Publishers Weekly
01/21/2019
An apparent conflict of interest melts into the comfort of chosen community in this warmhearted, personal story with Hamptons ambience. Emma Mapson, desk clerk at the American Hotel in Sag Harbor, N.Y., is as shocked as anyone when artist Henry Wyatt leaves his valuable estate, Windsong—and all of the art in it—to Emma’s daughter, Penny, who had recently become his friend and informal student. Wyatt’s old friend and business partner, Bea Winstead, arrives from Manhattan and refuses to leave Windsong while she attempts to dispute the will. Bea soon becomes involved in a quest to understand Henry’s choices by tracking down drawings, some of which show scenes from their past together, that he has hidden all over town. Brenner sits too long in Emma’s discomfort with the estate’s value and Bea’s entitled meanness before allowing them to interact in a more human way. Penny’s father is a caricature of villainy, and Brenner engages Penny’s mental illness mostly as a plot point. Nevertheless, sentimental readers will enjoy her commitment to showing how caring for others wins in the end. Agent: Adam Chromy, Movable Type Management. (May)
From the Publisher
"The pages practically turn themselves."— People
"Readers hoping to make more fictional friends will find plenty of options in these pages. Complex characters and probable connections turn a pleasant story into something special."—Library Journal
"Smart, full of curveballs, and perfect for the beach."—Kirkus
"I have been a fan of Jamie Brenner's storytelling from the very beginning; she is the rare writer who gets better with each book. Drawing Home is a captivating novel about mothers and daughters, shifting allegiances, the art world, waterfront real estate and love. Welcome to the gold standard of summertime escapism."—Elin Hilderbrand, New York Times bestselling author of The Perfect Couple and Summer of '69
"This lovely and poignant story delivers a calming setting and fine description that transports the reader. While the plot developments are not earth-shaking, the connections that form between the characters are unlikely and satisfying. An exquisite beach read, perfect for fans of Elin Hilderbrand and Jane Green."—Booklist
"Readers of Elin Hilderbrand or Nancy Thayer are sure to love Drawing Home, a charming entry in the heartwarming beach read canon. Jamie Brenner has created a slew of likable, flawed characters, all struggling to handle their grief at Henry's death and figure out his apparently conflicting final wishes. Emma, Bea and Penny end up learning surprising lessons about themselves and each other as the summer unfolds."—Shelf Awareness
"Book clubs: get your merlot to go! Jamie Brenner has become the queen of the beach read with Drawing Home. This page turner will keep you reading long into your summer nights. A famous artist dies in seaside Sag Harbor leaving his curated home to a local's teenage daughter, blowing the expectations of his heirs and the art world to bits.Told you you couldn't put it down!"—Adriana Trigiani, bestselling author Tony's Wife
"Jamie Brenner sketches a gorgeously evocative plot with her newest summer beach read, Drawing Home...She transports readers to the glamorous world of a Hamptons summer, where locals and wealthy tourists uneasily mingle, but where a new love, and a life filled with possibilities, waits just around the corner."—Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times bestselling author of The High Tide Club and The Weekenders.
"I loved Drawing Home! It was original, delicious, and surprising. Jamie Brenner is wise beyond her years."—Nancy Thayer, bestselling author of A Nantucket Wedding
"Drawing Home is that rare novel where the plot and characters are equally rich, complex and surprising. Brenner sets a scene like no other author, transporting the reader to the town of Sag Harbor as though they were really there, breathing the sea air and sipping a cocktail at the iconic American Hotel. This is a novel with boundless soul, unexpected twists, nuanced relationships and unique characters that are all consuming. I drank this book in."—Elyssa Friedland, author of The Intermission
"Jamie Brenner has mastered the art of the perfect summer read—an appealing, seaside setting you love spending time in, a cast of characters you come to care about, and enough twists and turns to keep you turning pages long past high tide. Drawing Home has all of that plus some complex themes that make this Brenner's most memorable novel and possibly her best yet."—Stephen McCauley, author of My Ex-Life
"A beach book with heart and soul is a lucky find. Snatch up this delicious summer read and head for a hammock!"—Judy Blundell, author of The High Season
"The delightful town of Sag Harbor provides the perfect setting for an enthralling tale of class, intrigue, and complicated family dynamics in Brenner's latest. A smart beach-read with plenty of sizzle."—Fiona Davis, author of The Masterpiece and The Address
"I absolutely loved Jamie Brenner's Drawing Home. A smart beach read about family, friendship, and the true meaning of home, this is Jamie Brenner's best book yet!"—Brenda Janowitz, author of The Dinner Party
"Jamie Brenner always delivers smart, soulful summer reads and Drawing Home is her best book yet. Set against the idyllic backdrop of Sag Harbor and filled with richly-drawn, nuanced characters, Drawing Home is wonderfully absorbing and utterly satisfying."—Cristina Alger, bestselling author of The Banker's Wife
Kirkus Reviews
2019-02-17
Having grown up in Sag Harbor, a historic Long Island town dependent on summer tourism, Emma Mapson thrives on hard work. But when a near stranger bequeaths his multimillion dollar estate to her daughter, Emma's world spins out of control.
Years of long shifts at The American Hotel left Emma with little time for her 14-year-old daughter, Penny, who suffers from OCD and anxiety. Penny's absentee father, Mark, who divorced Emma to pursue his dreams of acting and producing, hasn't helped much; even his child support payments are late. Luckily for Emma, they have Angus, an elderly neighbor who moved in with them after the death of his wife. Luckily for Penny, she has Henry Wyatt, an artist who fled the New York scene for serenity in Sag Harbor and who has taken her under his wing, teaching her to draw while she teaches him about graphic novels. When Henry dies unexpectedly, he inexplicably leaves Windsong, his gorgeous house full of priceless artwork, to Penny, not his longtime manager and estranged best friend, Bea Winstead. And Bea is angry. She sweeps into town with her reluctant assistant, Kyle, who seems more interested in Emma and ship renovation than Bea's crusade. While threatening Emma with a lawsuit, Bea illegally takes up residence in Windsong. She soon discovers, however, that Henry had been giving his drawings away to the residents of Sag Harbor, and those drawings might just tell a story explaining why Henry left Windsong to the wrong person. Brenner (The Husband Hour, 2018, etc.) skillfully ratchets up the tension as Bea searches for answers and the Mapsons struggle to gain control of not only the estate, but also Penny's OCD. And then Mark shows up, ready to fight dirty for custody and money.
Smart, full of curveballs, and perfect for the beach.
