Every July, the lucky owners of Cornish holiday homes
set off for their annual break. Loading their estate
cars with dogs, cats, casefuls of wine, difficult
adolescents and rebellious toddlers, they close up their
desirable semis in smartish London suburbs - having
turned off the Aga and turned on the burglar alarm - and
look forward to a carefree, restful, somehow more
fulfilling summer. Clare is, this year, more than
usually ready for her holiday. Her teenage daughter,
Miranda, has been behaving strangely; her husband, Jack,
is harbouring unsettling thoughts of a change in
lifestyle; her small children are being particularly
tiresome; and she herself is contemplating a bit of
extra-marital adventure, possibly with Eliot, the
successful - although undeniably heavy-drinking and
overweight - author in the adjoining holiday property.
Meanwhile Andrew, the only son of elderly parents, is
determined that this will be the summer when he will
seduce Jessica, Eliot's nubile daughter.But Jessica
spends her time in girl-talk with Miranda, while Milo,
her handsome brother with whom Andrew longs to be
friends, seems more interested in going sailing with the
young blond son of the club commodore. Unexpected
disasters occur, revelations are made and, as the summer
ends, real life will never be quite the same
again. |
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