There is nothing like a runaway bride to draw me into a story because it leads to many questions which I need to know the answer to. Once I connected to Willow, I was hooked. I needed to know her story. It was the same with Luc and Cathy. There were many secrets and threads in this summery nostalgic read which kept me turning the page.

The characters all have intriguing backstories to explain their actions but it was Cathy’s past which captivated me most and it was cleverly blended in with Willow’s and Luc’s present. This novel may appear to be a light, romantic read but it has a deeper thread of how people change themselves to fit in, the effects of childhood on adult decisions and mental health issues.

The Isle of Wight seaside location was perfect, as was Cathy’s mandolin workshop. My father-in-law is a luthier and has made mandolins. Rachel Burton captured the unique smell of the workshop with its varnish, stains and woodchips and the magic of this instrument. I was there, and it made me homesick. It was a complete contrast to the darker side of the music industry described in Cathy’s story.


It has all the elements you need for a summer read whether you’re on a sun lounger on a sunny day or curled up watching the rain on a soggy one. It’s pure escapism with the seaside location, the characters to love bundled up with folk music and secrets. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

I really enjoyed this book. I went into it thinking it would be a completely predictable love story and even though some parts were, there was just so much more to this story! I loved it.

We follow Willow as she comes to terms with a failed relationship and having to start again.

Some parts were predictable and I could guess, well think I'd guessed, the plot but it was just such a good easy read but with plenty going on.

I love a rock and roll type who is really a big softy, and this is what you get in this introspective story - twice over!
You also get a lovely setting (why Willow ever wanted to leave is beyond me!) and lots of soul-searching and heartache, as told from the dual perspective of a daughter and her mother. I'm not really into music much, but I felt the love of it running through the entire book, and the atmosphere generating by playing on stage and the build up to the festival itself was wonderful.

You get two stories for the price of one with this book, until the dual tales are woven together at the end to make a delightfully satisfying conclusion.

The story begins with Willow preparing to get married. She's in her wedding dress and you know something is wrong when the flowers she's carrying are the only thing she's insisted on. As she starts to think about Charlie, her husband to be, she realises she making a mistake and needs to run! She goes back to the Isle of Wight to find herself again.

I really enjoyed this book. Willow was brought up with music, her father travels to play, her mother owns The Music Shop. While she's there she meets her old friend Luc. Their parents were in a band and he's back to play at the festival organised by Cathy, Willows mum.

I really felt the vibe of the island and loved learning about the characters. The story went back to the 80s so it felt quite nostalgic. There are quite a few secrets that add to this wonderful story. Definitely a much needed escape read and the perfect beach read.

The Summer Island Festival is a lovely read. You immediately become invested in the characters and their stories. It's a classic story that has the potential to be made into a movie. It's a book that immerses you wholly in it's world and is the perfect escape, for both the characters in the book and the reader.

Even if I found it quite entertaining I couldn't connect to the characters and the story fell flat.
Not my cup of tea
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Willow walks out on her wedding and the only place she needs to go is home to the island where she grew up on and ran away from.
When she gets there she finds Luc is there he is here for the festival .Since he left the island he became famous on American talent.show.
Willow left the island thinking Luc didn’t want to see her but can they put that behind them and become friends or more.
And they also have to get the festival back on which Willows mum organises every year.
Great read
Thanks NetGalley

I just didn’t connect with this book at all, I just think it wasn’t for me , plenty of others seem to enjoy it so think it might just be me .

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I did not enjoy this. The story was too predictable and none of the characters were likable. Also the abundance of mandolin players and mandolins in bands in this book is just weird. And I say this as someone who used to focus on playing mandolin and banjo. It just felt like the story was trying too hard with the references to mandolins and ukes (not a fan).

Was looking for something cosy and sweet to read but this just wasn’t it.

I loved this book. Willow escapes back to her mum's house on the Isle of Wight and needs to keep herself busy.
She finds out that the music festival that her mum helped set up is in danger of being cancelled. She has to do everything she can to help save it. Her first love is also back on the island to sing at the festival.
We hear about Willows mums life as part of a music group and the trials of the music scene.
I loved hearing about the characters and their lives in music. The music shop sounded a lovely place to visit .
Village life, friendships, first love and family secrets are all woven into the story and you can imagine the build up to an event like this one- and the anticipation that it can be saved in time. The cover promises a lovely summer read and I can imagine it being packed in lots of beach bags this year.

Oh I loved this book, bringing together a gorgeous setting on The Isle of Wight, with lost love, music, various secrets to be unravelled and bonds to be formed with friends and family.

I can't decide whose story I loved the most, Willow or Luc's present day stories which we get chapters from both of their points of view, or the chapters detailing Cathy's fascinating past, that still don't quite give away any of the key reveals until the present day characters are ready to finally reveal the truth!

I was hooked on all of them, and loved how everything fitted together. There are loads of secrets to be uncovered, and Willow needs to work out what she is doing next with her life after walking out on her wedding.

I don't think I've ever heard so much about Mandolins and playing them ever, It's one of those musical instruments that I'm aware exists but apart from that never given much more thought to, so think this book has done great things for Mandolin awareness.

I loved the fight to see if the music festival would go ahead, the search to see if they could tempt a big name to headline, and just how that person fits into the personal history of various of the islanders. I loved Willow reconnecting with herself, and her old friends.

I just loved it all to be honest, it was just my sort of book, and its a gentle and engaging read, that afterwards had me googling "Gamble Gold" once I discovered it was real, just to see what all the fuss was about as its a song that plays a huge part in the book. Very thankful it's not as catchy as the song I looked up after reading this authors previous book though!

A really entertaining story that I spent a lovely time reading.

Thank you to Aria and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Growing up on the Isle of Wight meant that Willow always dreamed of something different: even with best friends and first love right at home. With folk singing parents and a mother who now makes instruments, she never felt creative or musical enough to stay, and found her life in finance in the ‘big city’ after her parents divorced. Now having avoided all of her past and family for the past years after meeting the man she planned to marry, when she couldn’t go through with the marriage – she ran home. Partly to find herself, partly to regroup before her next foray into her career.

Sulking about never really fit, and with her mother pushing for the smaller festival that has run for 20 years on the island, she needed the help – and Willow was handy and knew everything – a perfect option for her to spend a few weeks sorting things out. It turns out that her ex-fiancé was also having an affair with her bridesmaid – and when returning to her ‘old life’ is patently impossible, perhaps jumping back even further will help.

Enter (or re-enter) her first love Luc. He’s on the island ostensibly to write more music for his next album. He’s really there to try and recapture his ‘old self’ before the panic attacks and writer’s block hit. There’s still a spark with Willow – everyone sees it – but the two are tentative and many secrets are keeping them separate. It takes some time, some revelations and for Willow to understand that her own anger over her parent’s divorce and the questions about Luc leaving without saying a ‘real’ goodbye are going to need to be worked through – before she can heal and move on. And with ALL the secrets finally out in the open – the festival is going on and everyone has a chance for a new normal, even on the tiny island.

Burton combined past issues, current issues, secrets, an undeniable attraction and some serious self-reflections and honesty to come up with a story that both felt plausible and possible. Willow and Luc are wonderful characters, the pacing moved carefully through the two and their issues, their flashbacks and their new moments, and allowed for a satisfying read.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aT5 /” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

A great slow burn romance with a difference. The historical section is engaging and I was as interested in the festival as I was the romance between Willow and Luc. Perfect read for a long summer day.

This book had everything I usually like, I especially liked the historical chapters about Cathy's life. I just found the characters all a bit flat, no real emotions from any of them, no dramas.

This is my first read of Rachel Burton's and wow, what a glorious discover that was for myself! I absolutely adored the slow-burn, second chance love that happened between Willow and Luc - it was absolutely magical and it's safe to say they were absolutely meant to be. Whilst the romance and the rekindling was enough to make you smile the whole way through, what really had me enthralled was the story of Willow's mother. Wow oh wow, does that woman have a fascinating past! There was so many secrets woven within Willow and Luc's lives from their parents and I have to admit, I thought the twist of the book was going to be predictable, but nope, Rachel managed to surprise me and catch me out! It was just really interesting to see how much the past really had made such an impact on all of the characters lives in the present.

This is the perfect read, especially now with the sun coming out to welcome us more often than usual and for those who love a good music festival and unfortunately can not attend right now, this will absolutely give you your fix and what is more exciting than an artist reviving their career on stage after years and years of being away from the spotlight!? Rachel treats us to romance, friendship, second chances, family, shocking secrets and the most wonderful of characters! I thoroughly enjoyed this page, so much so that a feeling of sadness came when I was reaching the final pages and that's when you know a book is special.

First of all I have to mention that The Summer Island Festival has a beautiful romance. The slow burn worked so well between Willow and Luc. They had a wonderful connection that made this book such a joy to read. However the romance wasn’t always the main focus throughout and I think this gave the book an extra special edge. I was pleasantly surprised to see parts of the story set in the past. I loved how these flashbacks were dotted throughout the book. During these parts my attention was captured as much as the parts set in the present with each new snippet increasing my curiosity. As the story progresses the reader begins to see just how much the past has played its part in all of the characters lives. As decisions and mistakes are still affecting them in different ways in the present.

I have to admit I’ve never been to a festival and if I’m honest I haven’t necessarily been too bothered about attending one. However I really enjoyed the way the planning and history of the festival connected to the story and the characters. There are secrets from the past that connect with both music and the lives of the characters. For me the romance, friendships and musical side to this story worked so well. The characters that Rachel Burton created felt so real. They had flaws that made them all the more realistic along with personalities that really drew me in. I was fully transported, not only to the fabulous location of the island but to the past. I found myself racing through the story and throughly enjoyed the escape that this book provided. I have to admit as I turned the last page I was sad to say goodbye to the characters.

The Summer Island Festival was beautifully written with a brilliant combination of music, nostalgia and wonderful characters!

Upon returning to her island home after walking away from her wedding Willow realises she has been unhappy for quite some time. The island life she desperately wanted to escape from might just be the only thing able to mend her broken heart.

Meeting up with old friends and old loves along the way, Willow pits her hand up to help her mum plan the failing annual music festival. However when she discovers an old recording of a very famous song, family secrets are about to be exposed.

This was a great summer read, with just enough suspense to keep you guessing.

I received this book for an honest review from net galley #netgalley

I've been working on this book for a while it seemed to lag a little bit in the middle but I did enjoy it. In the cover is absolutely to die for it could be that I'm not into music very much which is why I'm struggling with it a little.

What a fun summer read. Great characters, wonderful setting in a wonderful place. I wish I was a few decades younger so that I could go to and enjoy places like the Isle of Wight festivals. Great read, 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

Festivals and the lovely island of the Isle of Wight. Loved this story and I especially love stories that follow the lives of more than one character. I grew up in the 80s so I adored feeling like I'd stepped back to my childhood! Lovely heartwarming, romantic book and I was able to leave the current day and enjoy. Just the escape needed