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quinnithpaltrow's review
5.0
Another gripping book by Jenny Blackhurst!
This tells the story of two sisters from England who are getting over the lost of their mother and dealing with the greif in their own unique ways. Holly choses to make the best of her life and moves to a picture perfect American town to start her adventures.
Unfortunately in her guest to sieze the day she falls in with the wrong crowd which could cost her her life.
Having not heard from her younger sister for three days Claire travels to America in the hunt to bring her home. Claire searches high and low for her sister which courses historic small town secrets to reopen.
Gripping read! Would recommend
This tells the story of two sisters from England who are getting over the lost of their mother and dealing with the greif in their own unique ways. Holly choses to make the best of her life and moves to a picture perfect American town to start her adventures.
Unfortunately in her guest to sieze the day she falls in with the wrong crowd which could cost her her life.
Having not heard from her younger sister for three days Claire travels to America in the hunt to bring her home. Claire searches high and low for her sister which courses historic small town secrets to reopen.
Gripping read! Would recommend
sprinkled's review
3.5
Enjoyable but fairly predictable. The British slang from the American characters was noticeable enough to be annoying. Like, no one in Massachusetts is calling it "sun cream". Took away from the story for me.
sarah_mcmullan_nz's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
booksbybindu's review
4.0
‘The Summer Girl’ was an unputdownable thriller that I devoured in one day! Jenny Blackhurst is an author who I know that when I pick up one of her books that I am guaranteed a great read! She is brilliant at writing thrillers that will entertain the reader. I think this is the best that she has written though as it is fully believable that people could act that way. I like it when a thriller is authentic and relatable as it's scarier if it feels like it could happen in real life. This is definitely the case here!
Claire’s little sister Holly has been working in Martha’s Vineyard for the summer and has been enjoying the life of barefoot parties and dalliances with the local rich kids. But now she is missing and the local police do not care. They think a message that Claire received is proof that she is safe. But Claire knows that is it impossible that Holly sent that message and heads to Martha’s Vineyard to find Holly herself. Who are the locals protecting and what does it have to do with another girl who went missing five years ago?
I devoured this in one sitting and was fully immersed in it. It was full of tension from the start, especially with that prologue! The tension is lightened with sparks of humour sprinkled throughout and the author had a wry way of writing at times. Both Claire and Holly come across as likeable girls and I especially thought that both girls were relatable with their actions which were born out of grief. I was 21 when my mum died and I fled away for the summer and had too many drunken nights as well.
The narrative I found to be entertaining and full of twists and turns! It was an engrossing read and at times I was mentally shouting at the characters for their stupid decisions. This would make for a great tv series as it really pulls at the heartstrings and the location would be a dream on screen! I did figure out that ending but the reveal was unfolded in a brilliant way!
Let me know if you pick this one up!
Claire’s little sister Holly has been working in Martha’s Vineyard for the summer and has been enjoying the life of barefoot parties and dalliances with the local rich kids. But now she is missing and the local police do not care. They think a message that Claire received is proof that she is safe. But Claire knows that is it impossible that Holly sent that message and heads to Martha’s Vineyard to find Holly herself. Who are the locals protecting and what does it have to do with another girl who went missing five years ago?
I devoured this in one sitting and was fully immersed in it. It was full of tension from the start, especially with that prologue! The tension is lightened with sparks of humour sprinkled throughout and the author had a wry way of writing at times. Both Claire and Holly come across as likeable girls and I especially thought that both girls were relatable with their actions which were born out of grief. I was 21 when my mum died and I fled away for the summer and had too many drunken nights as well.
The narrative I found to be entertaining and full of twists and turns! It was an engrossing read and at times I was mentally shouting at the characters for their stupid decisions. This would make for a great tv series as it really pulls at the heartstrings and the location would be a dream on screen! I did figure out that ending but the reveal was unfolded in a brilliant way!
Let me know if you pick this one up!
henrymarlene's review
4.0
Claire’s sister has sent a text message, and Claire knows Holly didn’t send it. What is the truth? What has happened in the summertime at Martha’s Vineyard? Who is being protected, who is lying, and what does it have to do with another girl who went missing five years ago?
A dual timeline point of view, done right. There’s nothing over the top here, just a genuine amateur mystery to be solved by a sister, her friends, and people she meets along the way. I found this was more a mystery-crime-suspense novel rather than a good olde fashioned thriller, and I think the prologue was a part of this consideration. It did set up the start of the book to edge you in a particular direction, and then the book progressed with the different narrations from both Claire and Holly that really enveloped the characteristics of solving where Holly was and what happened. I loved the use of language in this book – it was written more with an international readership in mind rather than catering to one particular audience.
There was a lot of sadness and grief in this book, and Jenny encapsulates this well. We understand the pain of a sister who is missing, the loss of loved ones, and the emotions that are stirred up and generated as people process these feelings. It brought a humanistic touch to the characters. The book also did well to highlight the characters who get away with anything and where money talks enough in a small town to silence people or drive them into obsession.
The Summer Girl had me wishing made me want to sit on the verandah of a Hamptons house and sip a long island ice tea, reading this book in the morning sun (a nice dream from cold wintery Australia!). Thanks to @lovebookstours, @canelo_co and @jennyblackhurstauthor for sharing this book with me.
A dual timeline point of view, done right. There’s nothing over the top here, just a genuine amateur mystery to be solved by a sister, her friends, and people she meets along the way. I found this was more a mystery-crime-suspense novel rather than a good olde fashioned thriller, and I think the prologue was a part of this consideration. It did set up the start of the book to edge you in a particular direction, and then the book progressed with the different narrations from both Claire and Holly that really enveloped the characteristics of solving where Holly was and what happened. I loved the use of language in this book – it was written more with an international readership in mind rather than catering to one particular audience.
There was a lot of sadness and grief in this book, and Jenny encapsulates this well. We understand the pain of a sister who is missing, the loss of loved ones, and the emotions that are stirred up and generated as people process these feelings. It brought a humanistic touch to the characters. The book also did well to highlight the characters who get away with anything and where money talks enough in a small town to silence people or drive them into obsession.
The Summer Girl had me wishing made me want to sit on the verandah of a Hamptons house and sip a long island ice tea, reading this book in the morning sun (a nice dream from cold wintery Australia!). Thanks to @lovebookstours, @canelo_co and @jennyblackhurstauthor for sharing this book with me.
christinahlx's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
cicismama1019's review
5.0
I could not put this book down, I finished it within 12 hours. Claire’s sister Holly has gone to Martha’s Vineyard for the summer and she quit answering any texts or calls from anyone, which is very unlike her. Claire ends up going to the vineyard to look for her over the course of a week or so. She encounters the rich, popular boys who get away with everything and starts digging into them and trying to find her sister. A lot of events involving a lot of shady people and friends transpire. About halfway through I had a feeling I may know what happened (which turned out to partially be true) but regardless, the last 25% really had you so enthralled and was overall unexpected. I really enjoyed this book and would absolutely read another book by this author. Thank you for the ARC opportunity!
bookishsamsch's review
4.0
A fantastic thriller set on Martha's Vineyard.
Claire’s little sister Holly has been working on the millionaire’s playground of Martha’s Vineyard, going to barefoot beach parties and flirting with the local rich kids. But now she’s missing and none of the locals seem to care, including the police. They think a message Claire received is proof she’s safe.
But Claire knows for a fact that her sister didn’t send it.
I could put this down. I was doing a readalong but ended up blitzing it in two days. It's pacey, clever and 'edge of your seat' gripping. Can see this being a movie.
Claire’s little sister Holly has been working on the millionaire’s playground of Martha’s Vineyard, going to barefoot beach parties and flirting with the local rich kids. But now she’s missing and none of the locals seem to care, including the police. They think a message Claire received is proof she’s safe.
But Claire knows for a fact that her sister didn’t send it.
I could put this down. I was doing a readalong but ended up blitzing it in two days. It's pacey, clever and 'edge of your seat' gripping. Can see this being a movie.