Reviews

Summer Island by Shelley Noble

andrea_author's review

5.0

After losing her job, her boyfriend, and her home in one fell swoop, reporter Phoebe goes to stay with her mother and grandmother at the beach. There, she reconnects with Ty, son of her grandmother's neighbor. He thinks Phoebe is too nosy. She thinks he has no ambition.

The truth is more complicated. As Phoebe and Ty get to know each other better, they find they have more in common than they think. Could this temporary situation lead to something more permanent?

I love Shelley Noble! This book is more women's fiction than romance, with a complicated web of relationships between Phoebe, her mother, her grandmother, and her great-aunt. Ty is also dealing with family issues: he lost his mom; his father is suffering from depression; and his brothers don't think running his foundation is a real job. Phoebe and Ty help each other deal with loss, love, and finding a place to belong.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

merf001's review

I thought even with the immediate knowledge (from reading the back of the book) that the story starts with a combo of bad emotional events, that the overall story sounded good. However, after I kept increasing the audiobook speed from 110% to 115% to 150% to eventually 200%, and STILL being irked at the characters annoying lack of spine and other characteristics (keeps repeating how non-judgmental gramma is, but then in the same breath keeps worrying about revealing the not-actually-dire, but thinks it is, secret that her fiancée was not a good guy and thus she called off the engagement. If she's a low key nonjudgmental gramma, why do you think she will side against you in this situation?? super annoying!). This book is a DNF at 17%, and I should have quit while I was already annoyed at 9%! As of the 2hr:01min mark, they are still in downer-self-doubt-ville and have only added new downer characters to the mix. Yuck!

abbylynnemorse's review

3.0

This book was a very easy read but very surface level. It didn’t go deep at all in any of the relationships and you didn’t really get close to any of the characters. It also doesn’t make sense that Phoebe’s two sisters would be so mad at her mom. They seemed like two very unnecessary characters.

Phoebe and Ty’s romance was the opposite of romance. It seemed just as forced as the family members for making it. They barley even talked and I wouldn’t have even called them friends!

All in all it’s a fine book but nothing spectacular.

campychick001's review

3.0

Thank you, partner @bibliolifestyle @williammorrowbooks for providing me a copy of this book.

Pheobe and her mother, Ruth, end up experiencing life-changing events at the same time. To cope with their situations, they go to their old stomping grounds, Grandma Alice's beach house. The women inadvertently embark on a journey of self-discovery, family, and friendship.

This was the perfect book to start off poolside reading season! The pretty cover deceptively made me think this was going to be a lighthearted read - I was shocked (in the best way) at the drama thrown at you from the very beginning. Overall, this was such a heartwarming story that was full of messy family drama. All the major characters were so likeable and I was invested in the backstories and resolution of all their personal issues. While this story mainly focused on the women's relationships and personal dilemmas, there was a tiny sprinkle of romance mixed in (I personally would have liked to see a bit more of that romance). (⭐⭐⭐

kimhamiltonn_'s review

4.0

A sweet story of generations of women in a family all dealing with varying degrees of their lives falling apart. Each woman finds comfort in their "summer island" home, and gradually finds what they are looking for. A satisfying summer read!

madalynn_owens's review

2.0

Overall, pretty predictable. I also wouldn’t categorize this as a romance, there wasn’t really any banter or flirting throughout the book. At times it felt like there was way too much going on without a real reason. A quick and easy read, definitely for the summer.

leah_runhideandread's review

3.0

This book is classified as romance but there is very little romance. Read this book if you like small beach towns, family relationships and dealing with turmoil, multiple characters.

Phoebe loses her job and fiancé on the same day all the while her mother Ruth is going through a separation after 38 years of marriage. They pack up and go to Granna (Alice) beach house to cope and try to figure out their next steps in life. This story deals with self-discovery, healing from death of a loved one, life lessons, and individual journeys.

The book was pretty slow paced and IMO ended too abruptly. I wanted to connect with the characters more, but is a good light summer read. Definitely makes me want to visit the east coast small beach towns.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins, and Avon Books for an advanced copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Book is out now!

ellastolz's review

3.0

I thought this book was soooo slow and for the most part pretty surface level :/

nicoleensing30's review

adventurous hopeful inspiring fast-paced

5.0

judyward's review

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

3.0