Member Reviews
This story follows two lifelong friends from their childhoods on Nantucket to adulthood. Keely and Isabelle dream of being writers when they grow up. Their lives, families and relationships are so intertwined as they grow apart and together again.
This book was a little different than the typical Nancy Thayer book. It was an easy read with enjoyable characters. Keely’s envy of the Maxwell family is relatable. In general, give me a book set on Nantucket and I’m in.
Nancy Thayer never disappoints. Surfside Sisters is another totally enjoyable, cute, fun beach read. Highly recommend when you need something a little light hearted, but with a good plot line.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. I couldn't put it down. I've read a lot of Nancy Thayer's books and I haven't discovered one yet that I didn't enjoy.
I received an advance copy of Surfside Sisters by Nancy Thayer through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. I very much enjoy Nancy Thayer’s books including Surfside Sisters. I was disappointed in how some situations resolved themselves with very little description or explanation. Otherwise this was an enjoyable read. Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to preview this book.
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