The May House - three sisters promise to meet every year and reconnect at their family beach house.

Julia, Emily, and Nora made a vow to their Grandma Vera to spend a week together every May at the Coronado, California beach house left to them. After losing their mother at a young age, their maternal grandmother wanted to ensure the sisters never lost touch. Julie, the eldest, goes to law school, marries, and has a daughter, yet each year she is drawn back to the old feelings for the charming neighbor she always thought she'd end up with. Middle sister Emily continues to feel the trauma of losing her mother and wants to find someone she can love. Nora also struggles with relationships, while pursuing a career on Broadway. Although life has taken them in different directions, they have kept their promise until 2019, when Julie does not show up for their annual gathering. Through a series of flashbacks and perspectives, the sisters' lives unfold, revealing secrets they've kept from each other.

The May House by Jillian Cantor is an enjoyable journey about the bonds of sisterhood. Filled with both sad and uplifting moments, be prepared to get swept into the lives of the May sisters across the decades. It's a lovely summer read.

Many thanks to Atria Books for the advance.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars.

Contemporary Fiction.

Publication Date: May 12, 2026.

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