A tale of Maren, Annie, and Skye is set on Haven Point an island off the Maine coast. Is there a mystery or is it just secrets that are untold over the years? The dynamics between the long established families and any 'new' people is a part of the story. But most important is the relationship betwen three generations of women. A wonderful read.

Haven Point by Virginia Hume is a well written novel that takes place off the coast of Maine. Since I am a New Englander I was interested in reading this novel because of the setting. The setting was magnificently done and you could smell the sea air and feel the thunderous waves crash upon the coast. Perfect setting for a summer beach read? You bet!

Let me start by saying that I love multi-generational novels where the author crafts the story around several family members within multiple time lines. This story begins in our Nation’s Capital at the beginning of World War II. While the beginning of the novel shows disparate experiences between the characters the author deftly crafts a story that looks at the family collective unit. The reader is able to find similarities and differences between the generations. It is so interesting to see how Ms. Hume depicts how one relationship, action and/or decision passes through the generations of this family and changes its direction entirely. There are many books that attempt to do this. This book, by far and away, has done it correctly! The story is excellent and it grabs hold of you so much so that you can’t seem to put the book down.

This is a story about familial love, secrets, and perceptions that will endear you to the author’s richly created characters. There was mystery, suspense, heartbreak, trust, sorrow, misunderstandings and of course a deep, dark family secret or two. Ms. Hume did an excellent job of realistically intertwining the multi-generational story line to create a wonderful narrative that keep me hooked and yearning for more.

This is Ms. Hume’s debut novel. The writing is very good and I think the author shows she has what it takes to succeed in the world of novel writing. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next! Well done!

I would like to thank Virginia Hume, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This debut novel reveals a family’s story from perspectives from 1944, 1970 and 2008.
In 1944, Maren Larsen marries Dr. Oliver Demarest, spending summers in a home in Maine. As time passes, when their daughter is 17, the couple is concerned when she falls for young man they don’t like. A tragic incident makes Annie decide she will never go back to Haven Point.
Fast forward to 2008 as Annie’s daughter, Skye, comes to Maine to help scatter her mother’s ashes. As might be imagined, Skye’s opinion of Haven Point is skewed by the stories of her mother, but Maren wants to make sure Skye knows the whole story before she makes her decision about Haven Point.
I loved the entire book, even though I often dislike jumping back and forth from decade to decade. It was so well written that didn’t bother me.
I’ll look forward to another book from Hume.

I believe this is billed as a generational saga. It doesn’t follow the typical lines of that description, in that it works between the perspective of two people, one of whom experiences both the current time period, and the past. It is up to Maren, the grandmother, to put the past into perspective for her granddaughter.

Two generations are highlighted, grandmother and granddaughter, and used to understand what happened in the generation between them. It’s a tale of compassion and family, of assumptions and misconceptions, a study of a changing society.

This isn’t the type of book you hand to friends and say “you MUST read this.” It’s more the type that you say “I’m glad I read it,” and you go on to hope that others discover it and feel the same.

Maren is I. Haven point Maine in 2008. She is waiting on her granddaughter Skye. I liked the names. Marens daughter is dead and had her baby by artificial insemination. The big old house maren has is to be left to Skye. Iiked the current time better

"In the end, they both learned that a marriage was more than just just two people and all they brought with them. It was a creature of its own that needed care and feeding," Virginia Hume, Haven Point

Beautiful summer story of told in three voices: grandmother, mother and granddaughter. Long held secrets, love, loss, ambition and family are the basis for this story set on the coast of Maine. Maren, the matriarch shares her growing up and marrying, while Syke, the youngest voice is finding her way and learning more family history as she determines who she wants to be.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e ARC of this book.
Excellent debut novel that chronicles over 60 years of family visits to Haven Point, an upscale resort community
Four generations with their secrets lead to an intriguing story. Loved the character development and the storyline.
4.5 stars

I enjoy multi-generational family sagas and this was a really good one. I love the setting of Haven Point and Fourwinds. A lovely house on a cliff overlooking the ocean! What could be better? The characters were very well drawn and I could identify with each one of the main characters. There was romance, mystery, heartbreak, laughter and family drama. This book had it all and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher and voluntarily chose to review it.

This was a beautifully written story told from the perspective of two generations of Demarest women. It alternated between Maren Larsen Demarest and Skye Demarest, her granddaughter, and between past and present. Haven Point was more than a place. For Maren it was a source of unrest and loneliness, of not belonging and feeling stifled by the homegenous community and the expectations both spoken and not. For Skye, it was less a haven and more a way station while her mother went to rehab. As the story unfolded, I felt Maren come to terms with Haven Point and the sanctuary it provided, but also a place of sorrow. So much of Skye's understanding of her mother Annie's experiences with Haven Point was colored by her own perceptions. When Skye's professional life implodes and she escapes to Haven Point, Maren finds the will to tell the story of Annie's disconnect from Haven Point and the source of unrest and turmoil Annie had that began the summer Charlie died. For me that was the turning point, not only in Maren and Skye's relationship, but also explained so much of Skye's relationship with her own mother, and Maren's relationship with Annie. This was an emtional, but breathtaking read for me.

I received an advance copy of this book at my request via NetGalley and voluntarily left this review.

This is perfect armchair travel for the summer! I truly felt transported to the East and wanted to stay longer with the family. I highly recommend!

What a great story about the Demarest women!! They definitely have their own personalities. I loved meeting and learning about them. Of course, there are other characters in the story too, but I feel like they are the stars. I loved the story line and felt like I was right there with them as they were going through this thing called life. I think you will enjoy their story too. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

Haven Point by Virginia Hume is a story that involves three different timelines featuring Maren Demarest and her granddaughter, Skye. We get to follow Maren from when she met her future husband, Dr. Oliver Demarest in 1944 through 2008. Haven Point is not what I expected from the blurb. Haven Point does contain good writing and I liked Maren. Her story is the one I preferred. Personally, I felt the story could have done without the three timelines. It could have had a prologue with Maren in 2008 and then go back to 1944 to tell Maren’s tale. While I could keep the three timelines straight, I did feel there were too many extraneous characters. The story felt long which in part is courtesy of the slow pacing. I felt like I was reading forever and that the book would never end. The story picks up around the 80% mark. I felt the author took too long to get tragedy. There is little time left to explore what occurs afterword. I enjoyed learning about the Cadet Corp that paid for high school graduates to get a nursing education. The main characters are developed and realistic. I enjoyed the author’s word imagery of Haven Point, Maine and Fourwinds, The Demarest summer home. I did feel the other characters were flat and I was not a fan of the rich, snobby people who populated Haven Point. The relationship between Maren and Oliver lacked spark. Some changes would have made Haven Point a more compelling novel. There is a recurrent theme throughout the book that I did not expect (not mentioned in the blurb). It makes for a disheartening tale. Haven Point is Virginia Hume’s debut novel and I do see promise. I will be interested to see what she does next. Haven Point is a generational story with love, loss, secrets, betrayal, reconciliation, acceptance, forgiveness, friendship, second chances, and survival.

For me Haven Point by Virginia Hume was a hard book to connect with the characters. At times I felt lost as it jumped back and forward between eras of the book. I have never really enjoyed those type of books in the first place. I enjoyed the beginning where Maren and Oliver first met and the courtship, but them boom they were married and he didn't seem to be a part of the storyline for years. Overall I found the book to be well written, and I am sure many will love the storyline. That is why I always tell others to read and make their own opinion of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishet for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

I enjoyed this multigenerational tale. It flips between the present and the past, showing how family shapes who we are and how we think. Well written and an easy read, this is a great book to have in your beach bag.

Three stories, two wars but there's only one Haven Point. Weaving the past with the present, Virginia Hume pens a multi-generational tale of women struggling against society's expectations and finding the courage to step out from its shadows.

Growing up in Haven Point provides a sense of security and privilege that isn't afforded to new residents. In spite of their efforts to assimilate, Maren's family receives a chilly reception from the islanders. If you're not born in Haven Point, you'll never fully be accepted.

Maren forges a new life for herself but her daughter, Annie is unable to cope. Vowing never to return, Annie runs from the past and schools Skye that she'll never fit in despite her father's heritage.

When tragedy rocks the family's teetering house of cards, Skye returns to Haven Point. Will she be able to overcome the past or remain untethered without a lifeboat?

Thank you to #NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the early edition of #HavenPoint in exchange for an honest review. It's difficult to believe that Haven Point is Hume's debut novel as her character development, gripping prose and weaving of the past and present was masterful.

First of all, I have to say, this is an amazing debut novel. The writer did a fantastic job with the writing, the story, and the characters. I'm excited for the author and can't wait to see what she writes next.

Maren is such a strong woman and endues a lot as she goes through life. It was fascinating watching her mature and take responsibility, as those around her fell short. She really became the matriarch of the family, helping her granddaughter Skye realize her potential and develop a love for her home.

I love the multiple timelines of this story, as we watch Maren leave her family farm in the 40's, come to understand the tragedy that happened to the family in the 70's, and watch the healing that happens in the present. The story was woven so seamlessly and beautifully that I didn't want the story to end.

Haven Point is a wonderful family saga that you will find yourself immersed in. I highly recommend it for a memorable summer read!

Maren marries Oliver a scion of a family bound by Fourwinds the house on Haven Point. From the earliest days on Haven Point we have a front row seat to the lives here in this place. Lives that slow down for those golden days that are summer by the sea. Here Maren raises her three children ,one named Annie will test her mother and in time her daughter. It is Annie’s death that brings old griefs and old hurts to the surface. As one generation’s beliefs spill over to contaminate another’s. All the while Maren gifts her granddaughter with a wisdom of this place that imprinted her life forever long ago.

A Family Saga with a Maine Background

In 1944, Marin is a cadet nurse. She meets and falls in love with Oliver Demarest, a physician in the same hospital. They wed quickly. When Oliver takes his bride to Haven Point in Maine to meet his parents she realizes that she has married into a wealthy family, one with traditions, and deep roots at their summer place in Maine.

Annie, their daughter, is rebellious. She becomes involved with the anti-war protests in the Vietnam era. Her father forbids her to continue to see Patrick, young man who is an anti-war protester. She doesn’t obey and a tragic accident occurs after which she refuses to return to Haven Point.

Annie’s daughter, Skye, has absorbed her mother’s dislike of Haven Point, but she agrees to come back to scatter her mother’s ashes. She was raised with her alcoholic mother’s view of her family, but now she needs to be told the truth of what happened the summer Annie left for good.

This is an enjoyable, but slow paced family saga. I loved the setting. Maine is beautiful and wild. The descriptions of summer life with parties and the yacht club were enthralling. The characters, particularly Marin, are well done. Although Annie’s and Skye’s stories are part of the book, for me, Marin dominated. She was a strong woman who kept her marriage together after the Annie’s tragedy.

If you want a leisurely read, this is a good one.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

“We think we have something special here on Haven Point. And it is special, don’t get me wrong. But sometimes I think families sacrifice too much.”

HAVEN POINT is a family saga spanning 70 years and three generations of women in the Demarest family and their home on Haven Point. I really love novels about complicated family dynamics, and there was definitely some of that in this book. it was a bit slow for me with the strongest parts of the story in the last 20% of the book. if you enjoyed MAINE by J. Courtney Sullivan, I would say this one is worth reading.

Haven Point had so much going on within the story that I found myself feeling lost at times.
The beginning was very good but as I read on, I ended up feeling confused with the sequence of events.
Haven Point is a emotional family saga that has so much going on. There were a lot of characters to keep track of.
I almost stopped reading about half way through but I’m glad I kept reading.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.