I always consider Thayer's newest novel one of First to kick off the summer season books. Surfside Sisters tells of two close friends, Isabelle and Keely, and their intertwined lives. Isabelle is very privileged while Keely struggles. Their paths divert while in college and Keely has to abruptedly leave hers due to a family tragedy. Both girls dreamed of becoming authors, but one achieves that goal first while the other betrays her friend in a huge way. I love the Nantucket setting and the cover. I could not bring myself to like either Isabelle or her mother. I felt as if the Green ladies were too much at the beck and call of the imperious Maxwells. Keely also seemed to drift to men whom she had very little emotional attachment.

An easy going story about two girls who grow up on Nantucket and want to be writers. We follow then through school and first loves to parental care and childbirth. A poignant chapter about the retired mother needing help elevated the book.


Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley

Ive read so many Nancy Thayer books that I was frankly surprised she wrote this because it is similar to her other one. Two best friends, one rich, one poor and one of them falls in love with the other’s brother. They even share a man. Reading this feels like deja vu or, like groundhog day. I dont like the male characters here. Theyre wishy washy and I dont understand the lack of devotion only to be “true love” in the end. The male characters lack depth.

First thanks to #NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book. It's my first by Nancy Thayer.

When I started the book, I wasn't so sure I would get into it. But I read most of it in one day. The story is about 2 friends - their lives together, then when they weren't friends, and how they come back to being friends.

I didn't like all the characters. But they fix together and made the story work. This book will be a great "Summer Read".

4.5 stars First and foremost a huge thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advance copy of Surfside Sister in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely adore Nancy Thayer books, she is one of my favorite beaches read go to's! I feel as if I have personally been to Nantucket and Ms. Thayer is a big part of that. This is another home run of a book, I loved the friendship between Keely and Isabelle although Isabelle was annoying in parts. Definitely a fast paced, page turner as per the norm for a Thayer novel. You won't be able to put it down once you start! I will be telling everyone that this is a must read this summer.

Surfside Sisters is classic Nancy Thayer-the perfect beach setting with a little bit of family drama and romance. However, I really enjoyed this novel because the main character, Keely, was an up-and-coming, successful author. So many times books are told from the point of view of the publishing company or a person who is trying to become an author. Reading about the stress involved with being a published author brought a new perspective to a story that's been told before, and I found it fascinating. However, even if this angle doesn't interest you, you are sure to enjoy the beautiful beach descriptions and the heart-warming characters.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Fantastic read ! Another fun, page turning book by Nancy Thayer ! I loved the characters and their evolving relationships. I will definitely
recommend this !

A realistic look at how difficult a lifelong friendship between two women can be. The conflict between the characters was believable. Both Keely and Isabelle were presented with flaws which was refreshing since no one is perfect!

This is my first book by Nancy Thayer, and I will read others.

I enjoy books set on beach locations, and this is set in gorgeous Nantucket. The book tells the story of two, very different, girls, growing up together from the perspective of the poorer of the two. Both girls bond early on by wanting to become writers and writing and becoming an author is a great side part of the story.

I loved the girls as young girls and teens, but as they became adults, this book started to make much less sense. Isabelle, the richer girl, and her parents, became almost villains, and the change was abrupt and unexpected, especially with the parents. I did not understand why Keely would want to continue to be friends with this girl or be around her family at all.

That said, while I did not like Isabelle, I really enjoyed Keely, and her characterization was full enough to want to make me read other books by this author.

This book would make a fun summer read.

Thanks to NetGalley.com, the author and publisher for my ARC.

I just really wasn't impressed by this book. The beginning seemed so long and drawn out. I think the book would have benefited more from alternating between past and present instead of spending so much time in the past. It was a struggle to get through. Which I hate, because I've enjoyed Thayer's previous books. I may be in the minority, though!

5 stars plus. Nancy Thayer's Surfside Sisters is a wonderful work of contemporary fiction. Lara and Isabelle live in Nantucket and want to be writers when they grow up. There are obstacles to overcome and sometimes even jealousy gets in the way of their friendship and careers. Will their friendship stand the test of time? Enjoyable read just in time for summer. I would definitely recommend it.

A fun, light summer read - lucky enough to kick off some summer reading with an advanced copy of this one! Keely and Isabelle were the best of friends growing up on Nantucket, both with dreams of being writers. Keely the stereotypical poor girl, Isabelle the rich. You had to feel for Keely, dealing with Isabelle’s insecurities and demands, meanwhile letting her own wants and dreams pause. You also didn’t want Keely to give in to Isabelle and stand up for herself. In the end, the crux of the story was similar to others - jealousy among women but friendship overcomes that. Nicely done and an easy read.

I have read many of Nancy’s books and I have to say that I felt like this one was flatter and more forced than her others. I really did enjoy the contrast in setting between Nantucket and NYC and loved the descriptions of each. It’s the characters I couldn’t quite get a grip on, mostly Isabelle and the choices she made to cut Keely out of her life. This didn’t seem quite believable to me. I would rather have heard the story of their friendship told from both of their points of view, alternating. Also, a lot of the writing felt a bit stilted and there was way too much narration instead of action and dialogue. However I was intrigued enough to read all the way to the end.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

SOME SPOILERS INCLUDED I loved this book set in Nantucket. Keely is a middle class girl who is best friends with Isabelle, who is very rich and spoiled. Both dream of being writers. Keely's dreams face serious obstacles, but she doesn't blanch in the face of opposition. The girls' friendship is also facing obstacles due to boys and money and distance. I loved Keely's character but I never was 100% on board with Isabelle who always seemed blissfully unaware of how entitled she was, even at the end of the book. She was not a good friend.

A great and easy beach read that will have you drawn in. I love a book that deals with how and why relationships may change over time and the way we always crave the comfort of those we grew up with. If you are looking for something to read while you are at the beach or a book that made you wish you were at the beach, pick this one up!

Nancy Thayer does not dissapoint. I couldn't put this book down! I love the characters and how their love for Nantucket connects them all. It's definitely a full circle book about life, love, friendship and following your dreams

Nancy Thayer doesn't disappoint. This book is about two best friends. It wobbles a little and we are wondering if it's a love story because Isabelle isn't always in the picture. As readers we find Isabelle to be spoiled and not very nice. Her friend, Keely always seem to have hope because the richness of their childhood.
You'll like reading about writing and publishing books. You will love Nantucket too

Surfside Sisters is the perfect summer beach read. Keely and Isabelle are best friends that grew up on Nantucket and dreamed of being writers. Keely always envied Isabelle's perfect life with her wealthy parents, large house and gorgeous older brother Sebastian. As long as Keely can remember, she has been in love with Sebastian. As the girls grow up their lives become very different and their friendship struggles.
This is a great novel about sisterhood and friendship and the seaside village of Nantucket.
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for review.

NOTE: I received a free advance reader's copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Once again, Nancy Thayer takes us to Nantucket and makes you wish you lived in this magical island community. The book begins with a prologue, showing successful novelist Keely back in her NYC apartment after a monthlong book tour - happy professionally but lonely personally. Then we travel back in time and find Keely growing up with her rich girl best friend Isabelle and her secret crush Sebastian who - of course - happens to be Isabelle's older brother. Both friends harbor dreams of being published writers one day.

As a wannabe writer myself, I loved the little insights into the process that Thayer provides. Aside from that, the story takes enough twists and turns that I didn't know exactly how things would end up between the friends and between the various romantic interests of both girls. Usually I need to really like the main characters to like a book but in this case, even though I had issues with all 4 main characters, I still found myself not wanting to put the book down and I was done with it within 24 hours. I also don't think the prologue necessarily added that much to the story, or perhaps there should have been a more obvious connection/throwback to it in the main part of the book. Regardless, if you like books about childhood friendships, first loves or just easy reads for a summer day, this would be a decent choice.

After reading this novel, without putting it down for a minute, the word that comes to mind is CHARMING! I love delicious summer reads and this one is absolutely yummy. The story takes place on Nantucket, perfect setting, with Keely and Isabelle best friends, rivals and sometimes “sisters” vowing to become writers.

Keely finds success in her career, while Isabelle seems to be the one who had always had everything else. Their relationship is not without bumps, but they never lose their bond.

The characters are not only interesting, but Thayer has provided a wide range of roles for the characters, including sharing different kinds of love, as well as responsibility for aging parents. I suspect many readers will relate to the changing roles from child, to adult to caregiver

There’s lots to discuss, great for women’s book groups! Thanks Netgalley for such a lovely read!