Girls of Summer by Nancy Thayer~ Reviewed May 12, 2020 ~3.6 rounded up
I am an author, Nancy Thayer fan ~ this is #12 for me.

I am not a big romance fan but love stories that take place on Nantucket.
Her novels are always a nice “feel good - beach reads”.

Story stars with the college romance of Lisa and Erich. They marry and travel all over the world with his business. This life is a dream that comes true. However, once they have children and Lisa no longer travels, turns turn between them and them eventual divorce. Erich gave Lisa a nice divorce settlement and she is able to set up a new life as a single mom on Nantucket (Aww Nantucket!).

She buys an 1840 home. After years, it is badly in need of repairs especially one day when the ceiling falls down. She hires Mack Whitney a master carpenter who specializes in restoration. When he shows up, Lisa is smitten by his good looks and availability. There no doubt there is physical attraction between both of them. However he is 10 years younger, so Lisa is a bit worried about what people will say. Mack makes a move and right away and wants a relationship. Really? At first I thought this is too fast and sudden and certainly not realistic for two people who have been single for many years plus Lisa hasn’t even dated since Erich. I feared something else is going on (I read a lot of psychological thrillers; I had a hard time getting into this being something romantic!).
Lisa’s children Juliet and Theo now adults ages 27 and 25 return home to Nantucket and have the same reaction that I have and fear their mom’s relationship is going to lead to heartbreak..
To add to this mix Theo was in love with Mack’s daughter Beth in high school but she was dating Atticus his best friend .who died ~ actually committed suicide
Daughter Juliet has a romantic interest as well (Hmmm I am catching on ~ this is a Nantucket love story!)
I have laid out the bare bones, now you need to read their interesting stories!!

As I mentioned I am a big psychological thriller fan and not big on romance/chick lit. However, every once in a while I need a nice sweet Beach Read with likeable characters. One on Nantucket is always enjoyable for me!

Ms. Thayer explains in her “Acknowledgments” her inspiration for the story. Mentions that her husband is seven years younger and they have been married for 35 years ~ yes lived on Nantucket Island for 35 years. (I always love reading this section, gives us readers the inside scoop!)

Want to thank NetGalley and Ransom House Publishing Group-Ballantine and was so pleased with being granted this early release in exchange for an honest profession review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The Publishing date is schedule for May 26, 2020.

I've read and enjoyed many of Nancy Thayer's books in the past. This one was not one of my favorites, though it still hit the beachy summer vacation vibe that so many enjoy. I loved my visit to Nantucket, with all of the fun details of life there, but I felt that the stories, the characters, and the conversations were a little more simplistic this time around. We went from one character's emotions and relationship issues to the next, as they went from their hearts expanding and lifting one moment to dropping into insecurity and despair as soon as something didn't happen as they wanted it to. I'd have loved a little more plot in between the emotions.

Loved coming back to Nantucket for a read. I really enjoyed reading about all the different couples and hearing about them learning to open their hearts again.

I loved this book and hated when I had to put it down. That being said, this title is all wrong. These were not girls. They were Nantucket women, ranging in age from mid-twenties to mid-fifties. The women and men were all strong characters and I enjoyed their interplay. I hope the title does not discourage readers.

This was a great time to read a Sumer book!!! Loved this story and loved the characters! Highly recommend

This book was a great read from the beginning to end. I loved that it was about families and the challenges they faced through the years and I hated for it to end! Awesome Nancy!

This is a charming book that will be a great beach read. Problem is....I don't like the beach.

Families on Nantucket. Beautiful setting - kind of boring story. Still - Nancy Thayer is a best-selling writer for a reason.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I absolutely love the Nantucket setting! I enjoyed this book, I think it would be a great beach read this summer! I like most of the couples, some more than others. The writing style was great! I liked the younger man, older woman troupe, it is not done often enough. Some sort of instant love, but that is cool, reading is an escape from reality and this book is a fabulous escape from the world right now!

This is a great summery read set on the beautiful island of Nantucket with very likable characters that you wanted to root for! In fact, the characters were almost too perfect, always saying and doing the right things. I did like how Nancy Thayer explored age differences in couples that are not often written about - younger male, older female - but it was almost too much of a focus. Every time the couple was brought up, someone mentioned the age difference. Other than that minor gripe, I really enjoyed this story!

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book!

This novel follows two families in Nantucket throughout the years. The book initially follows the progression of Lisa, beginning with her college experience, first marriage, divorce and reinventing herself when she returns to her home on Nantucket. During this time, Lisa is reintroduced to Mack, a construction worker who has a child her children's age. During this point of the novel, the chapters change points of view with both Lisa, Mack and their children and how entangled all their lives become. A nice summer book to read!

Nancy Thayer, once again delivers with a great beach read. Do you sacrifice your happiness for that of your grown children or do you finally say “ it’s my turn?” Do you give up the man you’ve loved since high school because your father wants to date his mother? Do you cave in to societal pressure or keep dating a younger man? Add a beautiful old home at the beach in need of some TLC, a crazy summer storm and the challenge of having your adult children move back in with you and you have a winner!

Such a sweet summer / beach read! A single mother who gets divorced and raises her two kids. As the kids get older and come back to the Nantucket beaches as adults and find there own way through life. Lisa, the mother also finds love again and discovers who she is.

Have been an on-going Nancy Thayer fan! Another light, breezy summer read in her typical style--perfect poolside / beach fare! Set once again on her favored Nantucket, a perfect backdrop for the story--and always enjoy all the local details. Several different family romances evolve, each with their own nuances & inter-personal dynamics. Nice mom / adult-ish child relationships explored, as well as individual acceptance of romantic relationships. Welcome summer! Many thanks to Random House Publishers for sharing this advance copy with me.

Lisa was married to a successful and wealthy man and had two children that she adores, that is until he decides that she isn't what he wants anymore. Flash forward 30 years, Lisa has lived alone in Nantucket this entire time never having another relationship and her children have moved away. Lisa is now 56 and both of her children have come back home and Lisa finds herself in a new relationship with a man who is 10 years younger than her. The family of three has to learn how to work around each other again and embrace each other's lifestyles.

I really enjoyed this book. For the most part it was a light yet heartfelt read. In the first three chapters of the book it moves very quickly in timeline (30 years pass) in order to get to give the backstory to present time Lisa and her children. I thought it was a quick read as well. This book was told from three perspectives; mainly Lisa, and then also her children, Theo and Juliet.

This was my first book by Nancy Thayer and it didn't disappoint. If you enjoy Elin Hilderbrand I would recommend this to you!

Trigger warning: suicide

Nancy Thayer’s Girls of Summer is an uplifting book of three closely bound couples finding summer and lasting love. Lisa is a divorced woman who has raised her children to adults, and built a life and successful retail business on her own. It’s not until part of her ceiling falls on her head that she realizes how neglectful she has been of her Nantucket home. She hires a bachelor, Mack, ten years her junior to do some maintenance on her home. What she didn’t expect was chemistry and the start of a new relationship. It’s when they just begin dating that they discover their grown children have decided for various reasons to move home to the island for the summer. This is a light and easy beach read that will make you feel satisfied and happy this summer.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine books for allowing me to read read this book. Love books that take place on Nantucket and Lisa surviving a not so pleasant divorce decides to move back home to her beloved Nantucket and raise her children Juliet and Theo. She finally gets herself together and wham both her raised children decide they miss their Nantucket home as well. Will Lisa Juliet and Theo all settle down and find the happiness they all deserve ?

This is a fun summer read. It’s set in Nantucket, a beautiful setting. The characters are interesting and the story is an easy read. There is drama, love, family relationships, friendships, and reawakening love. I enjoyed this book.

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is my 3rd Nancy Thayer book and even though I didn’t like it as much as Secrets In Summer and Island Girls, it was still an enjoyable read. It was a quick and easy book that only took me a couple days to finish. Would be great to read while relaxing on a beach. During certain times in the book I felt like I was reading a YA novel. The dialogue between the characters was very immature at times and I think that might be what annoyed me the most. Also the characters all falling instantly in love and the corny conversations were just a bit much...especially at the end. I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for my advanced readers copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Reviews for this book and others that I have read can be found on Goodreads and Instagram.
*Goodreads - Cherihy808
*Instagram - bookworm_traveler808

Loved this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Another bestseller from one of the best romance authors around. Loved this storynof relationships and the three couples navigating them. Lisa is a middle aged divorcee who happens to be attracted to an amazing man. The only hitch is he is ten years younger than her. She has to figure out how to get over that and just enjoy living her life. Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for my honest review

Another great beach read by Nancy Thayer! Light, quick, read with great characters set in Nantucket! Three romances.....the first one is about Lisa and Mack, both single parents, finding love again with a twist......Lisa is 10 years older than Mack. Next there is Lisa's daughter, Juliet and Ryder......she's been dumped in an earlier relationship.....his parents are aloof and wealthy. The last couple is Theo (Lisa's son) and Beth, (Mack's daughter).. A most enjoyable read! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!