The Gardner family is planning the father’s 70th birthday party which will coincide with his retirement from a lifetime career as a marine biologist. Abby and Ken are the adult children who don’t always get along (mostly not) and appear to be opposites. Their mother died the day Abby was born and Adam raised them on his own on Cape Cod. Ken is now married to Abby’s best friend from art school with 12 year-old twins and in the early stages of pursuing a political career. Abby is single and still lives in the studio in the woods where their mother used to work. The three Gardners orbit each others’ worlds, but don’t have a lot in common. This was the perfect book to read while I was in Cape Cod last week as the author describes locations, beaches and restaurants with the knowledge of a native. As the culminating party gets closer, an outsider (Steph) tries to get to know the family and reveal a long-buried secret. Recommended (especially if you are a fan of cape Cod).