The East End: A Novel

Born and raised in the Hamptons, where wealthy New Yorkers have palatial summer homes, Corey Halpern plans to go to college at the end of the summer. Though he’s skilled at breaking into the wealthy Hamptons homes, he doesn’t steal; he simply rearranges items or plays small pranks as an outlet for his boredom. One night, he breaks into the home of Leo Sheffield, for whom he and his mother, Gina, work every summer. To his surprise, Leo shows up, and he’s not alone. As Corey watches from the bushes, a terrible accident unfolds, and only Corey understands the truth about Leo’s guilt. Meanwhile, Gina deals with her estranged husband’s escalating violence and instability. As guests descend on the Sheffield home for an elaborate, weekend-long Memorial Day party, Corey and Gina find themselves embroiled in Leo’s crisis, their own happiness and freedom seriously at risk.

The high-end trappings of the Hamptons are the backdrop for the much grittier reality that plays out in the kitchens and service areas, and Allen has a careful eye for the often unsavory juxtapositions of the glittery homes and the very human foundation that keeps them running. Though class differences contribute to the chaos, heartbreak and desperation are universal. Corey, Gina, and billionaire Leo may live in very different versions of the Hamptons, but love and loss impact them all.