Summer on the Island is set just after the pandemic. Travel is once again possible and people are returning to work. Marlow has recently lost her father, a US Senator, and she wants to go spend time with her mother on Teach Island off the coast of Florida. She is tired of being a divorce attorney, seeing the worst side of people, the broken marriages ad unhappy families. She closes her practice in LA and invites two friends, Aida and Claire to spend the summer with her on Teach. Aida and Claire are dealing with their own issues and agree to go to reboot their lives. Once on the island we meet Rosemary and her two grown sons, Walker and Reese. Rosemary has worked for the Madsen family since before Marlow was born and she grew up with Walker, who loved her for years. He just wants to get through the summer and get Marlow out of his system. When Marlow meets with the family lawyer about her father's will, secrets are revealed that will change many lives.

I loved this book and once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. I wanted to know what was going to happen between Walker and Marlow. I was surprised to see how Aida and Claire knew each other and still became friends, a very interesting character development there. There are not a lot of characters in this story, but each one played an important role in the story. The story has a mystery to it and well as some other issues that add to the storyline making it multi-dimensional. There are a few twists and plenty of romance, some of it steamier than I like (you can skim those parts and not lose anything from the main plots). I loved the beach setting and the family beach house named Seaclusion. Who wouldn't want to spend three months in a three bedroom guesthouse, where the housekeeper/cook/companion from the main house cooks most of your delicious meals? The characters that were realistic and relatable and I love the ones I should have and disliked some of the others. I really loved Marlow and wanted her to find what she was looking for. The story was well-paced, with enough action in each chapter to keep me engaged. If you enjoy stories of romance, new beginnings, family drama, and secrets with a touch of mystery I recommend this book.

Marlow and her two quirky friends (with a unique connection) travel to Teach Island (yes, named after Edward Teach!) for the summer, where Marlow’s mother still owns a home, to “reset” after some challenging times.

While on Teach, Marlow spends time with Walker, who challenges her to a different path and Claire & Aida also have their own host of unexpected challenges during the short time on the island.

I appreciated the island as a character, the past Marlow has with those around her, the secrets each character carries (and there are many!) along with the culminating resolution. Enjoyed the competitive tennis matches, amongst other competitions in this novel- just reminds me of island life!

One character I didn’t like? Dutton- which is a testament to Novak’s ability to create a dynamic villainous character in the midst of a beachy-summery read! He’s the kind you just love to dislike!

I’m thrilled to take part in the blog tour today for Brenda Novak’s new novel: Summer on the Island. This is a story of family and friendship, of relationships and secrets. I’m sure Ms. Novak’s fan will love it!

I enjoyed the story, but have to say that I enjoyed the main plot best, focused on Marlo and her life. I had a little trouble getting into the book until about a quarter of the way in, then it moved quickly for me. I was wondering if perhaps another book with the main characters could be coming in the future?

Thank you for my copy and for making me part of the tour!

Oh wow this was such a wonderfully written book! I learned the writing style. It felt so realistic. This one combines combines friendship fiction with romance and family drama. I was all for it. It is a perfect beach book and makes me so excited for the warm weather. I couldn't put this down.

This title was a little heavier than I was anticipating with grief and infidelity being a foundational aspect. Yet it still contained the elements of romance (with a little spice), family bonds, friendship, resilience, and forgiveness that you want and expect.

I’m not sure I needed the friends' stories were necessary and found them a bit distracting to the main plot. There were obvious parralels in what was happening between them and what was happening within the dynamics of the family itself.

It was an enjoyable read - messy topics aside. Worth picking up if contemporary women’s fiction is the genre you like to have on hand.

In her latest novel, Summer on the Island, Novak delivers a story full of drama, secrets, heartbreak and served with a side of romance, making it the perfect summer read. Amy McFadden’s narration pulled me in and soon the setting, characters and events captivated me.

Marlow Madsen is reeling from the loss of her father, US senator Tiller Madsen. Weary of the challenges that came with her job as a divorce lawyer, she shuts down her practice and returned to her roots, a small island off the coast of Florida. She shares this moment with her two friends Claire and Aida, whom also had their share of life altering experiences. Marlow plans to spend more time with her ailing mother and settle her father’s affairs. But then, she finds love and discovered a secret that could damage her late father’s reputation.

I have yet to pick up a book written by Novak, which I did not enjoy. Summer on the Island was no different. I enjoyed every aspect of the story from start to finish. The story featured well-developed characters, whose flaws and foibles made them authentic. Most were likeable, even though their actions may have been less than desirable.

Secrets, friendships, family drama and romance drove the story. It wasn’t difficult figuring out the secret regarding Marlow’s father. However, I waited with breath to see the reactions to the revelation of this secret. All the affected parties reacted as expected.

When Marlow returned to the island, she was not looking for love, nor did she expect to find it. But find it, she did with the last person she expected. Their romance was angsty and passionate. The angst arose because of unrequited love by Marlow’s love interest. The damaging effects of loving someone for so long and having the love rejected was clear from his actions towards Marlow. One could not fault him for his behaviour. Love won in the end.

Marlow’s friends, Aida, and Claire brought their own share of drama to the story. Although not a unique situation, the dynamics of Claire and Aida’s friendship amazed me. All I can say is Aida is a better person than me in this regard.

The story moved at a steady pace and kept me engaged, although it took a long time for the big secret to come to light. Summer on the Island will warm your heart with its story of forgiveness, healing, family, friendship and love.

My experience with Amy McFadden as a narrator has always been good, and this time was no different. She captured the essence of all the characters. Her pleasing tone aided in enhancing the story. She delivered a solid performance, allowing me to slip into the story.

This beach read is sure to hook you from the very start! Love, friendship and loss are front and center as we delve into Brenda Novak’s SUMMER ON THE ISLAND and as the story unravels a good bit of drama enters the picture. For me I’m less likely to sink deeply into enjoyment when there is a lot of pandemic talk in the story since let’s face it, we’ve all had to live it personally way too much right now, so it starts out iffy for me, but I quickly got drawn into the characters and enjoyed their stories regardless.

Marlow is kind-hearted and easy to like. The drama that this trip opens up for her is unexpected, but the she also gains love and understanding throughout.

I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a dramatic women’s fiction story with strong elements of romance chock full of attention grabbing characters and love, laughter and angst enough to fill your heart.

Perfect summer reading for me includes a tropical beach setting with some romance involved. Summer on the Island has that and more. Three friends spend a summer on an island off the Florida coast to recharge after a tumultuous year that included the Covid lockdown among other devastating ordeals. Brenda Novak is able to intertwine the friends' stories seamlessly in each chapter, which made it hard for me to put this book down. I haven't read her novels in a few years, but I'm so glad I came across this thanks to Netgalley. Put this on your summer reading list!

Brenda Novak gives readers a stand-alone women's fiction novel with three interesting friends, complicated relationships, and past secrets coming to light. Marlow Madsen is the privileged daughter coming home to her family's vacation home off the coast of Florida after the death of her senator father to help her mother (suffering from MS) face the future. Two friends from California with an unusual connection come along for a summer in which they can all hopefully figure out their lives. This is a good summer read.

Marlow Madsen is a divorce attorney at a crossroads in her life following the death of her father, a US senator, and the close of a particularly contentious divorce case. She returns to Teach Island, Florida where her family spent their summers and her mother is currently staying. She brings along her friends Aida Trehar and Claire Fernandez as both of them were recovering from their own recent traumatic events. What was meant to be a relaxing summer turns out to be anything but when Marlow’s father’s will is revealed and someone from Claire’s past resurfaces.

One of the things I can always count on in a Novak book is exceptional storytelling. The characters are always well defined and realistic, even when I wish they’d behave differently. I definitely found that here in all the main characters. Each woman had some baggage and all were accomplished, intelligent and personable but didn’t always make the best choices for themselves. Marlow reconnects with Walker Cantwell, now the Island police chief but who had a major crush on her in high school and she rebuffed. As his mother Rosemary is Marlow’s invalid mother’s caretaker, they can’t avoid each other. I liked the tension between these two as they navigated relating to each other as adults while trying to overcome hurts from their teenage past. Both could have handled things better at times but it felt authentic to how most would behave in real life.

In addition to the explosion created by revelations in the will, the connection between Aida and Claire was also a surprise. I won’t spoil things by revealing the exact details but there were times I just wanted to throttle Claire. Again, she made decisions born of the heart instead of common sense, which mirrors human nature. There was a lot of drama here but it wasn’t over the top and felt like what most families experience. I listened to the story and the narrator paced it perfectly, providing easily distinguishable voices for each character. This was hard to put down as I was completely invested in the characters and where the journey would lead. It was a little messy, which feels like normal family dynamics, and a wonderful listening experience.

Three friends decide to spend the summer at the beach to relax and recover from the tough year they have all had. But their relationships are complicated by things that have recently happened as well as a dark family secret from the past.

Summer on the Island by Brenda Novak is a standalone women’s fiction title. The book is part contemporary romance with some family drama in the mix with old secrets coming to the surface. The story in Summer on the Island is one that is told by changing the point of view between several of the characters.

Just as Marlow Madsen is at a point in her life that she needs a break from her job as a divorce lawyer Marlow’s father has passed away leaving her needing to travel back home to Florida. Marlow’s friends area also going through rough times so she invites Aida and Claire to come along for the summer as they all need the getaway and they can help Marlow sort out her father’s things. As Marlow is reconnecting with those from her past on the small island Aida and Claire do the best to heal from their break ups and all three women look for a path forward after their summer.

I became a fan of Brenda Novak years ago and while I have only broke the surface of her extensive catalog I haven’t found a story of hers that I haven’t liked yet and thankfully that streak continued after reading Summer on the Island. This is a novel with a lot going on that’s hard to summarize in a short paragraph. Each of the characters though really did stand out on their own so it wasn’t hard to follow along while learning about them all. There’s friendship, family and a lot of character growth which you would expect and all of it wrapped up in an island setting made for a lovely read and of course I will return to this author as often as I can.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This book is definitely a must read beach book!!!!!!!!! Brenda Novak has written another bestseller with this one. I loved this story and read it in one day. I couldn't put it down.

A perfect summer read. Set off the coast of Florida on a small island, the beach was just what I needed. The story has a little romance and drama to help move the story. What I liked best was the growing friendship between all the characters and the family connections.

I enjoyed how all the women in the story are experiencing different problems but with their friendship, they are working to overcome the problems. The men in the story, even though they are not part of the main core of characters, support the women characters and provide different levels of love connections to the women.

Not quite a five-star book for me, it was still well written and enjoyable. I really recommend it as a perfect summer read or a middle of the winter when you need some beach and sun.

In Brenda Novak's latest novel, Summer on the Island, successful young divorce attorney Marlow Madsen leaves Los Angeles to go to her family's summer retreat on Teach Island in Florida, unsure if she will return to her life in LA. Her father, a longtime respected Senator, has passed away from COVID, and her mother has suffered from MS for years.

Marlow intends to help her mother pack up the family's other homes in Virginia and Atlanta for sale, and then reassess her life plan. She brought two friends with her- Aida, whom Marlow represented in a difficult divorce, and Claire, a young woman who lost her home and yoga studio in a recent California wildfire.

When Marlow returns home, she finds her grieving mother Eileen and longtime family housekeeper Rosemary, who helps with Eileen's care. Rosemary's son Reese takes care of the house and property, and his older brother Walker is now the town's chief of police.

Walker and Marlow grew up together, and as teenagers their friendship blossomed into something more. Because of their different backgrounds, they grew apart. Marlow went onto college and law school, Walker into police work.

Things ended badly between Walker and Marlow, but clearly the heat is still there. (Oh yes, it is steamy in summer in Florida!) Even though Walker does his best to avoid Marlow while she is home, when they are in close proximity things happen.

Marlow's work makes her jaded about love and marriage. She has to deal with Aida's ex-husband who threatened her during the nasty divorce. Although she knows her marriage is over, Aida still remembers the good times she had with her husband. Claire also has to deal with a man- her ex-boyfriend who lied about being married and is determined to win her back.

Summer on the Island is about former loves, secrets, friendship, and how to (or if you should) forgive people who have wronged you. I found the theme of forgiveness intriguing, it really made me think about the topic. Brenda Novak writes characters who are interesting; they certainly have their flaws, and who doesn't love a book with a fabulous beach town setting when the spring weather is so unpredictable? This is another solid book from Benda Novak.

Thanks to Harlequin Books for putting me on their Winter 2022 Women's Fiction Blog Tour.

This is a perfect summer beach read. This book starts out with three Women deciding to take a Trip to the coast of Florida to help Marlow‘s mom settled the family estate after her father’s death. While there Marlows runs in to someone she knew from her pass and soon feels a deep connection with while also discovering her father was not the man she thought he was. I just loved everything about this book from the way the three women formed their friendship which is interesting to say the least To the romance between Marlow and Walker the hot man from her pass. I highly recommend reading this. After reading this I looked up the author and learn she has another book out called The Bookstore on the Beach which I already order

Marlo and a few of her friends have decided to spend the summer on Teach island off the coast of Florida. Marlo is dealing with lots of issues, the loss of her father, the closing of her law practice and a possible stalker. This should be a trip to rebuild and reevaluate. But, her past comes back in the form of the new police chief, which she needs to make amends.

Marlo has some family drama which comes to light while she is closing out her father’s will. Her dad kept a huge secret from his family. She is just not sure how she is supposed to deal with this. Then there is Walker. You MUST read this to find out!

This is a wonderful story to get lost in. I was so caught up in Walker and Marlo, just about everything else took a back seat. Well, that is until the stalker made an appearance! Talk about a tale full of all kinds of feels!

Need a good story about love, family and secrets…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Three friends spend the summer together on a small island off the coast of Florida. For one of them, it's home which brings many memories and never forgotten friends and maybe more.

Summer on the Island does have a few aspects that aren't typical, but for the most part.I found this to be fairly predictable.There's a big family secret that knocks folks off their feet a bit and some interesting characters. The interactions between Marlow and Walker were the highlight of the book for me.

Summer on the Island is part family drama part contemporary romance with interesting characters in a story of the illusions of the past coming forward into the light. I did find it a bit slow at the beginning but it does pick up as the story progresses. For these reasons, I'm giving it four stars.

Thoughts
~Author Brenda Novak is the Queen of beach reads. Whenever I read her books ~The Bookstore on the Beach last year and Summer on the Island this year~I always want to pack up and move to the beach. Novak creates that perfect summer vibe that makes me want to jump into the pages of the story! It may help that our main character's family is rich, and has an amazing home on the water with a private beach.

Now it wouldn’t be a summer read without family drama and a secret that will ruin everything you thought you knew. With that drama there are always strong female friendships, and the friends in this story became friends in the most unusual way. I won’t spoil it!

Family drama, friendships, romance, death and one terrible secret makeup this beach read that is quite the page turner!

Don’t look any further for your next great read! Grab your copy today!

Not the best book by this author but a poignant family drama that kept me reading and root for the characters.
The characters are interesting, the plot flow, and I loved the setting.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine