I think she does a great job of reminding us that life is messy, no matter what we do to find an easier path, and that we are often faced with tough choices. I found this to be a highly relatable story and, when I wasn't chuckling at their antics and sarcasm, felt connected to the struggles of the Lake family.
A quick read, this would be a wonderful accompaniment on a vacation or long weekend; or, if you'd just like to escape to cozy New England while sitting in your own home.
"When he opens his eyes it’s dark, and it takes a few moments for him to remember where he is - that he’s not at home, not with Celeste. He’s in his brother’s attic, sweating under an itchy army blanket that smells of mothballs, of the past. Only the heaviness he felt in the dream is real. As his eyes adjust he sees that the thing holding him down is a person: his niece, Helen, is sitting on his chest."
While the marketing blurb might suggest that the center of the drama is an unwanted teen pregnancy, none of the characters in this story are lacking in problems: Vance, the outsider, has returned to his hometown due to the unfortunate loss of both his job and his significant other; Craig, older brother, is struggling to make ends meet in his construction business and hiding it from his wife, Gina; Gina is contemplating adultery; her oldest daughter, Amanda, has returned home from an international study trip, pregnant; and then there's Helen, daughter of Craig and Gina, who is, understandably, trying to garner the attention of any adult that will listen.
"He struck her as so strong, so self-contained. He didn’t need to be coddled or taken care of like the men she’d been with before. But after a while - maybe when she was carrying Helen - she began to find herself feeling lonely and wishing that he needed her more."
The story is told in alternating voices and, while that can often be a challenge, Miller pulls it off with wise, and also hilarious, writing; I think she does a great job of reminding us that life is messy, no matter what we do to find an easier path, and that we are often faced with tough choices. I found this to be a highly relatable story and, when I wasn't chuckling at their antics and sarcasm, felt connected to the struggles of the Lake family.
A quick read, this would be a wonderful accompaniment on a vacation or long weekend; or, if you'd just like to escape to cozy New England while sitting in your own home.
November 15, 2016
A wonderful tale of a dysfunctional family, the Lakes, and their lives and loves set around the off-season world of Cape Cod. Twin brothers Craig and Vance couldn't be more different - Craig has a successful high-end building business, is married with three children, but can't get his first wife (who died in an accident) out of his head; whereas Vance is out of work, recently dumped, smoking weed and generally refusing to grow up.
The one thing they can agree on, is their adoration of Amanda, Craig's 17 year old daughter from his first marriage, who reminds them both of their deceased best friend / adored wife. However, when she returns from a trip to South America with more than just some photos as a souvenir of her time there, the thin threads holding the family together struggle to deal with the additional pressure.
This is a great portrait of a family with way too many skeletons in a closet whose doors are about to be blown off. As everything starts to unravel, you can't help but be drawn into their messy dysfunctional relationships and hope that the news from the end of the world is that all's well that ends well.
The one thing they can agree on, is their adoration of Amanda, Craig's 17 year old daughter from his first marriage, who reminds them both of their deceased best friend / adored wife. However, when she returns from a trip to South America with more than just some photos as a souvenir of her time there, the thin threads holding the family together struggle to deal with the additional pressure.
This is a great portrait of a family with way too many skeletons in a closet whose doors are about to be blown off. As everything starts to unravel, you can't help but be drawn into their messy dysfunctional relationships and hope that the news from the end of the world is that all's well that ends well.
June 12, 2017
Need to start a "Depressing" bookshelf in Good reads, and this book would be near the top. None of the characters are anyone I'd like to have as friends, much less as family. Dysfunctional barely covers this group.
February 27, 2017
The News From The End Of The World
By
Emily Jeanne Miller
What it's all about...
This book is about a family...a sort of disjointed family...that is going through some really rough times. You must trust me on this because saying any more will ruin this book for potential readers. Craig and Gina are married but after a new baby and financial issues and impending adultery...are miserable. Vance is Craig's brother and he has just lost his job, his home and his girlfriend. Amanda is Craig's daughter and she is totally miserable...she is in a predicament that causes her to hate everyone. What will happen to this family?
Why I wanted to read it...
This book just sounded good and it was. It was a bit slow and I did not love these characters but I kind of wanted them to be happy and have a better kind of life.
What made me truly enjoy this book...
The dysfunctional issues with these characters made this book good. Helen...Craig and Gina's 7 year old daughter...gave this book some humor...even though she was truly annoying.
Why you should read it, too...
Readers who enjoy an interesting family story with characters that you want to shake your head at...should enjoy this book!
By
Emily Jeanne Miller
What it's all about...
This book is about a family...a sort of disjointed family...that is going through some really rough times. You must trust me on this because saying any more will ruin this book for potential readers. Craig and Gina are married but after a new baby and financial issues and impending adultery...are miserable. Vance is Craig's brother and he has just lost his job, his home and his girlfriend. Amanda is Craig's daughter and she is totally miserable...she is in a predicament that causes her to hate everyone. What will happen to this family?
Why I wanted to read it...
This book just sounded good and it was. It was a bit slow and I did not love these characters but I kind of wanted them to be happy and have a better kind of life.
What made me truly enjoy this book...
The dysfunctional issues with these characters made this book good. Helen...Craig and Gina's 7 year old daughter...gave this book some humor...even though she was truly annoying.
Why you should read it, too...
Readers who enjoy an interesting family story with characters that you want to shake your head at...should enjoy this book!
December 16, 2016
I really enjoyed this intricate family drama set on Cape Cod in the off-season - compelling, heartfelt, and with a touch of humor!
February 25, 2017
Finding a new author is always great and I am impressed with this one. Good book!
March 18, 2019
Not a very deep book. Did not really love the ending.
December 7, 2018
‘The News From The End Of The World’ is a novel taking place over four days. The Lake family of Cape Cod, very loveable but highly dysfunctional. Craig Lake, his wife Gina their two children Amanda and Helen, as well as Craig’s twin brother Vance have so many secrets, where to begin? Secrets include infidelity, unwanted pregnancies, unsuccessful business, and job loss . Only when they help each other will the secrets be revealed. Loved reading this very well written book
October 24, 2020
2.5 stars. This is a plot driven novel which might have benefited from character development.
Each person is this blended family is in crisis. Instead of reaching out for support the characters retreat into their pain. It is written in a somewhat breezy manner as each person careens from one mistake of another. This had the elements of a good story but fell flat for me.
Each person is this blended family is in crisis. Instead of reaching out for support the characters retreat into their pain. It is written in a somewhat breezy manner as each person careens from one mistake of another. This had the elements of a good story but fell flat for me.
August 7, 2017
Ok, quick read, not likeable characters
December 4, 2016
A family of dysfunction, a family of secrets, each character has a secret but the novel's plot pivots around Amanda's secret. Amanda is seventeen, sent home from an outward bound camp in Chile for some mysterious reason. Her father, Craig, is stressed beyond belief and his wife, Gina, is caught up trying to manage their two young children, Helen and Cameron. She is a pseudo interior designer who actually just runs a shop in town with cute things (cue Helen's shop in the TV show "The Affair"). Craig's twin brother, Vance, arrives from D.C. sans girlfriend and job teaching at a university. Everyone in this family is messed up. But they live on Cape Cod, an idyllic vacation spot, not so great for the people who grew up there and seem to be stuck in a place where memories and past actions hold the adults back from full on growing up and moving on.
Emily Jeanne Miller creates characters that are vivid in the mind's eye. The story is one many of us know all too well. The setting reminds me a bit of Olive Kitteridge territory. I wanted all of them to let go of their angst and love each other, realize that having a family is becoming a rare gift these days. Perhaps my only truly unlikable character was Gina, a woman who substitutes happiness with a home that is filled with objects she can't afford and resentment for the life she married. You judge for yourself.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (publish date: February 21st 2017).
Emily Jeanne Miller creates characters that are vivid in the mind's eye. The story is one many of us know all too well. The setting reminds me a bit of Olive Kitteridge territory. I wanted all of them to let go of their angst and love each other, realize that having a family is becoming a rare gift these days. Perhaps my only truly unlikable character was Gina, a woman who substitutes happiness with a home that is filled with objects she can't afford and resentment for the life she married. You judge for yourself.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (publish date: February 21st 2017).
March 2, 2017
The News from the End of the World is a glimpse into the lives of four members of a dysfunctional New England family, all of which are in personal crises at the same time. Very readable, the story is told from the alternating viewpoints of Craig Lake; his wife Gina; Craig's 17 year old daughter Amanda; and Vance, Craig's twin brother.
Vance arrives to stay at his brother's house after he was fired from his teaching position, and kicked out by his fiancée. He arrives not knowing that his brother's family is also going through crises, both individually, and as a family. Craig, a builder, is overextended and his business is floundering; Gina is on the brink of an affair; and Amanda was sent home from a program in Chile because she is pregnant. The book takes place over the course of four days during which we learn of regrets, hopes, and how messy a family that loves each other can be.
Miller does a good job of exploring each of these characters with empathy, and captures the angst of a pregnant teenager exquisitely. Two things bothered me about the book - it drove me crazy how long it took for Vance to be told the truth of Amanda's situation. Easily guessable, there was no need to drag it out as much as it was. I also wish the ending had been a bit more definitive. Leaves the reader to decide how the family moves forward.
Many thanks to Netgalley & Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing me with an e-Arc of this enjoyable book!
Vance arrives to stay at his brother's house after he was fired from his teaching position, and kicked out by his fiancée. He arrives not knowing that his brother's family is also going through crises, both individually, and as a family. Craig, a builder, is overextended and his business is floundering; Gina is on the brink of an affair; and Amanda was sent home from a program in Chile because she is pregnant. The book takes place over the course of four days during which we learn of regrets, hopes, and how messy a family that loves each other can be.
Miller does a good job of exploring each of these characters with empathy, and captures the angst of a pregnant teenager exquisitely. Two things bothered me about the book - it drove me crazy how long it took for Vance to be told the truth of Amanda's situation. Easily guessable, there was no need to drag it out as much as it was. I also wish the ending had been a bit more definitive. Leaves the reader to decide how the family moves forward.
Many thanks to Netgalley & Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing me with an e-Arc of this enjoyable book!
February 11, 2017
When forty-two-year-old Vance Lake arrives at his twin brother’s Cape Cod home, he’s not in a good place. He’s just been fired for scandalous reasons from his adjunct teaching position, and his girlfriend has left him. He has nowhere to go, and Craig’s house is the obvious place to land. But Vance immediately discovers that Craig and his family are in the middle of a crisis. Craig is heavily in debt, his business struggling. His wife, Gina, is hovering at the edges of an affair. Most distressingly, Craig’s daughter Amanda has been sent home from her wilderness adventure in Chile--and no one feels compelled to immediately tell Vance why. Once he learns the truth, the worst regrets of his life hurtle to the surface, and how he moves forward will change him forever.
Compressed into a four-day period, The News from the End of the World is an agreeable family drama that revels in exploring those moments when a choice in either direction will set life spinning in vastly different ways. The chilly landscape of off-season Cape Cod underscores the harsh truths the entire Lake family must reckon with. Ultimately, longstanding locals like the Lakes can’t outrun their mistakes--or their heartaches.
***Review originally written for the City Book Review. I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.***
Compressed into a four-day period, The News from the End of the World is an agreeable family drama that revels in exploring those moments when a choice in either direction will set life spinning in vastly different ways. The chilly landscape of off-season Cape Cod underscores the harsh truths the entire Lake family must reckon with. Ultimately, longstanding locals like the Lakes can’t outrun their mistakes--or their heartaches.
***Review originally written for the City Book Review. I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.***
December 20, 2016
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A brisk-paced tale of a highly dysfunctional family told from multiple points of view. Some parts of the story work well, others not so much. None of the characters are particularly well developed and it is difficult to sympathize with or care about their decisions, except to possibly get angry about the major choice made without looping the reader into the thought process behind it. Young Helen is actually the only one whose actions and reactions are clearly delineated, and her scenes are authentically believable for her age and feelings.
Vance Lake loses his job, gets dumped by his girlfriend and is kicked out of his house. The only place he can figure to go is Cape Cod, where his twin brother Craig lives with his family. Vance, a pot-smoking slacker whose saving grace is that he adores Craig's family, tries to sort out what to do next with his life. Craig's business is faltering, his wife Gina is on the verge of having an affair, and their 17-year-old daughter Amanda is recently returned from Chile with some news that shakes the family.
A brisk-paced tale of a highly dysfunctional family told from multiple points of view. Some parts of the story work well, others not so much. None of the characters are particularly well developed and it is difficult to sympathize with or care about their decisions, except to possibly get angry about the major choice made without looping the reader into the thought process behind it. Young Helen is actually the only one whose actions and reactions are clearly delineated, and her scenes are authentically believable for her age and feelings.
Vance Lake loses his job, gets dumped by his girlfriend and is kicked out of his house. The only place he can figure to go is Cape Cod, where his twin brother Craig lives with his family. Vance, a pot-smoking slacker whose saving grace is that he adores Craig's family, tries to sort out what to do next with his life. Craig's business is faltering, his wife Gina is on the verge of having an affair, and their 17-year-old daughter Amanda is recently returned from Chile with some news that shakes the family.
May 7, 2017
I'm the kind of person who always believes that we learn from our mistakes. I rarely trust anyone who says they have no regrets in life, because unless you're the son of God, that's almost impossible to attain. I liked this novel because it shows a family realistically with all the joys and burdens of life. Choices have long-lasting consequences and sometimes guilt makes people unable to forgive themselves. I think everyone feels like they have failed at some point, but it is important to remember that family is what binds us together in love. This family is having to learn how to weave through their traumas while clinging to each other. It is not easy. Having said that, I liked the story. I liked the build up. I liked the complex relationships. I really liked the book. For me, I round it up to 4 stars. As one character states, "It is a lot easier to forgive other people for their shortcomings once we've forgiving ourselves." One note of warning, some people of faith are not going to like the direction of this story.
March 27, 2017
Was this ever a surprise. In hindsight, it has all the hallmarks of a novel I would enjoy: set in New England, family drama... well, yeah, that's about it. I expected a quick, good read, but I thought this reached "great" status in a few places. Sure, there were melodramatic scenes and rote plot twists--flirting between the wife and her husband's best friend, teenage daughter storming out to walk home, brothers fighting because you just don't understand me/but YOU just don't understand ME-- but I genuinely enjoyed the story and most of the characters, especially Amanda and Helen. A few moments were downright poignant. I liked it!
I received a review copy from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I received a review copy from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
May 9, 2017
Cape Cod, off season is a very different place - quiet, cold with many closed seasonal stores. This is the setting for this novel that explores family relationships - spouses, siblings, step-siblings. Vance is a college adjunct who gets fired for an in appropriate remark and heads to his twin brother's house to try to figure out what he will do next. Craig is married to Gina, his second wife and has a 7 year old and a baby with her. The center of the novel is Amanda, his daughter from his first marriage who is unhappily pregnant and wants an abortion; her father refuses to give her permission. The story of these relationships, the secrets each of them keep and the solutions to some of their problems make this a good novel.
November 18, 2016
We are introduced to a family in crisis. Vance goes to stay with his brother and his family when his fiancee kicks him out. But there are things going on at his brother's house that Vance has no idea was going on and it brings back old memories of his own past. Somehow this family has to figure out a way to get through what is happening without it ripping them apart.
I was given an advanced eARC by the publisher through NetGalley.
I was given an advanced eARC by the publisher through NetGalley.
May 26, 2017
A beautifully written story with such well developed characters - each telling their own story - wonderful family dynamics! I admit to initial skepticism that an entire book could take place over a four day timeframe. Ms. Miller really pulled this off so well.
I couldn't put this book down and I would love a sequel. I have now read both of Ms. Miller's books and dearly hope she is working on a third.
I couldn't put this book down and I would love a sequel. I have now read both of Ms. Miller's books and dearly hope she is working on a third.
May 4, 2017
More literary than chick lit, this book follows Vance who shows up at his brother's house broke and kicked out by his girlfriend finding that his brother's family is in the midst of their own somewhat secret crisis. The book follows the next four or five days, telling the story from varying view points (Vance's brother, Vance's sister in law, and Vance's nieces).
February 7, 2017
Definitely a touching page-turner. The mystery held on just long enough to tantalize, but not so long that readers would give up. A small cast of characters make for an intimate melding of past and present.
March 5, 2017
a Nice story .
April 2, 2017
Beautifully flawed characters who have more in common than they realize because they fail to understand and connect with each other, just like real life. Couldn't put it down.
June 5, 2017
I guess I am the only person who really hated this book. And I was very excited about it. Stock characters and no plot. just ugh. I hope to have better luck with "The Heirs".
February 1, 2019
I struggled with how to rate and review this book. I liked and was drawn to most of the characters, miserable as they all are. The structure and quality of the writing is great and the story was well told. I liked the setting and descriptions of a small community where the twins grew up and have memories at places like Land’s End. The problem is that it bumped up against my convictions. I’m heartbroken that a novel I otherwise would have loved had to perpetuate the lie that abortion can help women, when the research clearly indicates, over and over again, that the opposite is true. Even more heartbreaking is the message it seems to convey that an abortion could bring a shattered family back together again. That being said, I give the author credit for presenting her views with a slight nod to those on the opposite side of the debate. I thought Craig’s explanation for why he was against an abortion was tender and convincing, and I was grateful he was given the opportunity to explain his stance. Nonetheless, it didn’t escape my notice that one of the least appealing characters was the one opposing abortion. I truly wish the book had ended differently. If so I would look forward to reading more of Miller’s books. I don’t regret reading this, as I try to expose myself to people who have different views than I do, and overall it was a good book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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