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A review by oceanwriter
The Lost Summers of Newport by Lauren Willig, Karen White, Beatriz Williams
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I have a lot of mixed feelings about this one. I wanted to read it as soon as I picked up my copy but chose to save it for whenever I took a drive to Newport. While it successfully captured the ambiance of the seaside town, the plot was lacking for me.
I liked Ellen's POV the best. I loved imagining the Newport mansions in 1899. The storyline was interesting, too, especially what brought Ellen to work for Maybelle in the first place. Unfortunately, the twist at the end ruined it for me. It was so far-fetched I almost didn't want to finish the last two chapters.
Lucky and Andie's stories were also interesting, but given the three are intertwined, the effects of Ellen's story tainted these two. There were also a number of inconsistencies and minor plot points left forgotten. This goes for the vibes of the book as well. It jumps from hints of a ghost story to a matter of snooping chapter to chapter. Because of this, it became difficult to follow. There's even a vagueness in the final chapters that made the story feel incomplete.
All of that said, I enjoyed most of the story. It was a good summer read and it was especially fun reading it on a Newport beach. I'm definitely disappointed that it didn't turn out to be a five-star read for me, but there were redeeming moments.
I liked Ellen's POV the best. I loved imagining the Newport mansions in 1899. The storyline was interesting, too, especially what brought Ellen to work for Maybelle in the first place. Unfortunately, the twist at the end ruined it for me. It was so far-fetched I almost didn't want to finish the last two chapters.
Lucky and Andie's stories were also interesting, but given the three are intertwined, the effects of Ellen's story tainted these two. There were also a number of inconsistencies and minor plot points left forgotten. This goes for the vibes of the book as well. It jumps from hints of a ghost story to a matter of snooping chapter to chapter. Because of this, it became difficult to follow. There's even a vagueness in the final chapters that made the story feel incomplete.
All of that said, I enjoyed most of the story. It was a good summer read and it was especially fun reading it on a Newport beach. I'm definitely disappointed that it didn't turn out to be a five-star read for me, but there were redeeming moments.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism