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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
‘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!
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.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
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!
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
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.
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sisters, Claire and Holly separated when their mother died. Holly went to get a summer job in millionaire’s playground, Martha’s Vineyard. When Claire found out that Holly was uncontactable, she decided to make a police report but no one would take her seriously. Hence, she travelled to the millionaire’s playground to look for Holly herself. Holly’s disappearance bear resemblance to that of another girl that happened 5 years ago.
5 years ago, Natalie was killed by a rich kid, Ryan Slayton. Her sister, Gina was unable to get Ryan behind bars. Now, 5 years later, Gina has an obsession with the Slayton brothers. One night, in a distance, she saw Holly and Ryan in his boat. Holly was disheveled and Gina believed that Holly was raped by Ryan. Gina encouraged Holly to report it to the police but Holly refused. Gina then killed Holly and brought the body to Ryan’s boat. She planted Holly’s phone in the Slayton’s house yard.
The Summer Girl is not as suspenseful as i would like it to be. Never endings of “tHe BrItIsH aCcEnT iS sO sEXy” by different characters and differences of words between British English and American English. I get it, every American is obsessed with the British.
The character, Gina, was depicted very well as an obsessed person who is trying to get justice for her sister. She is probably my favourite character because of how realistic she is.
The ending puts me in a moral dilemma. Is it ok to put someone behind bars for a crime he did not commit presently but for the crime he committed 5 years ago despite there being no evidence?
The Summer Girl is not as suspenseful as i would like it to be. Never endings of “tHe BrItIsH aCcEnT iS sO sEXy” by different characters and differences of words between British English and American English. I get it, every American is obsessed with the British.
The character, Gina, was depicted very well as an obsessed person who is trying to get justice for her sister. She is probably my favourite character because of how realistic she is.
The ending puts me in a moral dilemma. Is it ok to put someone behind bars for a crime he did not commit presently but for the crime he committed 5 years ago despite there being no evidence?
Claire fears something has happened to her sister Holly. Holly is spending the summer an ocean away from home in Martha’s Vineyard when she fails to contact her sister. Holly always replies to texts so Claire immediately is worried. She flies to Martha’s Vineyard to find her sister. While there Claire find some people are helpful and nice and others want her to back off.
This story will capture your attention from the first page. As we get a little further into the book, multiple POV is introduced and we start to get pictures of Holly’s life in Martha’s Vineyard. I’ve read books by this author before and enjoy her way of twisting the story into what you least expect. Besides the beautiful and haunting cover this story will keep you reading late into the night!
This story will capture your attention from the first page. As we get a little further into the book, multiple POV is introduced and we start to get pictures of Holly’s life in Martha’s Vineyard. I’ve read books by this author before and enjoy her way of twisting the story into what you least expect. Besides the beautiful and haunting cover this story will keep you reading late into the night!