Acclaimed novelist Anne Rivers Siddons's new novel is a stunning tale of love and loss.
For as long as she can remember, they were Cam and Lilly--happily married, totally in love with each other, parents of a beautiful family, and partners in life. Then, after decades of marriage, it ended as every great love story does...in loss. After Cam's death, Lilly takes a lone road trip to her and Cam's favorite spot on the remote coast of Maine, the place where they fell in love over and over again, where their ghosts still dance. There, she looks hard to her past--to a first love that ended in tragedy; to falling in love with Cam; to a marriage filled with exuberance, sheer life, and safety-- to try to figure out her future.
It is a journey begun with tender memories and culminating in a revelation that will make Lilly re-evaluate everything she thought was true about her husband and her marriage.
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"This book is gorgeously written - it reads like poetry and paints a fabulous picture of a woman and her feelings. The only downside is it's not a particularly happy book. Tears came more than a few times and you're left wondering whether her life was happy or not. Odd, but good. "
— Mary-Frances (4 out of 5 stars)
“I've always enjoyed Anne Rivers Siddons’ books, but this is her best, maybe the book she was born to write…The story of Lilly and Jon is one of the best stories of adolescent love—its fierceness and sweetness—that I've ever read.”
— Stephen King“In her beautifully crafted and dazzling new novel Off Season, Ms. Siddons delivers the goods more powerfully than ever. All her books are terriffic, but this one is the best yet.”
— Pat Conroy“In Siddons’ stirring novel, the recently widowed Lily Constable returns to her childhood summer home in Maine to sift through formative memories of her parents and her first love…This is an example of how a good novel can become magnificent when it is beautifully told.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)“With a powerhouse ending dazzling in its stealth and ambiguity, master storyteller Siddons delivers a dramatically evocative tale that magically summons a bygone time of innocence and intrigue.”
— Booklist“Her descriptions will have listeners hearing the birds and smelling the ocean.”
— Library JournalMix the lyricism of Siddons's prose; the intense, yet restrained voice of Oscar-winning actress Jane Alexander; and the mysteries of the untamed Maine coastline -and you have the makings of a magical voyage....
— AudioFile" Anne Rivers Siddons is a favorite of mine. I've read almost all of her books. They may not fall under the category of "literary" or "challenging," but they are always a pleasure to read. This one is no different. Unlike most of her novels, which take place in the South, this one takes place in Maine, as a widow struggles to come to terms with her husband's recent death - and her own past in the process. The book is well-paced, with a few surprises thrown in. Another great travel or beach read that will give you a few hours of escape. "
— Laura, 2/19/2014" southern writer. But most of this book took place in Maine and I am very familiar with all the places she wrote about. Started out great. Bit boring in the middle but, I did enjoy the ending. "
— Linda, 2/18/2014" I enjoyed the characters in this book and the story was interesting until towards the end. I wasn't anxious to read the last 10-12 pages. You could imagine the scenery in both DC and in Maine - the descriptions were excellent, but sometimes too long. "
— Sandra, 2/16/2014" This is a great book, my first, by this author. The story set in Maine is full of 3 dimensional characters and surprises. "
— Lynne, 2/7/2014" Great expolorations of loss and the effects later in life when grief is not dealt with. "
— Sherry, 2/1/2014" Lilly is a character to love. She is the leader of the kids who spend their summers in Maine. Leading bike rides, adventures and sailing. Her world changes the summer she meets Jon and with the arrival of Peaches Davenport. Tragedy happens and Lilly is left to fugure out how to live life without some important people in her life. Cam comes full force into her life, marries Lilly and they raise a family. Tragedy again comes into Lilly's life and she is shocked at what she learns about her husband and the secret he had kept from her. "
— Laura, 1/31/2014" I enjoyed this book and have come to the conclusion I have a secret want to go to Maine and live in a community that has been there forever. It must be on the water and I have to live in an old, old family home!! I thought the writing was good and I enjoyed the characters. "
— Sarah, 1/30/2014" it was good, "
— Amber, 1/19/2014" This may be my favorite of Ann Rivers Siddons. I also loved Outer Banks and the Colony.... "
— Katie, 1/19/2014" I couldn't get into it. The writing style is not for me--overly detailed. I quit at page 20. "
— Dawn, 12/20/2013" Great book, I couldn't put it down. "
— Linda, 12/19/2013Anne Rivers Siddons (1936–2019) wrote nineteen novels, including several New York Times bestsellers, as well as a work of nonficton and two movie scripts. Her novels received praise from Stephen King and Pat Conroy. Her debut novel, Heartbreak Hotel, was made into a major motion picture in 1989 titled Heart of Dixie. Her novel The House Next Door was made into a made-for-television movie that aired in 2006 on Lifetime Television.
Jane Alexander‘s acting career has encompassed a Tony® Award, and six other nominations; she is a four time Oscar® nominee; the author of Command Performance, documenting her tenure as chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts from 1993-1997; and she is Commissioner of Parks, the Taconic Region, for New York State.