When her glittering new life in New York crumbles, Meghan Grey returns home to a summer on Hatteras Island. It’s been ten years since Meghan has been back to her grandfather’s little fishing cottage, now it’s all she has left of him, and her dreams. A mysterious letter with a key and the chance meeting with Toby Meyers may make this the best summer of Meghan’s lfe. Readers weary of the pandemic, political shenanigans and bad news from overseas will find a welcome escape in this charming story

“Whatever’s going on in your life, calm is within you. Sometimes, you just have to wade through the deep waters to find it.”

This book has everything I look for in a good beach read! It’s part small-town romance and part mystery, all packaged up in a heartwarming and page-turning story. It was easy to imagine the sun shining on my face and my toes sinking into the white sand beach as the seagulls and breaking waves competed for my attention.

Jenny Hale will sweep you away to Hatteras Island in The Outer Banks, a thin stretch of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina, in her newest wholesome romantic contemporary fiction novel.

Meghan Gray’s life is falling apart at the seams, so she does the only thing she knows will help her get back on track - head back to her Pappy’s fishing cottage on Hatteras Island. Although she hasn’t been back in the ten years since he died, she is confident she’ll find the answers she’s looking for. Since being orphaned in her teens, this fishing cottage is all she has left and it holds special memories. Meghan stuffs everything she owns into her old car and heads off to the island for the summer.

You’ll read about:
1) an old man in a nursing home who thinks Meghan is a famous movie star, so she plays along with it each time she visits him.
2) an envelope her Pappy left her containing a faded photo and a set of keys
3) a family secret
4) an attraction to an enigmatic entrepreneur

In addition to examining the definition of home, Hale explores the importance of finding your own happiness, creating new beginnings, uncovering family secrets to help you move on with your future. It contains Hale’s signature hug between the pages and is one you’ll want to put on your summer reading list immediately!

“I spent my entire life chasing happiness, and I didn’t know it was right in front of me the whole time. Be ruthless in finding your own.”

I was gifted this advance copy by Jenny Hale, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

This is a must read! I read it in one sitting! I enjoyed the characters and such a heartfelt story. Such a great summer read!

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

Thanks to Bookouture, I was provided an ARC of An Island Summer by Jenny Hale via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

******Publishing June 9, 2022*****


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Jenny Hale’s, An Island Summer, is the perfect book to put in your beach or pool bag! A story of resiliency, family, friendship, love and hope will keep you entertained from the first to last page!

Megan had a dream of becoming a famous chef, so she started working as a hostess then became a waitress at prominent NYC restaurant, but could never achieve her dreams. Her boss wouldn’t give her a chance, since she had no experience. Megan had enough, so she packed up and went back to her Pappy’s house. He had taught her that she could always come back to his house when she needed to find answers and to regain her focus in life. So Megan and her best friend Tess, did just that, both quit their jobs and headed to his house in the Outer Banks of North Carolina to start a new life. Will Megan find her way with the help of Tess? What will they discover? Who will she encounter? How will the people she meet affect her life, for better or for worse? Will Megan be able to achieve her dream of becoming a chef? This heartfelt book will have you turning the pages to find out.

A great summer read and book club pick!