The Gin and Chowder Club by Nan Rossiter

The Gin and Chowder Club by Nan Rossiter is an eloquently written story about the dangers of an affair and the deep binds of love. The story is set in Cape Cod, and showcases two very different families. Samuel and Sarah Coleman are a happily married couple with two sons, Isaac and Asa. The family is good friends with Nate Shepherd and his much younger wife, Noelle. What the families don’t know is of a secret affair between Asa and Noelle. The pair doesn’t know what to do about their love for one another. They can’t stand being apart from one another, but understand that if the affair was brought to light, the bond between the families would be forever broken. When Asa decides the best thing for him to do would be to go off to college and leave the families at peace, he and Noelle embark on a summer fling, trying to get in all the time together that they can. But the consequences of the summer play a cruel twist of fate, with an unexpected ending for all.

I really enjoyed The Gin and Chowder Club. Even though it is told from Asa’s perspective, I was able to jump right in and form a bond with all the characters. Rossiter’s writing is beautiful, and the Cape Cod scenery made me feel I was there right along with the cast. The only thing that I had a bit of trouble with was the time frame of the story. I kept thinking something seemed a bit off, but it wasn’t until Asa went to the baseball game that I realized this book is set in the 1960’s. Other than that, I really enjoyed the book, and even shed a few tears at the heart wrenching ending. This is Rossiter’s first adult novel, and I will eagerly wait for more!