Book Review: These Summer Storms

Photo from Amazon

publisher’s description for these summer storms, by sarah maclean:

“Alice Storm hasn’t been welcome at her family’s magnificent private island off the Rhode Island coast in five years—not since she was cast out and built her life beyond the Storm name, influence, and untold billions. But the shocking death of her larger-than-life father changes everything.

Alice plans to keep her head down, pay her final respects (such as they are), and leave the minute the funeral is over. Unfortunately, her father had other plans. The eccentric, manipulative patriarch left his family a final challenge—an inheritance game designed to upend their world. The rules are clear: spend one week on the island, complete their assigned tasks, and receive the inheritance.

But a whole week on Storm Island is no easy task for Alice. Every corner of the sprawling old house is bursting with chaos: Her older sister’s secret love affair. Her brother’s unyielding arrogance. Her younger sister’s constant analysis of the vibes. Her mother’s cold judgment. And all under the stern, watchful gaze of Jack Dean, her father’s intriguing and too-handsome second-in-command. It will be a miracle if Alice manages to escape unscathed.

A smart and tender story about the transformative power of grief, love, and family, this luscious novel explores past secrets, present truths, and futures forged in the wake of wild summer storms.”

****************

Review:

Woooooow. Wow. Okay, so. One billion(aire) stars. Infinity stars for These Summer Storms. I loved this so so much and couldn't put it down, and not just because it's set in Rhode Island (which no books ever are), where I grew up.

The Westing Game meets the Last Great American Dynasty meets Pineapple Street meets romcom. This was both character-driven and plot-driven in a way I don't recall encountering before. It was interesting and twisty and had all the trappings of complicated family dynamics (which I always love) and also a slightly steamy little romance kind of out of nowhere. What a combo.

This is an absolutely perfect summer read, but it’s also a perfect anytime read. An engrossing book no matter how you slice it. This was my first Sarah MacLean and absolutely not my last. Excited to dive into her backlist now.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for the advance copy for review—I can’t wait to force everyone I know to read this, so good job you.

Book Review: Georgie All Along

Publisher’s description for Georgie All Along, by Kate Clayborn:

“Longtime personal assistant Georgie Mulcahy has made a career out of putting others before herself. When an unexpected upheaval sends her away from her hectic job in L.A. and back to her hometown, Georgie must confront an uncomfortable truth: her own wants and needs have always been a disconcertingly blank page.  
 
But then Georgie comes across a forgotten artifact—a “friendfic” diary she wrote as a teenager, filled with possibilities she once imagined. To an overwhelmed Georgie, the diary’s simple, small-scale ideas are a lifeline—a guidebook for getting started on a new path.  
 
Georgie’s plans hit a snag when she comes face to face with an unexpected roommate—Levi Fanning, onetime town troublemaker and current town hermit. But this quiet, grouchy man is more than just his reputation, and he offers to help Georgie with her quest. As the two make their way through her wishlist, Georgie begins to realize that what she truly wants might not be in the pages of her diary after all, but right by her side—if only they can both find a way to let go of the pasts that hold them back. 
 
Honest and deeply emotional, Georgie, All Along is a smart, tender must-read for everyone who’s ever wondered about the life that got away . . .”
 ******************

Kate Clayborn does such a lovely job of character development and scene settings. I love her world building and her familiar yet unusual romances. I also really enjoyed her novels Love Lettering and Love At First. They're great distractions, fluff without being total fluff—and this is no exception. She tackles some serious stuff and is respectful of it, while also writing a story that's at its heart a romance. And a homecoming, to Georgie's hometown as well as to herself. I would even argue that in some ways it's a romance with herself as well as her love interest. I appreciate that while the story setup and arc are what I want in a romance, there's more here to sink your teeth into. It's what Kate Clayborn is so good at. (I will say I could go the rest of my life without hearing "expansive" used as a personality trait, but that's on me.)

4/5 because at times it was a little slow for me and a few things (see: expansive) felt forced or overdone. But overall, very enjoyable. And I now want a soap-opera-worthy dressing gown.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington books for the ARC!

Book Review: Flying Solo

Publisher’s description for Flying Solo, by Linda Holmes:

“Smarting from her recently canceled wedding and about to turn forty, Laurie Sassalyn returns to her Maine hometown of Calcasset to handle the estate of her great-aunt Dot, a spirited adventurer who lived to be ninety-three. Alongside boxes of Polaroids and pottery, a mysterious wooden duck shows up at the bottom of a cedar chest. Laurie’s curiosity is piqued, especially after she finds a love letter to the never-married Dot that ends with the line “And anyway, if you’re ever desperate, there are always ducks, darling.””

***************

A cozy sweater, your favorite pair of jeans, a soft blanket, a cup of tea on a cold evening, this book. Warm and gentle. Comforting, relatable, real, and lovely. Cozy indeed. I loved Evvie Drake, and this has all the at-home-in-Maine-ness that Evvie does, without so much of the angst and tragedy and hardship. It felt like an ode to strong women in middle-age. It was interesting and fun and poignant and felt…I don’t know, settled, somehow. The people, places, and relationships felt true. Aunt Dot’s house and love for Laurie felt true. The various senses of loss and discoveries (and rediscoveries) felt true too. I felt like I knew Laurie? It’s hard to explain why I enjoyed this so much, but if you’re looking for an easy, engrossing read, and/or you liked Evvie Drake, this is the book for you. And frankly, I just can’t wait to see what Linda Holmes does next.