Every July, the lucky owners of Cornish holiday homes set off for their annual break. 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 more than usually ready for her holiday. Her daughter, Miranda, is hitting adolescence bigtime, and her husband Jack is harbouring unsettling thoughts of a change in lifestyle. No wonder that Clare is contemplating a bit of extra-marital adventure, possibly with Eliot, the successful, heavy-drinking author in the adjoining holiday property.

Unexpected disasters occur, revelations are made and, as the summer ends, real life will never be quite the same again.

"Her much-loved first novel" - Daily Mail

"Oh, what a find! A lovely, funny book" - Sarah Harrison

Judy Astley became the author of witty, contemporary novels after several years as a dressmaker, illustrator, painter and parent. Her own Christmases are a mad mixture of ever-increasing family, too much food and a panic-stricken last-minute hurtle round the shops for presents. She has usually managed to pay off the resulting expense by the time the next lot of Christmas cards come on the market. Judy lives in London and Cornwall.