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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
When Bess receives a call from her father asking her to go to Nantucket and convince her mother to move out of the home her grandparents built 99 years ago before it falls into the sea, Bess agrees. Still, seeing that the backyard is gone takes her by surprise when she arrives in Nantucket. Bess does everything in her power to convince Cissy to move and gets some unexpected help from her high school boyfriend, Evan. The story goes back and forth between the modern day and her grandmother Ruby's experiences at the house during World War II.
The two story lines are equally strong; I found myself getting immersed in both of them. I loved the idea of people staying at the house wring in the Book of Summer. Readers of women's fiction will love this story.
When Bess receives a call from her father asking her to go to Nantucket and convince her mother to move out of the home her grandparents built 99 years ago before it falls into the sea, Bess agrees. Still, seeing that the backyard is gone takes her by surprise when she arrives in Nantucket. Bess does everything in her power to convince Cissy to move and gets some unexpected help from her high school boyfriend, Evan. The story goes back and forth between the modern day and her grandmother Ruby's experiences at the house during World War II.
The two story lines are equally strong; I found myself getting immersed in both of them. I loved the idea of people staying at the house wring in the Book of Summer. Readers of women's fiction will love this story.
This is a sea-breezy dual timelines story (1940's and 2013) about a woman trying to rescue her opulent century-old Nantucket summer residence from sliding off eroding cliffs into the Atlantic Ocean. Although there are many serious topics (emotionally abusive spouses, WWII drama, historical treatment of members of the LGSTQ community) woven into the narrative, these threads are thin and the book remains ensconced in the realm of chick-lit. There's nothing wrong with that, as long as one is open to the suspension of disbelief: (Wikipedia definition: an intentional avoidance of critical thinking or logic in examining something surreal, such as a work of speculative fiction, in order to believe it for the sake of enjoyment.) I read this book through the lens of being a seasonal islander myself, bearing witness to love-hate relationships between locals/summer residents, the whole Yacht Club scene and the umbilical multi-generational attachment to a vacation home. Oh, and at the Lake, our family also maintains an anecdotal guest book, which is definitely the first item I would save from peril!
When I first started reading this one I thought I would not finish it because it was a slow starter. But I decided to give it a bit more time and really enjoyed it for the most part. This is a story that basically covers one family from 1939 until 2013. Each chapter is labeled so you don't get confused about the time period. In 2013 the family is told they must move because the bluff behind their house is falling away into the ocean. Bess has come home to get her stubborn mother packed and out of the house.
This has things I love (Nantucket, dual narratives) but also one major thing I don't (irresponsible parents). It's also very slow-paced and just didn't work for me.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Loved the setting in Nantucket. Good strong women characters that were entertaining especially Bess.
Oh man, did I love this book. It's exactly the kind of thing I love to read and just can't get enough of. I love dual storylines, especially when they're done this well. I was equally invested in the modern storyline as in the '40s one. I loved the snappy dialogue in the '40s story and I'm determined to work, "You shred it, wheat" into my repertoire.
SO MANY great characters here. Ruby may have been the heart of it for me; I loved hearing about her in the modern story and then witnessing her up close in the '40s chapters. There is a recurring theme here about how people (and their relationships) appear a certain way from the outside, but you never know what's really going on inside. That sort of hidden heartache was done beautifully and really resonated with me. Topper and Hattie were both very funny and charming, and I have a real soft spot for Sam. His story kind of broke my heart.
In the present day story, it's Cissy all the way. How do you not love a character who picks someone up at the airport on a bike? I don't want to spoil anything so I'll just say that her story was a great example of how sometimes it's very unclear what the right thing to do is, and I can respect the choices she made, even if others probably wouldn't. I could strongly relate to her desire to hold on to her home (and family) on her own terms. Her relationship with Bess was beautiful without being maudlin. (BTW, it's totally hilarious that Bess compares herself to Wednesday Addams.)
I know I'm gushing and I haven't even mentioned the amazing setting and the house and the guestbook and Palmer and even Mary, who I ended up loving. This is a terrific book that went a lot deeper than I was expecting it to, and I totally get why Michelle says it's her favorite. My mom and sisters are definitely getting copies of this one from me in May, so try to act surprised.
SO MANY great characters here. Ruby may have been the heart of it for me; I loved hearing about her in the modern story and then witnessing her up close in the '40s chapters. There is a recurring theme here about how people (and their relationships) appear a certain way from the outside, but you never know what's really going on inside. That sort of hidden heartache was done beautifully and really resonated with me. Topper and Hattie were both very funny and charming, and I have a real soft spot for Sam. His story kind of broke my heart.
In the present day story, it's Cissy all the way. How do you not love a character who picks someone up at the airport on a bike? I don't want to spoil anything so I'll just say that her story was a great example of how sometimes it's very unclear what the right thing to do is, and I can respect the choices she made, even if others probably wouldn't. I could strongly relate to her desire to hold on to her home (and family) on her own terms. Her relationship with Bess was beautiful without being maudlin. (BTW, it's totally hilarious that Bess compares herself to Wednesday Addams.)
I know I'm gushing and I haven't even mentioned the amazing setting and the house and the guestbook and Palmer and even Mary, who I ended up loving. This is a terrific book that went a lot deeper than I was expecting it to, and I totally get why Michelle says it's her favorite. My mom and sisters are definitely getting copies of this one from me in May, so try to act surprised.
I enjoyed this galley from Netgalley, which told the story of Cissy and her daughter, Bess. Living in Sconset on Nantucket and trying to protect her house from the erosion causing it to basically fall off the cliff, Cissy's stubborn fight brings Bess back to Nantucket. After a failed marriage, Bess is unsure of her direction. Chapters also flash back to earlier inhabitants of the house, during the 30's and '40's, with war on the horizon. The family's history and the strength of the women in the family makes for a good read.
I couldn't connect with the book. There was just a lot of back-and-forth between two story lines without anything ever really happening.
Thank you Goodreads giveaways and the author for sending me an ARC for my honest review.
Thank you Goodreads giveaways and the author for sending me an ARC for my honest review.
This book was so much more than what I bargained for. I expected a fluffy summer read with great descriptions of Nantucket. I got that but I also got a bit of what the world was like right before the United States was plunged into World War II.