Summer Love by Nancy Thayer: Audiobook Review

Summer Love is the story of four friends that meet and share their lives one memorable summer in Nantucket only to meet up again twenty-six years later.

[book-info]

From The Publisher:

Old secrets come to light when four friends gather on Nantucket for a life-changing reunion in this heartwarming novel of love and self-discovery by New York Times bestselling author Nancy Thayer.

When four strangers rent bargain-basement rooms in an old hotel near the beach, they embark on the summer of their lives. First there’s Ariel Spencer, who has big dreams of becoming a writer and is looking for inspiration in Nantucket’s high society. Her new friend Sheila Murphy is a good Catholic girl from Ohio whose desire for adventure is often shadowed by her apprehension. Then there’s small-town Missourian Wyatt Smith—who’s immediately taken with Ariel. The last of the four, Nick Volkov, is looking to make a name for himself and have a blast along the way. Despite their differences, the four bond over trips to the beach, Wednesday night dinners, and everything that Nantucket has to offer. But venturing out on their own for the first time, with all its adventure and risks, could change the course of their lives.

Twenty-six years after that amazing summer, Ariel, Sheila, Wyatt, and Nick reunite at the hotel where they first met. Now it’s called The Lighthouse and Nick owns the entire operation with his wife and daughter. Ariel and Wyatt, married for decades, arrive with their son, and Sheila’s back too, with her daughter by her side. Life hasn’t exactly worked out the way they had all hoped. Ariel’s dreams have since faded and been pushed aside, but she’s determined to rediscover the passion she once had. Nick has the money and reputation of a successful businessman, but is it everything he had hoped for? And Sheila has never been able to shake the secret she’s kept since that summer. Being back together again will mean confronting the past and finding themselves. Meanwhile, the next generation discovers Nantucket: Their children explore the island together, experiencing love and heartbreak, and forging lifelong bonds just as their parents did all those years ago. It’s sure to be one unforgettable reunion.

This delightful novel from beloved storyteller Nancy Thayer explores the potential of dreams and the beauty of friendship.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoy books with dual timelines and this one caught my attention. The four friends are all from varied backgrounds and the fact they are young working in Nantucket for the summer and seeking adventure made for a fun read.

In the past timeline, the four main characters are introduced rather quickly and we gain insight into their lives as the story progresses. In the present timeline, these characters are gathering for a reunion to reminisce about the summer they met. They also bring along some of their children who form a second group with their own storylines.

While the storylines are entertaining, I did not feel invested in these characters. When I reflect on this, it may be partially because of the number of characters in the book. It is unusual for me to not feel a connection to at least some of the characters in a book so Summer Love just felt a little flat.

I did enjoy the elements of romance, and the summery free and easy feel to the book. When the groups went on outings together I appreciated the activities they participated in which gave the book a more adventurous vibe. The sometimes pretentious way of life in Nantucket is also well described in the book.

I chose the audiobook format to listen to Summer Love which was narrated by Whitney Dykhouse who gives a good performance. Her voice is articulate and easy to listen to. I was able to listen to the book at my usual 1.5x speed without difficulty.

Summer Love is an entertaining book, despite the fact I didn’t connect to the characters as I hoped. I would recommend it to those readers who enjoy women’s fiction and romance.

What I Liked:

• The Summer feel to the book
• The Nantucket setting
• The feel of adventure experienced by the characters

Acknowledgments:

I used an Audible credit to listen to this book.

Similar Books I’ve Reviewed:

The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand

Girls of Summer by Nancy Thayer

Let It Snow by Nancy Thayer