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A review by mishale1
The Summer Book Club by Susan Mallery
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-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? It's complicated
3.5
Based on the description of this book I thought it would be lighter. I’m mentioning that cause if you’re a mood reader then you want to pick the book that fits the mood you’re looking for. This isn’t the light, beachy book that I’d have guessed. That’s not a criticism it’s just my feeling.
Laurel and Paris are best friends. They’ve known each other since they were kids. They’re as close as sisters and much closer than they are to anyone from their biological families as kids.
They did not have easy childhoods and it resulted in Laurel having issues regarding men and relationships and Paris having temper issues. Both are things they have tried to work on. But Laurel is divorced now and her lack of faith in the opposite sex has no present an issue: her daughter is now saying men are awful and she doesn’t trust any of them. Her teachers advise Laurel to make some male friends that her daughters can see as positive male role models but that’s easier said than done. (I’m not sure how I feel about a teacher advising someone of this.)
Paris got therapy and is in a much better place after her own divorce. But now her ex husband had come back to town and all of the old feelings and guilt have resurfaced for Paris.
Cassie came to town from clear across the country, her family basically had an intervention saying it’s time for Cassie to get her own life. She’s spent her whole adult life trying to help her siblings and their kids.
They make her go to California where she inherited some land and other miscellaneous items from her uncle.
When Cassie gets to town she gets pulled into Laurel and Paris’ book club and their friendship.
This is a book about relationships with each other and with ourselves. I thought it was well written and liked the characters though I’ll admit to being leery of Paris at first.
I got to read an early ebook edition from NetGalley. Thank you!
Laurel and Paris are best friends. They’ve known each other since they were kids. They’re as close as sisters and much closer than they are to anyone from their biological families as kids.
They did not have easy childhoods and it resulted in Laurel having issues regarding men and relationships and Paris having temper issues. Both are things they have tried to work on. But Laurel is divorced now and her lack of faith in the opposite sex has no present an issue: her daughter is now saying men are awful and she doesn’t trust any of them. Her teachers advise Laurel to make some male friends that her daughters can see as positive male role models but that’s easier said than done. (I’m not sure how I feel about a teacher advising someone of this.)
Paris got therapy and is in a much better place after her own divorce. But now her ex husband had come back to town and all of the old feelings and guilt have resurfaced for Paris.
Cassie came to town from clear across the country, her family basically had an intervention saying it’s time for Cassie to get her own life. She’s spent her whole adult life trying to help her siblings and their kids.
They make her go to California where she inherited some land and other miscellaneous items from her uncle.
When Cassie gets to town she gets pulled into Laurel and Paris’ book club and their friendship.
This is a book about relationships with each other and with ourselves. I thought it was well written and liked the characters though I’ll admit to being leery of Paris at first.
I got to read an early ebook edition from NetGalley. Thank you!
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Infidelity