Moving to become a nanny, Heddy finds herself among the rich couples of Martha's Vineyard! The change in atmosphere leaves more questions than answers as she integrates into their society more and more.

Money does not always equal happiness, and Heddy soon begins to discover this about those around her.

Such an enjoyable read! I felt like I was right there among everyone during that summer. I loved the 60's culture.

This book is my guilty pleasure! There is something about all the drama, backstabbing, and secrets of the “rich” that’s enjoyable to read/watch.
This story is set in 1962 at Martha’s Vineyard. Heddy is a college girl arriving on the island to nanny for a rich family for the summer. She and her mother are struggling financially in Brooklyn so she’s hoping to save up some money to help her mother...or her other plan is to find a rich boy to marry. What she didn’t know was all the secrets she would uncover.
This story was well written with great character development. I could picture all the characters and places.
This has an ending I wasn’t expecting so that was exciting.
Thanks to Netgalley and Gallery Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have to say upfront, that this being seen as historical fiction makes me feel very old. I remember the time well, and it does ring true. The idea that a poor girl from Brooklyn learns about the lives of the rich is not new. However, the book was enjoyable and will probably be a good beach read this summer.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an early e-copy.

This is my first review since the COVID panic really began in earnest, so it's a bit trickier than normal to write a focused review! But here we go...

For me, SUMMER DARLINGS had three different stages. It opened with what felt like a character study. Heddy, of college age, comes to work for a WASPy, well-to-do family on Martha's Vineyard for the summer. In this stage, the appeal is in observing the "otherness" of the time period (1960s), and in watching Heddy navigate the class differences.

Then, the book broadened into a bit of a romance, with two men on the island vying for Heddy's attentions (and provoking her boss's petty envy). This "stage" also includes a kind of Cinderella story, as a famous actress summering on the island takes Heddy under her wing and sets about making Heddy over. The entirely fictional actress possessed vampish shades of Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor, and between this fact and the many references to Jackie Kennedy, the book reminded me a bit of Jess Walter's BEAUTIFUL RUINS, with SUMMER DARLINGS perhaps skewing more to the commercial side of that equation versus the literary.

Finally, during the third and extremely fast-paced final stage of the book, the plot transforms into a bit of a twisty whodunnit heist. My only complaint here is that the pacing ramped up so dramatically it felt a bit rushed at times, but I think other readers will not mind/actually enjoy a book that sprints to the end in this manner.

As far as helping potential interested readers find this book: I think fans of Fiona Davis would be best suited to really enjoy SUMMER DARLINGS. SUMMER DARLINGS doesn't do Davis's signature toggling between a past plot line and a present plot line, nonetheless there was something in Foster's plucky protagonist that is reminiscent of Davis's protagonists, and both authors work hard to transport the reader to a beloved time/place. I *WOULD* have said this would be a great summer beach read, because it seeks to distract/transport. But maybe with our present state of virus-ridden affairs in this world, it can be a good book even if you have to PRETEND you're at the beach. In other words, if you want to get away, you can pour yourself a Cape Codder or a Greyhound and dive into these pages.

1962. Summer on Martha's Vineyard.

Heddy is a girl working as a summer nanny for a wealthy family in Martha's Vineyard. She is a college scholarship student at Wellesly who was raised by a single mother barely scraping by. Heddy is a very naive girl, embarrassed by her background, needing and wanting validation from the people she believes are so much more than she is.

She arrives in Martha's Vineyard starry eyed, ready to step into a world of beautiful people living idyllic lives. What she discovers is the ugly underbelly of this picture perfect world, starting with the very family she is a nanny for.

Heddy falls for two men on the island, Sullivan, the son of a wealthy family, and Ash, a land developer selling homes in his new development in Florida. She is also befriended by Gigi, a movie star who takes her under her wing and tries to gently educate her as to what she is up against.

Eventually, Heddy begins to realize she can absolutely trust no one but herself. As insecure and unimportant as she believes she is, she nevertheless is a pawn to be used or disparaged by those around her. As the reader/observer I wanted to stand and cheer for her at the point she arrives at knowing that only she can take care of herself and does just that.

A happy ending? Maybe so, maybe no. I think you should decide for yourself when you read this novel. I can see the possibility of a sequel. I would definitely read it should it happen.

Thank you Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book for my reading pleasure & review.

There was a lot to like and enjoy about this book. Fabulous setting- Martha’s Vineyard. One of my favorite time periods-early 1960s. A coming of age novel. I love the description of the fashion, the homes, the island, the upscale lifestyle... it all worked well .

I devoured this book. Until about the 65% mark, I honestly thought it would be one of my favorites of the year, but the ending really fell apart for me. I didn’t really like the “love triangle” (if you can call it that) aspect of the novel. I don’t want to spoil any plot points. I read the author’s notes and enjoyed the meaning behind one of the plot points- so check that out. However, I just didn’t love the way this one wrapped up. I would have enjoyed the ending better if Heddy had made different choices.

I read about 20% of this book but could not really get into it but I'm not sure why. The characters are kind of interesting and the plot isn't bad, but it's just a little slow to get going. Heddy is a Bryn Mawr student who is working as a nanny for a family summering on the coast as she tries to get a glimpse into a life she has heard about at college, but not experienced.

I loved this book! Such a fun look at Martha's Vineyard in the 1960's. Well drawn characters that you will want to spend your summer vacation with. Perfect book to put in your beach bag.

Heddy sets off to Martha's Vineyard in the summer of 1962 to be a nanny for the affluent Williams family at the recommendation of her college roommate. The Williams appear to be living the American dream with a marriage filled with romance, two beautiful children and plenty of money. Heddy hopes that the summer can help her earn enough money to get back into college after losing her scholarship or land her a husband that can take of her. She quickly learns that money doesn't give one everything and that the picture perfect family of the Williams is really a fake. Can Heddy find the man of her dreams or does she head back home with nothing? I really enjoyed this historical fiction novel.

I received Summer Darlings ARC from Netgalley. This coming of age tale takes place during the summer of 1962 on Martha’s Vineyard. A reader will find the typical elements of women’s fiction, its part coming of age story, part love story. After losing her scholarship to Wellesley, Heddy decides to take a summer nanny job as a way to finance her education or find a husband. Remember this is the early 1960 when marriage was considered the best option for a woman’s security and few career options were encouraged outside of teaching or nursing. Heddy’s immediately enamored with her employers, a young, wealthy Kennedy-like couple. She also gets caught up in the loves of other rich and glamourous summer residents of the island; including a famous actress and rival of Heddy’s employer. I often find the romances in women’s fiction predictable, but Brooke Lea Foster did a great job keeping me interested. The conflict between Heddy’s desires for independence and finding a man on her own terms, within the confines of the time period was believable. I enjoyed the sprinkling in pop culture references throughout the books. Soon enough Heddy learns what people project as outward appearances aren’t always what’s beneath the surface. Marriages aren’t perfect, stardom comes with loneliness, men aren’t who they appear to be. This book is a nice escape from everyday life. I look forward to reading more books by the author in the future.

This book was a refreshing read with great character development. I loved the setting, the nod to the century it was dated to, and the story of wanting "it all" but realizing that "it" wasn't what it seemed. So many different relationships were explored, stereotypes were challenged, and I found myself rooting for ALMOST everyone at different points throughout the book. I could've easily given this book five stars, but I thought the ending was wrapped up far too quickly. You have this intricate story that is told throughout the whole book, and then wrapped up in what felt like a few pages, in a way that I did not see coming.

Poor college student/summer nanny ✅ Rich people who behave badly towards family, friends, and especially the hired help ✅ Duplicitous people galore ✅ Summer crowd era 1960’s Martha’s Vineyard and throw in one buxom starlet ✅ Cliches for days ✅✅✅ adds up to 3 star read.

It’s 1962 and Heddy Winsome is heading to Martha’s Vineyard for a summer that will forever change her life. Having been raised in Brooklyn by a single mother struggling to pay each month’s rent, Heddy is striving for something more. Everything was looking bright but after losing her scholarship to Wellesley, her future is in jeopardy. A summer working as a nanny for one of Martha’s Vineyard’s wealthiest families offers her some hope. Will being surrounded by the rich and privileged enable Heddy to enter this world and help her get closer to the life she believes she deserves?

Summer Darlings is a fun book filled with people who are not what they seem. From the perfect couple, Ted and Jean-Rose Williams, who hire Heddy, to the fun-loving and very famous actress Gigi who lives next door, to two possible love interests. You can visualize the impeccable, tasteful homes, the private beaches and the early 60s styles. And there’s some fun nostalgic references of people and places from the period.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Gallery Books and Brooke Lea Foster for an advance copy of this impressive debut effort. The publication date is May 5 and I so hope Summer Darlings gets the attention it deserves.

Review will be posted on MicheleReader.com closer to the publication date.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Loved this book- in these topsy turvy times where we are all huddled in our homes, this book was like a cold lemonade on hot day. This is the beach vacation we all need. I can smell the coppertone right now.
The story of poor girl Heddy, who spends the summer as a nanny with the uber wealthy in 1960s Martha’s Vineyard. This coming of age has everything - drama, intrigue, movie stars, and romance.
LOVE LOVE Heddy. As a young adult- she wavers back and forth between bravado, and insecurity. Shes bright , funny and kind, and starts her journey looking for a husband to give her the financial security she and her single mom never had. Her sense of right and wrong is constantly challenged . She gets to peek behind the vail of a seemingly perfect marriage, and finds that things are more complicated than she expected. Each woman has to decide how much of herself is she willing to give up to be safe. In the end she realizes the only person she can depend on is herself.
In addition to detailed descriptions of the beauty of the island, there are a number of 1960 Marthas Vinyard cameos, wont spoil the surprise. Enjoy
Highly reccomend

Set during the splendid summer days of 1960's Martha’s Vineyard, this novel pulls back the curtain on one mysterious and wealthy family as seen through the eyes of their nanny, Heddy.

Heddy, a college student who, while falling in love on the island, is also forced to face the darker side of privilege, judgement, and wealth.

I really enjoyed this book. It had some history, some romance, and some definite life lessons throughout its entirety. While the romance kept me reading it was the development of the characters that enthralled me.

I will not spoil it for future readers but I loved the twist at the end of the book. It was very unexpected which pleases me as a reader and makes me look forward to what author, Brooke Lea Foster will do next.

I thought since we were in the middle of a pandemic I might expand my normal book preferences to other genres. This was labeled historical fiction. It was set in the 1960’s! 1960’s! I absolutely loved the book. Modern (!) version of an Upstairs Downstairs. Heddy is a college junior on scholarship at a prestigious college. She makes a stupid mistake one evening and loses her scholarship. She takes a nanny job for a wealthy family.on Marthas Vineyard over the summer. She is exposed to the country club life where you are judged by your place settings and social standings. The author did an amazing job of defining Heddy in her own right. She observes but holds her own self worth in check. It’s a fun ride with well placed fun references of Young James Taylor and Carly Simon as well as the Kennedy’s.. it’s still a stretch to call this historical but what a great read! I highly recommend you grabbing this book on its May 5th pub date! #netgalley #gallerybooks #siminschuster.

Really enjoyable!!! (but I do agree with other reviewers that some of the dialogue felt a little too current rather than set in the 60s). But overall, I really enjoyed this book. It will make a great summer read for the beach- if we're ever allowed to leave our houses again. sigh.

Thank you NetGalley, Simon, and Shuster and Brooke lea Foster for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Summer Darlings is a compelling historical debut novel--I loved every page! Brooke Lea Foster's description of Martha's Vineyard in the 1960's transports you to the point you can feel, hear and smell her descriptions directly off the page! Summer Darlings reveals that the lives of the rich and privileged aren't always what they seem. Foster develops all the characters in a way that keeps you turning the pages to reach the conclusion of each of their journeys.

Heddy Winsome grew up poor (like water added to ketchup to make tomato soup poor) but she worked hard and earned a scholarship to Wellesley. Now with her scholarship is in jeopardy, Heddy accepts a position as a nanny to a seemingly lovely family summering on Martha's Vineyard. At first, Heddy is overwhelmed by the glamour of the Vineyard, feeling her modest background with every breath. But soon she finds her sea legs and learns that beneath the glamour lies cruelty and subterfuge. Once she discovers that money does not buy happiness, Heddy starts to see what is truly valuable. A wonderfully written story with descriptions so vivid I could feel the sand between my toes and hear the waves crashing on the shore. A truly lovely read.

Summer Darlings, the debut novel by Brooke Lea Foster, is magnificent. Taking place in Martha’s Vineyard in 1962 (apropos for a delectable read by the waves), Summer Darlings reveals that the lives of the privileged aren’t always what they seem. However, those chomping at the bit for a blatant “Hang the rich” screed might be disappointed, as there are plenty of secrets to go around in this juicy book.
Much gratitude to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster, Gallery Books, and Brooke Lea Foster for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.