Summer Island: A Novel
Product ID: 17299406
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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The renowned author of The Women presents a poignant, funny, luminous novel about a mother and daughter—the complex ties that bind them, the past that separates them, and the healing that comes with forgiveness. “[Kristin] Hannah is superb at delving into the characters’ psyches and delineating nuances of feeling.”— Washington Post Book World Years ago, Nora Bridge walked out on her marriage and left her daughters behind. She has since become a famous radio talk-show host and newspaper columnist beloved for her moral advice. Her youngest daughter, Ruby, is a struggling comedienne who uses her famous mother as fuel for her bitter, cynical humor. When the tabloids unearth a scandalous secret from Nora’s past, their estrangement suddenly becomes dramatic: Nora is injured in an accident and a glossy magazine offers Ruby a fortune to write a tell-all about her mother. Under false pretenses, Ruby returns home to take care of the woman she hasn't spoken to for almost a decade. Nora insists they retreat to Summer Island in the San Juans, to the lovely old house on the water where Ruby grew up, a place filled with childhood memories of love and joy and belonging. There Ruby is also reunited with her first love and his brother. Once, the three of them had been best friends, inseparable. Until the summer that Nora had left and everyone's hearts had been broken. . . . What began as an expose evolves, as Ruby writes, into an exploration of her family’s past. Nora is not the woman Ruby has hated all these years. Witty, wise, and vulnerable, she is desperate to reconcile with her daughter. As the magazine deadline draws near and Ruby finishes what has begun to seem to her an act of brutal betrayal, she is forced to grow up and at last to look at her mother—and herself—through the eyes of a woman. And she must, finally, allow herself to love. Review: Great Storyline s - This is a lesson in forgiveness, understanding, 2 sides to every story, and how love never really dies. Such amazing writing. Review: Not one of her stronger novels - I love Kristin Hannah - she is masterful at showing us relationships, especially strong female ones. When I read that Summer Island was about a mother-daughter who struggle to mend what got broken, I thought for sure this book was for me. In ways it was, in others, meh, not so much. As with all Hannah's writing it is undeniably flawless. Strong, visual usage of phrasing brings the reader directly into the story. Summer Island is no exception. When Nora Bridge walks out of her life, she leaves behind not only her husband, but her daughters, Caroline and Ruby. As the years go by, Caro's heart softens toward her estranged mother while Ruby's hardens. But when Nora, who has found fame as a marriage and family adviser on a radio show and in print, falls from public grace, she is forced to seek care and comfort with Ruby at home on Summer Island. While back on the Island, Ruby not only needs to learn to navigate what's left of her relationship with Nora, but also try to rebuild the bonds with her childhood friend and boyfriend, while figuring out how far she is willing to go to for her own fame. Perhaps it's because I've read a lot of Kristin Hannah's hard hitting books, the ones that rip your heart out while opening your eyes and then rebuilds you one fragment at a time, that this book was just mediocre. There is nothing wrong with the book, all loose ends are tied up, all relationships (shy of one that was unfortunately more of a throw-in than an actual relationship) are mended, and life ended HEA (which to me is just not realistic). In all honesty I would give this book a 3.5, but am rounding up because of my love for the author and the memories of her other books. If you aren't a long-time reader of Kristin Hannah, you will likely find this book quite good.
| Best Sellers Rank | #74 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #1 in Drama & Play Types (Books) #2 in Family Saga Fiction #3 in Contemporary Women Fiction |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars 50,830 Reviews |
L**N
Great Storyline s
This is a lesson in forgiveness, understanding, 2 sides to every story, and how love never really dies. Such amazing writing.
L**S
Not one of her stronger novels
I love Kristin Hannah - she is masterful at showing us relationships, especially strong female ones. When I read that Summer Island was about a mother-daughter who struggle to mend what got broken, I thought for sure this book was for me. In ways it was, in others, meh, not so much. As with all Hannah's writing it is undeniably flawless. Strong, visual usage of phrasing brings the reader directly into the story. Summer Island is no exception. When Nora Bridge walks out of her life, she leaves behind not only her husband, but her daughters, Caroline and Ruby. As the years go by, Caro's heart softens toward her estranged mother while Ruby's hardens. But when Nora, who has found fame as a marriage and family adviser on a radio show and in print, falls from public grace, she is forced to seek care and comfort with Ruby at home on Summer Island. While back on the Island, Ruby not only needs to learn to navigate what's left of her relationship with Nora, but also try to rebuild the bonds with her childhood friend and boyfriend, while figuring out how far she is willing to go to for her own fame. Perhaps it's because I've read a lot of Kristin Hannah's hard hitting books, the ones that rip your heart out while opening your eyes and then rebuilds you one fragment at a time, that this book was just mediocre. There is nothing wrong with the book, all loose ends are tied up, all relationships (shy of one that was unfortunately more of a throw-in than an actual relationship) are mended, and life ended HEA (which to me is just not realistic). In all honesty I would give this book a 3.5, but am rounding up because of my love for the author and the memories of her other books. If you aren't a long-time reader of Kristin Hannah, you will likely find this book quite good.
K**W
Heartbreaking and Heart rebuilding
Wow! So many emotions and not everything works out. Plenty of trigger warnings for this one. Divorce, cancer, alcoholism, estrangement both familial and romantic. Have the tissues ready. So emotional and so much of real life. I don't think anyone can read this a not feel like she's taken pages from their life.
J**A
A beautiful and heartfelt read!
Summer Island is a beautiful and memorable story of family, love, loss and forgiveness. It is a touching and emotional family saga that tore at my heart. Hannah does it again with this stirring and heartbreaking family saga. It details how important one’s upbringing is to one’s health and emotional wellbeing. I highly recommend this lovely and emotional read.
M**E
Break Out The Kleenex!
Heading into a KH novel, you know you’re going to be taken to the edge and back with emotions. This book did it more than any other I’ve read from this author. It took way longer to get hooked on the story but once I did, I was rooting for the girls and their mum to have a great reconciliation, which it was. That too took some time, communicating and understanding in an authentic way. It’s not only about sister bonding, mother daughter relationships, it’s also about two brothers finding each other again before it’s too late. And to round it all off is a romance as well. Seems a lot but it works well. Even though it felt a little dated, it gave me some nostalgia living in that era.
P**L
Lovely San Juan Islands
Good story and wonderful description of that beautiful area! Very sad and happy relationships that made one think of one's past and future relationships.
P**B
Summer Island
Just finished reading this and loved it !! Kristin Hannah knows how to keep you reading to find out what happens next !! Couldn't put it down ! Love all of her books !!
K**H
Great story!
Wonderful story of love, forgiveness, memories and life! I enjoyed reading this and like many of Kristin Hannah’s novels it teaches life lessons!
K**E
Gefühlvolle Familien Geschichte
Warum darf man nicht nur Sterne vergeben? Ein sehr gefühlvoller Roman. Zentrales Thema ist die Mutter-Tochter Beziehung. Je Fa.geschichte ist tiefgründig erzählt. Gute Unterhaltung.
Y**A
Summer Island
The storyline is good and I enjoyed the book but Hannah draws out the story so far as to make it boring. On more than one occasion I debated leaving it and starting a new book. It just dragged too much.
A**R
fantastic book
Wonderful, remarkable story. Hard hitting and powerful but at the same very tender. Kristin Hannah never disappoints with her books. Can’t wait for the next one.
B**M
Easy summer read.
A very relaxing read for summer.
G**E
emotional and thoughtful read
Summer Island was such an emotional and thoughtful read. The relationship between the mother and daughter was the heart of the story, and their arc was exceptional—complex, painful and beautifully developed. I also really appreciated that the romantic relationship remained a subplot rather than taking over the book, allowing the focus to stay on family, forgiveness and healing.
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