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belinda31's review against another edition
4.0
I'd give this a 3.5 but can't figure out to on here. I'll continue reading the series as I love the idea of reading about summer camp and families together at a cottage setting on a lake.
sar_19's review against another edition
3.0
A great summer reading book. Would like to follow the rest of the series.
lorihenrich2021's review against another edition
3.0
This was pretty good. I like the author. The story flowed well although I am not a fan of the constant going back in forth from present to past.
kboc923's review against another edition
4.0
this was a nice summer read - nice to see characters who had been through pain and struggles in life, made them much more realistic than most books. have added the rest of the series to my 'to read' list, as i'm curious to see what happens to the other characters!
candihighsmith's review against another edition
1.0
Purchased on audible and I couldn't stand the narrator. Perhaps I'll read the written version but for now...didn't get past the first chapter.
saragalisteo's review
4.0
Una bonita lectura para el verano. Seguramente leeré el resto de los libros de la saga porque este ha sido entretenido, rápido de leer y con una historia dulce, justo lo que andaba buscando.
kendalanne07's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
joreadsromance's review against another edition
4.0
Pleasant character driven tale
4 stars
This is the first book in the Lakeside Chronicles series and was first published in 2006. There are currently 8 books in the series and a novella. Although I suppose this book stands alone, it does set up the characters for the subsequent novels so I suppose your desire to read the rest in the series will depend upon your interest in those other characters.
Overall I liked the writing style of the book and it was a pleasing read if nothing hugely exceptional. The story was also engaging and very character driven with the focus of the story often switching back and forward between past and present. I didn't feel that this slowed down the story too much and it still kept my interest throughout.
I really liked Olivia and Connor and felt that I could both relate to and route for the pair as a couple. There was also a multitude of other characters throughout the book which took some time away from the main pair and I could have done with less. Having said that, since this is the first book in the series they'll probably turn into well loved characters in the future if you continue to read the series. The book also clocks in at 544 pages so you have enough time to get to know everyone in lots of detail!
Overall this was a nice book to pass the time away. It's pleasant, nothing too dramatic and a good starting point for the Lakeside Chronicles series. 4 stars.
allingoodtime's review against another edition
4.0
Susan Wiggs is a new-to-me author, but obviously she’s been around since this book was originally published in 2006. Wow! She really knows how to weave a tale. Let’s see if I can adequately explain my feelings on this book without spoilers.
The main focus of this story are Olivia (Lolly) and Connor. Their story is really sweet and tender. As kids they started out as frenemies at summer camp but ended up true friends through the years. Eventually, their relationship progressed to more than friends one summer. This story is about them finding each other again after 9 years. Why they lost each other in the first place is an emotional journey they must both go on in their own ways. Lolly’s insecurities keep her more closed off than Connor even realizes…then or now. This contributes to some mixed signals between the two.
Mixed in with the romance of Lolly and Connor is a coming to terms, so to speak, that Lolly has about her parents’ divorce. There’s also a little romance between Olivia’s cousin and best friend, an uncle going through his own marital problems and trying to be supportive of his two kids, Lolly trying to help ease the sting of divorce for her two young cousins, a secret in her dad’s past he may not even know about, Connor’s teen brother going through his own growing pains…all while this loving cast of characters attempt to get the old family camp ready for a big 50th anniversary celebration for her Olivia’s grandparents. All of these stories are expertly woven together without it feeling like anything is being left behind. We get to see things from multiple perspectives as well as multiple times as the story jumps back in time a few times. There was a fear this would get to cumbersome, but the author did a wonderful job of knowing when to use this device properly.
See full review at https://allingoodtimeblog.wordpress.com/2017/04/26/summer-at-willow-lake-book-review/
The main focus of this story are Olivia (Lolly) and Connor. Their story is really sweet and tender. As kids they started out as frenemies at summer camp but ended up true friends through the years. Eventually, their relationship progressed to more than friends one summer. This story is about them finding each other again after 9 years. Why they lost each other in the first place is an emotional journey they must both go on in their own ways. Lolly’s insecurities keep her more closed off than Connor even realizes…then or now. This contributes to some mixed signals between the two.
Mixed in with the romance of Lolly and Connor is a coming to terms, so to speak, that Lolly has about her parents’ divorce. There’s also a little romance between Olivia’s cousin and best friend, an uncle going through his own marital problems and trying to be supportive of his two kids, Lolly trying to help ease the sting of divorce for her two young cousins, a secret in her dad’s past he may not even know about, Connor’s teen brother going through his own growing pains…all while this loving cast of characters attempt to get the old family camp ready for a big 50th anniversary celebration for her Olivia’s grandparents. All of these stories are expertly woven together without it feeling like anything is being left behind. We get to see things from multiple perspectives as well as multiple times as the story jumps back in time a few times. There was a fear this would get to cumbersome, but the author did a wonderful job of knowing when to use this device properly.
See full review at https://allingoodtimeblog.wordpress.com/2017/04/26/summer-at-willow-lake-book-review/