Thank you Netgalley and Publishers William Morrow , Harper Audio for an early copy of this book. The comments and review are my honest opinion.
An affluent black couple are godparents to three now grown women. Ama and Omar were the godparents and owners of an ocean front mansion on Martha’s Vineyard. Omar has passed and Ama has decided it is time for one of the women to own the well cherished and longed for mansion. What transpires is a deep need, desire and feeling of ownership in Billie, Olivia and Perry to own the mansion. But only one can own it and the reason can bring happiness and also sadness.
The book is rife with name dropping of the top of society, artists and glittering events. But also filled with disappointments, secrets, and eventually love.

So....this is just another book about rich people problems. I would love to read about Martha's Vineyard and have it not be about rich people, but I guess given the exclusive and expensive nature of the island. there's not much variety. I will never understand how authors and publishers think that everyday people will buy into the concept of anyone with an actual job being able to take off for a summer. Who are these lucky people? I have a hard enough time taking off a week! I did like the narrator!

At this time of the year, when we start to see flowering bulbs and cherry trees begin to bloom, I’m ready for some great beach reads. Set in the island location of Martha’s Vineyard, Summer on the Bluffs by Sunny Hostin is the first instalment in the author’s Oak Bluffs series. This book has all the beach vibes I have come to love and more.

Amelia Vaux Tanner and her husband built a cottage thirty years ago in the exclusive black beach community of Oak Bluffs. Although their home has hosted many political and business icons, the couple’s favourite guests have been their three “goddaughters” : Perry a talented Afro-Latina lawyer, Olivia a gifted Wall Street analyst and Billie a successful marine biologist. These young woman refer to Amelia as Ama and have cherished their summers growing up together in Oak Bluff.

This summer, Ama is seventy-one and has lost her beloved husband. She has invited the three young women for one last summer together. At the end of the summer she will leave this prized home to one of them. The three young women each have secrets of their own and hope that this will not diminish their chances of inheriting this home. What they don’t realize is that Ama also has a secret to share with each of them.

I adored this book and was pleasantly surprised to find it to be more dramatic than I expected. The characters were all well developed, with unique personalities and histories. The story was engaging, full of intrigue and mystery, and embraced in romance and love. I loved the diversity in this book and the inclusivity. I appreciated the fact that the protagonists were all strong, successful women. The theme of the book to me was that none of us are perfect: we are human, and we make mistakes. It is what we do to amend the situation that elevates us. I look forward with anticipation to reading the second book in the series.

I listened to the audiobook version of the book which was narrated by January LaVoy. I thoroughly enjoyed her performance, which was full of expression and well articulated. I listened to the book at my usual 1.25x speed and this was very comfortable. I would not hesitate to recommend this version of the book for those that appreciate this format.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperAudio for the ARC of this audiobook in exchange for the honest review provided here.

I really enjoyed this audiobook. The perfect family drama. I’m very excited that it will be a series and can’t wait to continue on reading it.

Summer on the Bluffs is an epic family saga that just asks for an umbrella, a beach chair and a cold drink. Settle in and lose yourself in this story of women finding love, success and what it means to be a family.

Amelia Vaux Tanner and her husband Omar made their fortunes early and did not have children of their own. However Amelia, or Ama as she is known to her three goddaughters, has made being part of their lives and sharing her wealth with them a priority. Perry, Olivia and Billie have seen their lives enriched by Ama’s love and gifts but this summer is different. Ama, after Omar’s death, has reconnected with her first love. She has asked the women to spend the summer with her in Oak Bluffs, the historic African-American section of Marta’s Vineyard. At the end of the summer, she will choose which one of the women will inherit the sprawling waterfront estate. This does not go as planned. As Ama reveals why she chose the women to be her goddaughters, what they learn is disturbing and may affect their relationships with Ama and each other.

If Danielle Steele and Terry McMillan wrote a book together it might come close to the delightful soap opera that is Sunny Hostin’s Summer on the Bluffs. Throw in Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous worthy houses and apartments and Food Channelesque mouth watering meals and you have a must read simmer novel. The characters are African American but their problems with relationships are universal. This is a 5 star review of the audiobook, recorded by January LaVoy who has done excellent work.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Audio, January LaVoy and Sunny Hostin for this audio ARC.

An interesting take on the summer, beach read set in Martha's Vineyard.

For many years, Ama and her husband Omar lived on a beautiful property on the island, sharing their summer's with their three 'adopted' god daughters, Billie, Perry and Olivia.

Now, after her beloved Omar has passed away, Ama is going to leave the island, and give the house to one of the girls. But who will get the place? All three of the strong and capable young women would love the house. Each has their secrets, as does Ama. We learn of their lives and their relationships and yes, of their secrets.

The female characters in the novel are all such strong, resilient women - it is good to read a novel filled with such interesting women, flawed thought they were.

A quick and easy read, this novel appears to the start of a great series.

I received an audio ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Amelia Vaux Tanner and her husband Omar built their house in Oak Bluffs, a black community on Martha's Vineyard, 30 years ago. Now, Omar has died, and Amelia is ready to pass on the house to one of her three goddaughters. Ama, as the goddaughters call her, invites Perry, Olivia, and Billie to spend one last summer with her at Chateau Laveau before letting them know who will inherit the house. Each goddaughter desperately hopes to be the one to inherit the house, but each has a secret they fear may keep them from being the one to get it. Ama has her own secrets, though, and she plans to reveal them to each girl this summer.

January LaVoy did a fantastic job narrating this book. Each character in this book is a fully-developed, complex character with realistic struggles and feelings. It took a little while to settle into the story, as it jumped around between the past and present and the stories of the four women, but once the groundwork was in place, it was an engaging read. I am curious to see where the series goes next!

This is an epic saga about an ambitious black woman who breaks glass ceilings on Wall Street, marries a handsome attorney and they summer in a home in Oak Bluffs, an exclusive black enclave on the Vineyard. It's the story of her struggle to make it in spite of racism and sexism. And, of how they adopted three special young women as their goddaughters. It's rich in black history and perspective. I learned a lot from reading this book, but also enjoyed the story lines. Amelia and Omar's lives were not as perfect as they seemed to their goddaughters. This would make a great mini-series or film.

I loved the setting for this book. And I also appreciate that it centered around a wealthy and prestigious black family.

The story is about family/loved ones and some secrets as well. However, this book also touches on important topics such as racial injustice within our society. While Summer on the Bluffs can certainly be described as a wonderful beach read, it is also a thoughtful and sobering view into what life is…and what life could be. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Summer on the Bluffs.

This normally isn’t my kind of book but it did sound interesting and something I would like for an audiobook to and from work. And I was loving it. It would’ve been given 5 stars but I am only giving 3 stars. I’m sorry to say, I got so offended by the author. She was SO racist. It ruined the whole thing. Before anyone gets bent out of shape by my statement, let me say that i don’t know what the girl in the book went through from personal experience. I can only imagine. But give a sister from another mister a chance before you start crucifying her as a whole. I’m really disappointed in the author. I thought more of her. I’m sorry this goes on for both races. Anyway, enough of that. To the story.

I loved the characters and could really feel the pain with everything happening in their life. They worked so hard to get where they were and there was certainly a lot of heartache. Breakups in some lives, which was so sad. And years of separation from the girls because, as we all know, life gets in the way. And even though they weren’t blood related, they were close and loving like they were. I really do recommend this read. If you like audiobooks, this one is for you. The narrator is so amazing. She did each voice, male and female, perfectly.

I really enjoyed this one!

Thank you so much Harper Audio for granting me an advanced audiobook copy.

This book is narrated by one of my queens! I was so excited to see January LaVoy attached to this audio. She is the best of the best you guys! She's known for The Diviners Series, The Night Swim, numerous Nora Roberts books and a plethora of other titles. Look her up. I will never stop fan girling.

Other Things I Loved-

*The Characters- The Characters made the story for me. I loved every single one of them. They were each very unique and flawed and fabulous.

*The Writing Style- I loved how this book jumped back and forth in time. Not only does each character get their own present day storyline but they also get backstory.

The Relationships- I loved the relationships/friendships between the women. Each woman has a romantic past and present and I enjoyed each of those relationships as well.

Overall- Such a good read. Definitely recommend and I look forward to reading more from this author.

I enjoyed the Summer on the Bluffs by Sunny Hostin. The characters were interesting and well developed. The story line was well thought out with love, mystery, and family drama. The backdrop was amazing. I wanted to dive in and join the girls on their vacations. I don't usually read this type of story but it was very interesting to me and I learned a lot about the African American culture. I want to explore some of the music and look up the artists mentioned in the book. I recommend this book. I think it would make a great beach read.
I received this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Net Galley and the publisher.

I totally loved this book. And to know it's a part of a series as me waiting for more!! All the ladies are relatable real women. Even more so for me as my mom was adopted and I have always been left with questions and wonders.
This book was a perfect binge listened to the audio without any stops and left me with a smile on my face. 5 stars! Fun read!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have not read anything by Sunny Hostin prior to this. Such a talented writer! I love all of the characters especially Ama. There were so many plot twists and unexpected ties and connections amongst the characters. I definitely recommend this book. Thank you to Netgalley.com for the advanced readers copy audio book.

Thank you @netgalley and @harperaudio for an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review. Swipe for a synopsis.

I listened to Summer on the Bluffs and I will say it got a little confusing for me at the beginning. I had to remember who we were talking about and try not to mix up the characters, but I think that was due to me listening to this instead of reading it. I was definitely curious the whole time as to where the book was leading, and was surprised by some of the secrets and guessed others. I felt like there was a lot of lead up and then I was surprised when the book was over. I would have liked a little more at the end. Overall I think this would make a great beach read! This book will be published May 4, 2021.

Rating: 🧪🧪🧪🧪 / 5

I absolutely loved this book. It takes in Oaks Bluff, a community on Martha’s Vineyard where Blacks have lived for centuries and is now “old Black money.” Ama has lived there for a very long time. Her husband built the house for her but passed away. Each summer her three godchildren come to visit. This summer Ama must decide which of the three girls will inherit the property. Peri, Olivia and Billie arrive, each with her own issues. Peri is separated from her husband. I loved the relationships with the sisters and their stories. I received a free copy of the Audible version of this book in exchange for an honest review. Highly recommend!

Summer on the Bluffs follows the lives of three woman as they each "grapple with a secret." Unfortunately, I thought that specific aspect of the book truly fell flat. I enjoyed learning about all the characters, but I felt like I never truly <i>learned</i> about any of the characters? Yea, they all had their secrets, but the only one that was worth anything in terms of the story line was Ama's secret. That one really kept the book interested.

The story was told weaving in love, betrayal, loss, moving on, friendship, sisterhood, and family. However, I felt that most of the book was superficial and full of too much name dropping. Typically, I am able to immerse myself into what the characters are feeling, but I just did not connect at any point within this book. There was a natural progression of the characters and then... that was it. I guess the predictability of it all and the lackluster emotion was what got me.

Maybe I need to revisit this one again when we aren't in the middle of a snowstorm, but for now, I feel confident in saying this is a 3-star book for me. I would put this book in the same category as an Elin Hilderbrand book - very similar writing but picture Martha's Vineyard instead of Nantucket. Recommendation to read outside by the pool or on a beach somewhere :)

These days I’m in need of engaging stories that aren’t too tragic or depressing. This one delivers with the intertwining of the lives of a recent widow and her now grown three goddaughters and which one she will give her Martha’s Vineyard home. I really liked all four women, even when you discover they aren’t all perfect.

Summer on the Bluffs by Sunny Hostin

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for a digital audio ARC for an honest review.

I found it started out slow as we got to know all of the characters. It became more interesting as we learn what the secret connections were between Ama and Omar and their three God-daughters. It came together well at the end.

January LaVoy was wonderful doing all the voices as the narrator.

It would be a good beach read.

#SummerontheBluffs #NetGalley #HarperAudio

3.5 stars

I liked this book because Hostin offers a new lens on an affluent community, and this time a black one with four strong female leads. The story follows the struggles and the triumphs these women experience, but doesn't dive in enough to get to them on a personal level, and for that reason I cannot give four stars. I enjoyed listening to this book, I enjoyed hearing about the lives of these women and feeling like I was on vacation in the uppity neighbourhood of Oak Bluffs.

It was an easy listen that I enjoyed having on while driving and walking, but never felt like "I can't put this down". If Hostin had brought these women together through their experiences, and allowed the reader to get to know them more personally (maybe multi POV), I would have engaged with this book on a deeper level.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperAudio for the ARC in audio format!