Secrets in Summer was a comfortable read. The main character was completely relatable with her job as a librarian and her passion for books. The story lines were closely intertwined and the author deftly illustrated how messy and complicated different relationships are. The only facet that would have made this book absolutely perfect would be reading it on a Nantucket beach.

Returning to Nantucket with Nancy Thayer is a rite of summer. Darcy is enjoying her life as a children's librarian on Nantucket, having returned to her childhood home on the island. Her quiet life is disrupted when her ex-husband and his new family move into the house next door for the summer, and Darcy finds herself pulled into not only their lives, but the lives of several other summer visitors as well. Her new relationships will challenge and change her, but what will be left at the end of summer?

This was a fun, easy, perfect summer read. As a librarian I enjoyed the scenes of Darcy at work (and props to a writer who seems to really understand what librarians really do!). Darcy was just a generally likeable character, who was both imperfect and sweet, who made mistakes that she owned up to, but was making an effort to be a good friend and neighbor throughout. It was all good fun and I enjoyed her story throughout.

Nancy Thayer is one of those authors that just screams summer to me....so recently on a cruise vacation I had to read my advance copy since I was surrounded by the appropriate environment. Thayer has disappointed me some lately, and I tend to like Elin Hilderbrand's "Nantucket chick lit" better, but I still keep giving Thayer a shot, if only because of the delectable beach lit covers (and sometimes her hometown Kansas City references).

This one worked better than most of Thayer's other books for me. Why? The heroine was likeable, and the book was more about her learning to stand on her own two feet and distance herself from unhealthy relationships than the romance, which was low-key but much more realistic than some tend to be. The bar may not be that high for a good, relaxing beach read, but this one left me content and not annoyed, which is all I ask.

I received this book "Secrets in Summer" from Netgalley for my honest review.

I am between a 3 and 4 on the rating. The book is a fun beach read. The title is great because there were a lot of secrets that summer on the island. Darcy is the main character and is involved in everything! The book was good and a light read, perfect for the summer season.

I received this arc from Netgalley for an honest review. This was a decent summer read though I've read better by Thayer. This book felt a little all over the place with several unfinished story lines. I liked how the novel finished for the two main characters, but everything else felt unfinished.

Sometimes the perfect life with the perfect job in an idyllic setting needs a little stirring up, resulting in a perfect beach read. Thayer explores interpersonal relationships on several levels, allowing Darcy to make difficult decisions about family, love, and moral responsibility.

Nancy Thayer is among few authors whose books I look forward to every summer because they are such perfect summer reads. While Secrets in Summer wasn't my favorite of hers, it was still a great beach read - captivating and effortless. What I liked about this book was, as always, the setting of Nantucket. As with Elin Hilderbrand, I cannot get enough of books set on this island. I also loved the flashbacks to Darcy's past and all scenes involving her lovely grandmother. Finally, this book really centered on the friendship between four women, all of whom met through the location of their summer homes, and I loved that aspect even if how the women met felt a bit staid. What tripped me up in this book was Darcy and, really, Darcy's relationship with her "boyfriend" Nash. I don't feel like this relationship was well developed or that Darcy should have focused such energy on this relationship. It was very unhealthy to me but was made out to be something important and romantic. There were a lot of issues with gossip and Darcy's internal monologue but I still recommend this one as a great summer/beach read along with Nancy Thayer's entire catalog.

Secrets in Summer comes out next month on May 16, 2017, and you can purchase HERE.

But it wasn't Bessie's beauty that fascinated Darcy. It was how she listened to Darcy speak, focusing all her attention on her, often remaining silent for a minute or two while she contemplated Darcy's words.

"Um-hum," Bessie would hum. "Let me think on that." The subject might be as enormous as the Holocaust–How could such a thing happen? Or as trivial as why women needed to possess so many pairs of shoes.

Often, Bessie would reply, "Child, I don't think that's a question anyone on this earth has the true answer for. The best advice I can give you is to keep reading."

I usually love summer beach reads, especially set in Nantucket. Secrets in Summer was just ok for me. I did love how Nancy Thayer’s writing actually “takes” you to the beautiful island of Nantucket. However, I was disappointed with the overall storyline and characters. Darcy is a year-long resident and the head of the children’s library on the island. To me, this was her one redeeming quality…she loved books! She is in a new relationship with a hunky contractor who doesn’t seem to be as committed to a relationship as Darcy. Darcy also becomes too involved with her “summer” neighbors and their problems to the point, I believe, that she’s jeopardizing her own love life. There was just too much going on in her mind. It made me want to shake her to snap out of it! Overall, a cute and quick read, nothing earth-shattering. I’m sure I’ll read more of Nancy Thayer’s books in the future.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

Secrets in Summer is a pretty good book, but it does lack an action-filled, exciting plot. Darcy lives on Nantucket year-round and is a librarian at the local library. There is a man, Nash, in her life. Both Darcy and Nash are at the stage where they are trying to figure out whether there is a future in their relationship and just how that will play out. Darcy also has an ex, from a rather wealthy real estate family, who, with his new wife and her teenage daughter, move into the house behind Darcy’s for the summer. In addition, and elderly woman and her thirty something grandson move in next door. Finally, there is a family with three young sons who move into the other house whose yard touches Darcy’s. Each of these has a major role in this story, as we follow them through this summer. However, each character has or is connected to secrets that both drive and impede their lives this summer. The book follows them through it all, with many twists and turns and events that shape them as well as the story. As I said, there is not a great plot, but a day-by-day story of the lives of each of these neighbors, their interactions and their impact on one another. Still, the story is well written and makes a great beach read. The setting in Nantucket definitely speaks of summer. Finally, I found the characters well-developed and real. This book is not all that unlike the others the author has written, that also take place on Nantucket. The book gives the reader a good picture of the summer on this beautiful, interesting island. As I said, it makes a very good beach read. It is uncomplicated and easy to follow/read, even if the reader has to, for whatever reason, stop frequently while reading. I felt the easy-going plot and smooth flow only helped to make the book enjoyable. As I said, it is a great beach/summer read and will definitely put you in the summertime mood. This book will definitely appeal to readers of the author’s other books as well as to anyone looking for a great, easy summer read. If you want a book like that, then this one is for you. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

Such a heartwarming, sad, humorous, entertaining and enjoyable read. I really got into this book and could not put it down.

Darcy lives in her childhood home which she inherited from her grandmother in Nantucket. She is a year round resident and she has done something she's never done before. She has become close to the summer renters. And, it just so happens, one of those renters is the stepdaughter of her ex-husband who is renting the property behind her. Of all the houses in Nantucket, he has to pick that one. Ha! This leads up to pretty interesting reading and is just one of the plots that is being told in this story.

There are several plots and lots of quirky, endearing characters. You will definitely need tissues for this one as the summer ends.

Thanks to Random House and Net Galley for approving and allowing me to read and review this book.

Darcy lives in the house she grew up in on Nantucket, completely happy with her life. Her life is close to ideal, but when summer comes and all of the summer residents move in all over the neighborhood, she realizes that one never has enough friends. She befriends the mom of 3 boys next door, the elderly lady on the other side of her who reminds her so much of her own grandmother, and a teenager from the house behind hers. Darcy's summer becomes of whirlwind of fun, secrets that she discovers about all the neighbors (some of which she really DIDN'T need to know!) and of course love. The characters in the book seem so real you feel as if you were right there experiencing it all first hand. I highly recommend this book!

I truly enjoyed reading this book. Although I felt the plot could have been more complex it was an easy read and was very enjoyable.

I got the chance to read this early from Netgalley and I'm thrilled that I was selected.
I have my favorite beach book authors and Nancy Thayer is one of the best.

I don't give 5 stars easily but this is everything you could ask for in a beach book.

Darcy is pretty happy with her life. She lives in Nantucket year round, she has her dream job as a librarian, she has the perfect house left to her by her grandmother, there's a sweet and handsome almost boyfriend and a lovable cat named Muffler.

All in all, life is sweet and it hasn't always been that way. There was a time in Darcy's life when her parents gave her up to her grandmother. It led to a very content time in her life though. She met a man named Boyz and married, then things fell apart when he left her for another woman.

This led Darcy back to her grandmother's side and when she lost her grandmother she was alone again. But leaving Darcy her home, she felt at peace in the world again.

Darcy never paid too much attention to the vacationers that rent homes around her, but this year is different. To her shock, her ex-husband rents the house next door with his new wife and step daughter.
Another, frantic, vacationer shows up on her doorstep asking to borrow a cup of milk.
And she instantly bonds with sweet elderly Mimi that reminds her if her own grandmother.

As the summer passes, Darcy finds herself drawn into her temporary neighbors' lives. She forms very unexpected connections and she starts to wonder whether she might have met the real love of her life.

Very upbeat, filled with strong, likable characters, including a very lovable cat. I loved how Darcy was content with her life before the summer even started. This isn't a book about a woman devastated over her divorce, she's also not sad to be single. But letting herself form strong relationships with new people was also empowering for her.

Loved this book. I tried to put it down and save it a bit longer, but I couldn't.

Summer is here, grab your towel and head to the beach! Nancy Thayer does it again –plops us right into summertime on Nantucket with Darcy, a year-round resident of Nantucket who is content living in the only place that has ever truly felt like home to her.
Darcy has established a fairly predictable and comfortable life there; she spends her days working as a librarian, has been dating a good looking guy for several months, and has a group of friends she hangs around with on the weekends. The summer vacation crowd that comes to the island turns that upside down – especially when her ex-husband his new wife move in next door. Darcy loves spending time in the backyard garden her grandmother spent hours tending to and growing, which leads to Darcy overhearing some of the conversations of the new neighborhood residents. She struggles with knowing when she should interfere and when she should stay out of people’s business…and does a little of both.
I like that Darcy does not hide from confronting the people from her past, and that she does not prevent them from allowing her to forge a meaningful relationship with Willow, who really needs her friendship and guidance. I also like that she learns to let go of the past and find her way to the life she really wants.
This book brings together just the right amount of romance, some scandal, and fun characters to make it a perfect summer beach read!

The absolute summer reading book! I have always admired the books of Nancy Thayer and I think this one is the best. It gives a thorough view of Southern Charm, hospitality, and community. It has romance, humor, and values friendships, old and new. A must read for summer.

Secrets in Summer is the perfect beach read! It's warm, inviting, and extremely charming (just like it's characters). The setting is perfect; it takes place in the beautiful Nantucket, and the way the author describes it makes you feel like you are there. I could practically feel the sand between my toes and smell the ocean air while reading this one! Readers, if you are looking for a book to pack in your beach bag, or one to take on vacation with you then I would highly recommend this novel. It's really a wonderful read.

Darcy, a year-round Nantucket resident, is content with her life -- her almost-dream job as children's librarian, her new relationship with a local carpenter, and the home she inherited from her grandmother. This summer, though, she finds herself getting uncharacteristically involved in the lives of some of the "summer people" in her neighborhood. As summer comes to a close, Darcy faces decisions that could change her life forever.

I have enjoyed Ms. Thayer's books in the past and have generally devoured them in just a day or two. As a result, I was surprised that it took well over a week for me to finish this book. Granted, I put this one aside several times to focus on other books that needed to go back to the library, but when I did, I wasn't in a big hurry to pick it up again.

I suspect a large part of that was due to the main character, Darcy. In one part of the book, we're told she's happy with her life, she enjoys living on her own, being able to set her own schedule, etc., but many times throughout the book, she thinks "I wish I had someone to comfort me." Yes, I understand that the two ideas aren't mutually exclusive, but she seemed to be longing for a partner much more often than someone would who is happy with her life. She also seemed to form attachments really easy, which even I know is only going to lead to disappointment when the summer people return to their homes in the fall.

Several other plot lines seem to have been dropped during the course of the book. I kept waiting for more in these areas, but they were wrapped up in a sentence or two near the very end of the book. Quite disappointing! Despite this, however, I will look for the author's next book, and hope that it will be more engaging than this book was.

I will post this review on Goodreads on/around May 16, when the book is released. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book by one of my favorite authors.

This book was a great, fast read. It reminded me of some of the best British authors I've read. I loved all the connections between the characters, and ultimately how Darcy and Nash found their happily ever after.

I really wanted to love this book. It's the beginning of summer on beautiful Nantucket Island and all of the summer renters are starting to arrive.
Darcy is a full time resident of the Island and she usually doesn't get involved in the lives of the summer renters, but her ex-husband and his new family happen to rent the house behind hers for the summer.
This story dragged on for me and I really didn't feel invested in the main character Darcy. She describes her days in detail and you don't really get a feel for who she really is. This book had all the makings of a great beach read but I never really connected with it.

Very good beach read. Nancy Thayer afficionados will just love the mixture of characters and humor.