From the author of Meet Me at the Museum, a story of three women brought together by a small narrowboat who embark together on a journey through the river canals of rural England. One woman anxiously awaits a surgery, one has given up her ordinary life to become a free spirit, one is unsure if she'll return to her husband when the journey is done—but until those looming realities need to be faced, they'll spend the summer together (along with one small dog) enjoying the scenery as they wend their way down the river at 4mph.

For this charming story, we don’t have Three Men in a Boat (Jerome K. Jerome’s classic tale from the late 19th century Britain), but rather - two women of a certain age and a definitely unique dog floating down a river system in modern day England. Eve and Sally have met at turning points for each of their lives – Eve having made a life changing career choice to her high powered business life behind, while Sally has left her husband who has come to view her through a utilitarian lens – not a romantic one.
Out of the blue, they are spontaneously drawn together to aid a stranger they meet along a tow path, and agree on a whim to help Anastasia – an elderly narrowboat owner who is having serious health issues, but still needs to get her boat down the river to a repair yard. Taking on the challenge of learning to navigate a narrowboat to that repair destination, including the intricacies of doing the locks, is one that the two women tackle with more enthusiasm than knowledge – at least at the first. Aided along their way by a picaresque group of strangers, some of whom become friends, their journey takes them to personal destinations as well as the physical one. A lovely story just perfect for a gentle summer read. Highly recommended!

The Narrowboat Summer by Anne Youngson. When two women at loose ends in their lives meet on the street one day, this story begins. Sally has left her husband and her home to seek some fulfillment in her life; Eve has lost her high-level job and is wondering how she will cope. They are both walking along when they encounter a gruff old woman with a problem – Anastasia. Anastasia lives on a narrowboat and travels the canals of England, but has been advised that she must have major surgery and is thus not going to be able to continue her lifestyle on the canals. Taking two rank amateurs under her wing to show them how to operate her narrowboat through the locks on the canals is a bit of a challenge. But Eve and Sally take to life on the narrowboat well and find they really love the drastic change in their lifestyles. I found this to be a very enjoyable, different sort of story, full of interesting characters.

Fascinating story of three women who come together to help each other. Loved all the interesting facts about life on a narrowboat as well as the quirky characters.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book! I am a sucker for books and movies about people who escape their ordinary lives to do things I'm not enough of a risk taker to do so I loved the basic premise of this book. However, what started off as a rather quirky story took a serious turn that I didn't feel prepared for. As such, it could have used a more cohesive tone, but, regardless, it is definitely a book that I will think about from time to time.

The Narrowboat Summer is a delightful book filled with colorful characters and a storyline with heartwarming themes. I read this book during the pandemic and it fit my mood completely. That said, I did find the original premise that two perfect strangers would shepherd a barge through the UK canals and countryside for a third perfect stranger a bit fantastic. If you go with the premise and not over analyze, you will be rewarded with a charming read.

This book is a steady read full of interesting characters, new beginnings, friendships and expanding perspectives. Two women (Eve and Sally) find themselves at an inflection point in their lives, and come across a third woman (Anastasia) who needs their help. They sign on to spend a few months living on Anastasia's narrowboat and driving it through the locks and canals to a shop some km away to be refurbished. Along the way Eve and Sally have time to reflect on their own lives to this point and be honest with themselves about what they want and what might need to change. They meet many people in the narrowboat community who expand their perspectives and enrich their experience. I enjoyed reading this - many thanks to Bookbrowse and #Netgalley for the complimentary ebook.

I was very excited to read this book because I loved the author’s previous book, Meet Me At the Museum. Maybe I built this one up to much in my mind for that reason but I did not enjoy it as much. The story was interesting but none of the characters were especially likable or relatable. Also, I learned more than I ever wanted to know about canal boating. It was well written but just not the book for me.

I read The Narrowboat Summer because we ran a First Impressions (early reviews with feature at time of sale) and Book Club Program on BookBrowse - you can see links to both the reader reviews and discussion from https://www.bookbrowse.com/bb_briefs/detail/index.cfm/ezine_preview_number/15415/

Personally, I very much enjoyed the book -- a perfect counter to the pandemic to spend a few hours wending my way up the canals of England, particularly those parts that passed through my childhood home.

So, for me 5 stars and from BookBrowse's reviewers - 3.9 star average

At first, one might think…’narrowboat (what’s that?)’ summer vacation with inexperienced older women at the helm of a boat. What kind of book is that? If you close the cover then and put it down, you will miss an outstanding and suspenseful read. The characters’ lives become intertwined through their experiences, friendship, love, empathy, camaraderie and commonality. This all occurs among people, who, at the inception, appear to have nothing in common. When two strangers encounter each other coming from opposite directions meet on a towpath just outside London on a canal beside the narrow boat Number One. The pitiful howling sounds emanating from inside the boat stops them and they both quickly decide to rescue the possibly hurt animal. After breaking the glass of the hatch door and gaining entrance, the owner of The Narrowboat Summer
the boat and the loud dog, walks quickly down the towpath spotting them in the process of breaking into her boat. Havoc follows and this is how the beginning of three women with nothing in common go about building a future enduring relationship.

I have to begin this next review by saying if anyone wants to cruise the British canals on a narrowboat after this I’m in—of course, our happy hour song must be “I’m on a boat” by The Lonely Island and the canal stops for ale and fish n’ chips will be numerous! There may also be a mudlarking side excursion inspired by one of my last books read - Sarah Penner’s The Lost Apothecary — just as Anne Youngson’s THE NARROWBOAT SUMMER has inspired my recent foray into narrowboats. Readers may also find this new novel under the title THREE WOMEN AND A BOAT, it’s originally published British version, and is Youngson’s second novel following her widely touted prize-winning debut MEET ME AT THE MUSEUM.

This new novel follows two women ultimately at a crossroads late in their lives—Sally who realizes she doesn’t want to continue in her same repetitive, traditional, and predictable married life and Evie who has just lost her longstanding career job that has been her life’s purpose. This is where the third woman, Anastasia, sails into their lives with narrowboat No.1 and her dog Noah, forever altering the course of all three of their lives. The book’s themes appear to run parallel to the life of author Anne Youngson herself: both illustrating you are never to old to choose another life chapter, to start or pursue a new calling or old passion, and to meet new friends that support or endear themselves to you like family. In a true life example, Youngson won the Paul Torday prize, given to writers over 60, for her previous novel. She also seems to have been able to draw on her own life experiences as well - regarding her previous career in a male dominated field that’s reminiscent of main character Evie’s ; in addition to the fact her sister lived on a boat just as her main character Anastasia lives on a narrowboat. Anne also delves into the idea of the truly deep thought pondering and life musings that can really occur when on a trip, that are normally stifled by the crowding of everyday routines, responsibilities, and job duties. She also asserts that being able to do that surrounded by other women who understand your same female point of view also unleashes new feelings and different emotions.

The novel not only pulls forth a dream of idyllic boat floating days, but engages the reader in the history of Britain’s narrowboats and waterways, as well as captivating its audience with a lovable motley cast of supporting characters whose ties are all revealed and unthreaded as the boating adventure unfolds. Youngson has said in the past she is drawn to what triggers cause people to make a change or how they respond to change and this novel exemplifies that curiosity and interest. I thought it was only too fitting that this book voyage takes place on narrowboats who have a history of originally being working boats hauling coal, but with railways and other industrial advancements making that goal extinct they now have later reinvented themselves as places for homes or leisure holidays — just as the women featured in the book have had to reinvent themselves and find their new purpose. Youngson said in a previous interview: “It’s my version of Huckleberry Finn in a way...”

I could truly see a sharp witted British comedy film with our favorite brilliant dames as the three women - like Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Julie Walters, Helen Mirren, or Julie Andrews! And I believe it has an audience in both British and American readers - British readers will feel a sense of sentimental nostalgia and familiarity due to the British canals with their narrowboat lifestyle and holiday escapes, whilst American readers will be attracted to the novelty of this unfamiliar new way of life and lure of unique vacation possibilities. Both showing the universal appeal for film format and book format.

For those who are wanting to know more from Anne regarding these same discussion points or want answers to additional questions like - What authors does Anne read and enjoy, is she in the Wuthering Heights or Pride & Prejudice camp, what can she tell readers about her next novel, did she start writing The Narrowboat Summer first or Meet Me at the Museum, etc .... click the following link to watch The Westport Library’s recent interview with Anne Youngson:

https://youtu.be/ppiQap932c4

Or if life on a narrowboat interests you there are many Instagram accts out there of people documenting their daily life and travels on their narrowboat! I have started following several - at least until one day I can take my own friends or family narrowboat holiday!
#thenarrowboatsummer #anneyoungson
Flatiron Books
*book cover in comments section

Thank you to @netgalley and @flatiron_books for this free ebook. What could be better than meeting new friends and taking a ride down a canal for the summer? Three very different women come together to accomplish one goal. Eve and Sally agree to navigate Anastasia's narrowboat down the canals of England while she waits for a life-saving surgery. As they travel along they meet all kinds of characters, and they all seem to know Anastasia! Throughout this beautiful story these three women learn more about each other and themselves. They give power to their voice, and I was happy to travel with them.

The cover of THE NARROWBOAT SUMMER by Anne Youngson (Meet Me at the Museum) splendidly conveys the sense of idyll and adventure which this novel delivers. Two woman, Eve and Sally, face changes in their lives due to an executive job loss for one and a dissolving marriage for the other. By sheer happenstance, they have a chance to co-captain a narrowboat for its incapacitated owner, Anastasia, who is facing her own health problems. Despite their total inexperience, the two strangers manage to move the boat and their lives forward. Youngson captures the slow pace of the river journey and its uncertainty in terms of working the locks, living on the water and relating to other (often eccentric) members of the riverboat community. At the same time, she allows the reader to have glimpses of the personal choices and growth which Eve and Sally experience: "So I don't think we should be in a rush to define what's worth doing, do you? We don't want to risk imposing some framework on the borders of chaos that might eliminate the possibilities and leave us with only the same answers as we had before." THE NARROWBOAT SUMMER offers readers a chance for introspection and a happy adventure – enjoy!

With everything going on in the world, I always appreciate an uplifting read and that's exactly what this book was!

The three women at the center of this story are all at a crossroad in their lives and come together by accident but find that they end up being exactly what the others need. This is a slower-paced read but one that allows you to savor the moments. It's about friendship, challenges and self-discovery. Youngson writes vivid characters who really resonate and I felt like I left this book with three new friends as well.

Thanks to Flatiron books and NetGalley for a copy to review.

I read a lot of really heavy books, The Narrowboat summer was exactly what I needed to lift my spirits. It's funny, heartwarming, and a great exploration of friendship.

It was beautiful to read a novel about two women older than 35. It's the first time I've read a book of it's kind. It was refreshing to read about women who had to rethink how they were going to live the rest of their lives. One was ready to change the life she had built with her husband and the other one was forced into it because she lost her job.

It's a novel that has a slow build up that gets more interesting by the second half of the novel. I mean it's a book about complete strangers who randomly decide to help one another out. How the relationship develops by the end of the novel is lovely, I actually loved the secondary characters. The parts of the book I enjoyed the most involved Arthur and Trompette. How funny is it to find someone as creative as Trompette who knits and doesn't know what it is until she's almost done with it?

I don't think this is one I would come back to again but it was a lovely read.

This book has a slow meandering style to it, but I found it really enjoyable. It was the sort of book that makes me think, and maybe made me feel seen in some way, from the way that Youngson wrote about the inner mental worlds of her characters. I would encourage readers to stick with this book, it is a slice of life you do not want to miss.

I so enjoyed this book and the way its characters stretched their bounds, opening themselves to new experiences and fresh perspectives.. At the same time, it was a calm, soothing narrative, with fully formed characters that I could relate to. The idea of spending time on an English narrowboat or a canal boat on the Canal du Midi in France appeals to me more now having read this novel. The author weaves in so much detail of day-to-day narrowboat life. The maintenance, the methods applied to travel through the locks, the narrowboat community culture. I was enthralled. The novel’s tone and characters (not to mention, English setting) reminded me a little of one of my favorite novels of 2020, Leonard and Hungry Paul by Ronan Hession.

A Narrowboat Summer begins with the chance encounter of three women on a towpath beside a canal. Eve, who has just lost her job of thirty years, and Sally, who has just decided she can no longer live in what feels like a meaningless marriage, have inadvertently allowed Anastasia’s dog to escape from her narrowboat. Anastasia is in the midst of serious health problems. These women, over tea, begin to discuss a plan. An unusual plan to say the least. Perhaps Eve and Sally could manage to sail the boat via the canals to Chester while Anastasia undergoes medical treatment.

While this may seem a bit unbelievable, the situation as written becomes wonderful to read. As Eve and Sally learn how to manage the boat and then begin their trip, their lives take on entirely new aspects, ones they are increasingly aware of and appreciate. And a new friendship slowly develops. But this friendship also extends to others who are met along the way. And of course Anastasia.

This is a novel of friendship, of finding oneself later in life—not with thunderous fireworks but with small meals cooked, good conversation, walks in the sun, watching the water flow. There are touching moments. There are moments of humor. It’s life after all.

I do recommend this novel.

A copy of this book was provided by Flatiron through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Having loved "Meet me at the Museum" I was eager to read Anne Youngson's newest, "The Narrowboat Summer". Eve, Sally and Anastasia, who is considerable older than they, accidentally meet for the first time on the towpath of an English canal. Each is experiencing a personal situation that potentially puts her life at a crossroad. An unlikely agreement is reached whereby Eve and Sally will navigate Anastasia's narrowboat by a certain date to the ultimate destination for repair.

Meeting interesting people along the way, Eve and Sally learn about themselves and come to appreciate each other. Everyone along the canal knows Anastasia and her boat and is surprised to see the two younger woman at the helm. Mysterious, eccentric Anastasia is slowly revealed.

Youngson's evocative descriptions of the English countryside and canals brought to mind my visits there.