What drew me to this book was the fact I'd liked the author's previous books and I loved this beautiful cover! I liked the book but didn't love it--I did enjoy some of the historical aspects and the Nantucket setting but overall it moved a bit slowly for me and didn't draw me in as much as I'd hoped.

Once again Michelle Gable gives a new and enthralling book that will evoke the interests of contemporary and historical fiction book lovers.

There is something about Michelle’s books, it will give you a lot of “Feels”. The Book of Summer gives me nostalgic feelings towards on the story even if I didn’t see the actual events during that time nor went on the country, Michelle’s writing is truly captivating.

The story follows when Physician Bes Codman went to their family house in Nantucket to convince her mom that there is no other way to save the house (Michelle explained on how she ended up to this topic so check this out). Like in the book “I’ll See You in Paris”, the story is set into two POV – one in the 1940’s era of United States of America and the other one is in the present day. In the year 1940, it was the time when Bes’s grandmother Ruby life is. It tells the life story during the World War II.

The character development is an average for me because there’s nothing new on this kind of story and every contemporary novel has the same problems to deal with but the turn of events is an outstanding. Even more so, it turned an amazing love affair during the 1940’s and present day.

What are your thoughts on this concept of books?

Read this if…

you believed in love in second time around, the love for family, friends, and country, and preserved the memories of your loved ones.

Places it was set

Nantucket, Massachusetts

I was so looking forward to reading this book, but I just couldn't get into it. I didn't connect with the characters or the plot, but I feel like the setting had real potential. DNF.

Bess Codman has returned to her family's summer home in Nantucket. Her father asked her to go there to help her mom move out of their house. The cliff that the house is built on has been eroding away and the house is in danger of being destroyed. However, her mother, Cissy, refuses to leave. Instead, Cissy keeps asking the city council for help in building barriers between the ocean and the house so it can be saved. Bess was planning on going back to her family's home for her cousin's wedding. Bess is divorcing her husband, but she hasn't told her mom the real reason why.

Bess's narrative is interspersed with excerpts from the Book of Summer. The Book of Summer is a guest book that her grandmother started for people to write about their experiences at Cliff House every summer. The narrative returns to Bess's grandmother Ruby's young adulthood during World War II. Bess's and Ruby's lives are parallel in many ways as they get married and mature.

This is a great summer read, since the story follows multiple summers at Cliff House over a span of about seventy years. The multiple narratives are great and each chapter has a cliffhanger, which made me want to read more. There are also some newsletters from the town in it too, giving the town's perspective of Cissy's dilemma.

Though it mostly shows the summers that these family members spent at Cliff House, it gives a full picture of their lives. Some of the most pivotal moments in their lives happened at Cliff House, including marriages and deaths.

I really liked the drama in this book. There were lots of unpredictable plot twists that were really exciting. It's a perfect read for this upcoming summer!

This book will be posted on my blog on May 19, 2017.

The Book of Summer is the first book by author Michelle Gable that I have read. The cover is gorgeous. It caught my attention right away.

Set in Nantucket, The Book of Summer is a great summer read and I think fans of Elin Hilderbrand will love it.

This is the story of a family and of friendships. It is the story of a family of women and the strength of women. It is filled with the ups and downs of the family that inhabits a lovely summer home on Nantucket.

Dr. Bess Codman returns to Nantucket to try to convince her mother to leave their family's summer home that is in danger of collapsing into the sea. It is also the story of Ruby, Bess's grandmother and the events in her life around World War II that shaped her life and her family's life forever.

I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend The Book of Summer.

From the stories of the family members who lived in Cliff House years ago, to the present occupant and her daughter, the book was filled with fascinating characters and interesting tidbits of what it’s like to come from a wealthy family and have a summer home in Nantucket. This would have honestly been a wonderful book if not for the following:

I don’t know why authors feel that they have to include one or more sex scenes in every book. I honestly think that those who like that kind of thing in their books can find plenty of it by picking up books labeled erotica. I have noticed that there are a lot of us, me included, who after enjoying a book for quite awhile, come across a scene like that and aren’t happy that we have to be subjected to it. It doesn’t add a thing to the book. The other thing I don’t like is the use of God combined with a word that starts with a d, or the motherf---ing followed by Christ. When an author brings God into swear words, I cringe.

The Book of Summer by Michelle Gable takes us to Cliff House in Siasconset on Nantucket. Dr. Bess Codman receives a call from her father asking for her assistance. Cliff House, the family home, is slowly falling over the bluffs into the ocean. Thanks to erosion, they have already lost the tennis courts, pool, dressing rooms, and part of the veranda. It is just a matter of time before the house disappears, but Cissy Codman (her mother) refuses to leave the house. Bess’ father wants her to fly home from California and get her mother out of the house. Cissy is a force of nature. She is still trying to save her family home and is waiting for a Board of Selectman vote on Sankaty Bluff Preservation Fund (Damage Prevention Project). Bess arrives and begins packing up the house. She discovers the families The Book of Summer. A guest book started in 1911 when Cissy’s ancestors, Sarah and Philip Young moved into the newly built home. Guests and family were asked to write an anecdote or story into The Book of Summer. Bess would like to become the new caretaker of the book. Bess’ grandmother, Ruby was responsible for it until her death. Going through the book and the house will bring old stories and secrets to light. Bess will discover things she never knew about the women in her family. We journey back to the days of Ruby Young and relive her time in Cliff House. The past has a way of influencing our present lives. Will Cissy be able to save the family home? How will the family history affect Bess and her future?

The Book of Summer is a novel that takes readers back in time to relive the Young family history. We are taken back to 1939 to relive Ruby Young’s life at Cliff House. There are several storylines in the book. One of them is how gay men were treated by the military during World War II. Another is Bess getting a divorce and the reason why. The writing is nice and there are some beautiful descriptions of Nantucket. The book does have a sweet ending. However, I found the pace of the novel to be slow, and I felt it needed some editing. The book was just too long. There is an extreme amount of foul language in the story and it was completely unnecessary (I found it offensive). My main problem with the book was Cissy Codman. She was an over-the-top eccentric who quickly got on my nerves (who picks up a person at the airport on a bicycle). Cissy is the most unique character in The Book of Summer, but not the only one. I believe it was supposed to come across as humorous, but I was not laughing. I give The Book of Summer 3 out of 5 stars. I just found The Book of Summer to be rather bland and unsurprising. I was never drawn into the story and did not connect with the characters. I was curious about The Book of Summer (the guest book belonging to the Young family). What a great concept. It is the type of item I would love to sit down and read through. While I did not enjoy The Book of Summer, I do recommend Michelle Gable’s A Paris Apartment and I’ll See You in Paris.

A light and enjoyable read. Found the story line very unique and the characters interesting and complex ones. I like books where we can see a lot of memories, descriptions, where we can not also know about the present but the past. This always helps me to have a better understanding of the characters and the story the want to tell us. A lot of history, secrets unfolding and a beautifully crafted writing style. I liked the book a lot and highly recommend it. Thanks Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It took me a few chapters to get into this book but I ended up really enjoying it. Loved the setting in Nantucket, a place that's on my bucket list to visit, so I liked the descriptions of the area. I also enjoyed the dual narrative that takes place in the present and back to the 1940's through entries made in The Book of Summer journal beginning right before the start of WWII. A good story about family, romance, and the women and history of Cliff House. This is definitely a good beach read!

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is really 4.5. Stars. It was a good book. This book took place in Nantucket. Cissy Codman is the eccentric Mother of Elisabeth aka Bess. Cliff House, a mansion on Nantucket has been in Cissy's family for generations. The trouble is Cliff House is sliding down the bluff. This is about the Mother/daughter relationship, family current and in the past, lost loves and found loves. It reads pretty fast and would be a great beach read. I will recommend to family and friends. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review.

The Book of Summer is the quintessential beach read. It swept me off my feet and had me in vacation mode while I did nothing else but read this book. It took me a few chapters to get the characters straight; the alternating years the main cause, but once I got the hang of it, I was enthralled. This is the second book by Michelle Gable that I've read, and I'm a fan; the lady knows how to weave a tale.

This one was a hard book to read.
Like other work from the author I've had the pleasure of reading, it's about real people and real life problems. It's never easy reading about loss of lives, ending of friendships or extremely hard decisions that have to be made.

The author takes us on a long ride through all the lives that have passes though this Summer house during a time when life wasn't easy. The country was at war, lives were lost and people got lost too within the craziness of battle.

Nowadays it might seem difficult to understand, with all the technology we manage, but back then people lost touch for years and years and there was nothing they could do. Sometimes all they had were the memories they made, and this house was full of them.

It was really interesting the way in which the author connected the past lives with the lives of the present occupants of the house, and how things tend to repeat, lies and secrets stay hidden forever, and in most cases they end up mixed up with the memories of these peoples.

When talking about love the author has a melancholy about it, the main characters are trapped in lives where they choose to ignore the problems to find something close to happiness and some of them are to scared to take the leap and find out the what could be if they just chose love, a lot like real life itself.

A truly amazing read.

The Book of Summer

Michelle Gable



Bess Codman has just returned to her family's home in Nantucket. She is shocked by the condition of Cliff House. It is just about to fall into the ocean and she can't believe her mother is actually staying inside of it. She tries to convince her mother, Cissy to leave, but she is having none of it. She wants to move the house back from the water, but it is huge and Bess just doesn't see this happening. THE BOOK OF SUMMER is all about these two women and Bess' grandma, Ruby who was living in the house back in the 1940's.



The dialogue between Cissy and Bess had me cracking up and crying, sometimes at the same time. Obviously, the house means everything to Cissy and she isn't going down without a fight. Bess doesn't want to force her mother out of the house but she feels as if she has no choice. The house is not safe to stay in and Bess feels like it is going to crash into the water before she can get her mother out! THE BOOK OF SUMMER is filled with family, hope, secrets, drama, and learning to let go. The characters are not perfect and each has their flaws which made them all relatable to me.



THE BOOK OF SUMMER by Michelle Gable is a story that is going to grab you right from the very first page and never let you go. I've never read this author before but I'm excited to find her older books now as I truly loved her writing. Learning about these three women and all the guests that signed the guest book was very enjoyable. Michelle Gable sure knows how to keep the reader engaged, trying to figure out all the family secrets. I think the aspect I enjoyed the most was learning about Ruby and all she had to endure during WWII. Michelle's writing and descriptions, had me feeling as if I were right there in Nantucket with these women dealing with their life struggles.

I’ve always wanted to read one of Michelle Gable’s novels and now, it’s finally happening! The first two books that caught my eye of her’s were both set in Paris so when I saw this one set on Nantucket Island, I felt kind of gypped. However, I have heard such great things about her writing style that I agreed to review it anyway.

Physician Bess Codman has returned to her family’s Nantucket compound, Cliff House, for the first time in four years. Her great-grandparents built Cliff House almost a century before, but due to erosion, the once-grand home will soon fall into the sea.

Though she s purposefully avoided the island, Bess must now pack up the house and deal with her mother, a notorious town rabble-rouser, who refuses to leave.

The Book of Summer unravels the power and secrets of Cliff House as told through the voices of Ruby Packard, a bright-eyed and idealistic newlywed on the eve of WWII, the home’s definitive guestbook, and Bess herself. Bess’s grandmother always said it was a house of women, and by the very last day of the very last summer at Cliff House, Bess will understand the truth of her grandmother s words in ways she never contemplated (summary from Goodreads).


This book totally got me in the mood for summer. It was like a warm breeze that made me lazy and relaxed….all I wanted to do was read this book once I started. I was fascinated by the way the story unfolded. It made me want to rush through it to find out what happened next but at the same time made me want to slow down and savor the story itself. I loved the dueling story lines and felt that each plot got equal attention in the novel.

The characters were all flawed in their own way which made them very real and sympathetic. I enjoyed each of them and loved reading their family secrets. The characters were strong and entertaining which kept me reading. There is something about family secrets that just lures me in…..Leo Tolstoy said it best, every family is unhappy in its own way!

The Nantucket setting was a real treat for me. My sister lives in Boston and she goes out on the Cape a lot during the summer and her pictures look like the quintessential American coastal summer spot. So reading the beautiful descriptions of the beaches on Nantucket just made me feel like I was looking at a postcard or rather enjoying the sun on the beaches of the island. I totally want to rent a summer house on the island now!

This book warmed my soul and I couldn’t wait to finish it! I aggressively read like the last third of the book because I was so wrapped up in it! It was wonderful and I would highly recommend this book to other readers! Though now I want to binge read all of her other novels because her narration style and plots points were all wonderfully thought out.

My last comment on this one has to do with the cover…..the over is perfect and alluring. I would have reviewed this one based on the cover alone! It had the perfect summer feel and totally made me think of a summer beach house with the siding in the background and ‘beach cruiser’ style bike on the cover…..and who can pass up a basket full of books?!

Challenge/Book Summary:

Book: The Book of Summer by Michelle Gable

Kindle Edition, 416 pages
Published May 9th 2017 by Thomas Dunne Books
ASIN
B01MAXRMG0
Review copy provided by: Author/Publisher in exchange for an honest review
This book counts toward: NA

Hosted by: NA
Books for Challenge Completed: NA
Recommendation: 4.5 out of 5

Genre: Historical fiction, literature, women’s fiction, chick lit

Bess leads a busy life as a physician and so is not best pleased at having to go back to Nantucket to sort out her mother. Cissy is a bit of a rebel rouser and is refusing to leave her house that has been in her family for 3 generations even though it is situated on an eroding cliff and could disappear into the sea at any moment!

The story then goes back to the 40s and the war years and her grandmother Ruby's time at the house - when parties were in full swing and the house was in its heyday. The family is certainly a line of strong women!

A very enjoyable book especially the time in the past - I learnt some historical facts about the war years that I previously didn't know and would certainly recommend it

Received an ARE of this book from Net Galley for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book that told the story of two women -- one in the current day and that of her grandmother's life in the 1940s. As seems to be the case with these types of books, I find one story more compelling than the other. In this case it was the grandmother's story in the 1940s. I love to read about how life was here before and after WWII.

I also enjoyed that this was a story of strong women in both decades. The men in this book were portrayed as rather weak and helpless or almost non-existent as Bess' dad was.

There were quite a few surprises along the way...some I liked, others I wasn't too crazy about.
A good read for the summer beach bag.

The best part of this book is the fact that the author makes the house and place as much characters of the story as the named characters. I love when a book can make you feel as though you are there and want to return. This book is definitely that kind of story!

Storyteller, Michelle Gable returns following I’ll See You in Paris and A Paris Apartment with her latest Nantucket summer charmer (her best yet): THE BOOK OF SUMMER — a multi-generational story of family, home, the courage of tenacious women and the special memories of Cliff House.

Rich in history and character, a scandalous, emotional, and witty tale of family and saving a home. The past, loss and loves, and all the lives which connect. A perfect mix of historic and contemporary.

Based on the real-life erosion of the Sankaty Bluff in Siasconset –known as Sconset—the easternmost spot on Nantucket Island, Gable was inspired by an article in Vanity Fair (very intriguing) about the grand homes, passed down between generations now falling into the sea.

Though the Cliff House bears the fictitious address of Baxter Road, it is based on Bluff House, formerly located at 87 Baxter Road.

The quintessential Nantucket manor known as Cliff House is near falling into the ocean.

However, town shaker Cissy Codman, owner of the home is determined to remain in the house, using every trick she has to keep up the fight to save her family home. She plans on going down the ship.

Cissy is a force to be reckoned with and determined to get the local government behind her to either move the house or continue with the erosion prevention efforts.

Her daughter has been sent from San Francisco, California by her father to ensure her mom moves out of the house before she dies left in the house.

Bess Codman, a physician is undergoing a messy divorce from a complete jerk (Brandon), plus she is pregnant (unplanned) and runs into her ex-high school boyfriend, Evan Mahew.

While tasked with the job of packing up her mom, Bess discovers the “Book of Summer.” A guest book filled with recollections of friends' and family's stay at the house. Entries in the book are highlighted throughout the novel, with difficulties and challenges faced by other residents.

From 2013 and the start of World War II, we hear from Ruby Packard, Bess’s grandmother, an idealistic young bride in 1939, just before the United States enters WWII and Bess.

Bess does not understand her mom Cissy’s obsession with this house; however, the more she reads she comes to understand similarities of present and past.

Three three generations of stubborn women who chained themselves to complex men like the house. Bess begins to understand the unspoken expectations placed on Cissy, being the only child in a troubled home. At the same time, she learns something about herself.

Loss is a part of life. Giving everything she had. A costly venture, "saving a bluff." The geo-tubes.

From family drama, lies, secrets, scandals, abortions, gays, alcoholism, betrayal, abuse, infidelity, hookers, divorce, marriage, life, relationships, security, and more – loss and love, mixed with tons of fun and humor and surprises (loved the part about the pecker-hilarious) and commentary and views from blogger— Corbie Tarbox, the Island ACKtion blog.

Loved Cissy! I related to her on some many levels. What a great cast of characters, from past and present. What is not to love about Nantucket? Have had many hotel clients over the years, and almost moved there full time to run a hotel. Always a good excuse to visit.

Michelle transports you to this charming coastal town by the sea, with an engaging story, resonating with the early writings of Erin Hilderbrand and Nancy Thayer (which I loved), before they changed, over the past few years.

The past and present were nicely done with many connections with highly charged topics. A perfect beach read and an ideal choice for book clubs and further discussion. Can you imagine losing your house to facts beyond your control?

Gable keeps getting better and better. I enjoyed reading the book; however when I discovered Cassandra Campbell was narrating the audiobook, had to pre-order. Love Cassandra Campbell (my favorite narrator).

She was exceptional and a perfect fit for THE BOOK OF SUMMER. Engaging, absorbing, and entertaining! The audio experience, actually bumped up my review another star, making this a 5-star reading experience.

Highly recommend the book and the audio. Love the subject material with the erosion problem which I am very familiar with highly relatable issues— residing in a coastal area.

Here in Palm Beach, (Breakers Hotel), as well as the Southern area of Palm Beach (Phipps Ocean Park and Beach), the continued erosion along the project area threatens upland structures & recreational beaches. The sand placement and groin & mitigation construction cost millions and designed to last only three years. Very costly, temporary and ongoing environmental issues.

Fans of Mary Alice Monroe, Dorothea Benton Frank, Joanne DeMaio, and Hazel Gaynor will enjoy THE BOOK OF SUMMER.

A special thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for an early reading copy.

JDCMustReadBooks

Happy Publication Day! All aspects of this book called to me immediately and made me want to read it--the title, the cover, and the description. Now that I have finished it, I can say that I have no regrets, for it was a book that was so charming and perfect for a warm day's read.

The Book of Summer tells two stories: one of the modern-day Bess and Cissy Codman who, in their packing to move out of the once grand Cliff House on Nantucket Island due to erosion, find "The Book of Summer" where all the guests have written about their stays; the other of the family of (grandma) Ruby Packard during WWII, who reveals a shocking family secret.

There are many characters in the book, both in the past in the present, who are so unique and relatable. Evan and Topper, in particular are sweethearts. Hattie is an absolute riot who gave a very unique perspective on women's roles in that era, I felt. And I really enjoyed hearing and learning more about homosexuality in wartime. I don't know of many books that address that topic so it was interesting to read a bit about that. Also, I appreciate that the author did actual research on the Sconset Beach area and the erosion problems affecting the bluff. Hats off, Ms. Gable!

I am a huge fan of books about strong women, and this book was full of them. I adored Bess and her mother in the present day and Ruby and the women in the years past. I love that we get to know the past through the Book of Summer, the Guestbook at Cliff House. Such a wonderful way to share that part of the story.

One of the best parts of this book was the setting. I loved the glimpses we get of Nantucket, the ocean in its might tearing away at Cliff House and Cliff House itself which becomes another character for me and I felt it's loss as it slowly slipped bit by bit into that ocean. I loved spending time at Cliff House and in Nantucket. The descriptions were beautiful and I felt I was right there in each moment.

The characters were all so well written and I came to know and love them. I will think of them often I know.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a very well written family drama, who loves a bit of historical fiction and who wants to be transported to Nantucket for the summer, and who doesn't want that? This was such a lovely read.