Member Reviews
This was a heartwarming easy read which I really enjoyed. A feel good read and made me feel very summery.
~~~ I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review~~~
I always enjoy Jenny Hale's books. An Island Summer is another one to add to your summer/vacation list! I love the setting (Outer Banks!) and the plot. Hale has written an original storyline surrounding a couple of young woman (Meghan) who takes over her grandfather's cottage on Hatteras Island with her best best friend (Tess). Together they face many struggles and uncover some big secrets regarding Meghan's family along the way--- and of course, she meets a nice man (Toby). This is a story of family secrets, friendship, love, and living your dream. Enjoy and happy reading!
A beautifully written book. Difficult subjects are handled sensitively and the storyline is amazing.
Strong characters the reader engages with, locations which become real and a storyline which draws the reader in from the start.
An enjoyable read which this reader didn’t want to end , highly recommended
Thank you to Netgalley, Bookoutre and Jenny Hale for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review
Strong start but the pace slows a bit in the middle as things become a little formulaic. Nice setting and likable characters but was ultimately one I had to push though by the end.
It took me some time to get invested in this story, but when I did, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Meghan and her friend Tess are moving to Meghan’s Pappy’s house for the summer. She hasn’t been there since he died but they need a change of scenery and a house by the water is always a good idea. They quickly find a job waitressing and they meet a man, Toby, and his demented grandfather. The grandfather mistakes Meghan for a film star from the past which leads to a lot of questions Meghan wants to find answers to. But it seems Pappy had his own secrets to hide as well and what about Toby?
This was a lovely romance book with a mystery twist. I enjoyed reading it! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this copy.
This was a quick, light read. A beach read if you will. This was also my first Jenny Hale book.
Meghan is mourning the loss of her beloved Pappy. Wanting to be close to him again, she visits the cottage she spent summers at, in the outer banks. She meets a local, Toby who is brooding and handsome. Toby helps her sift thru family secrets and helps her grief. This book was fine. I loved Rupert, Tobys grandfather. And I liked the outer banks setting but that was about it. The pacing was a bit slow. its not marketed at YA but it read very YA to me.
3/5
I really enjoyed this book. It had such a summer feel to it and the storyline completely took me in. I highly recommend this book if you’re still in the summer mood I wanna really feel good story. I cannot wait to read more books from this author in the future. A highly enjoyable read for me.
Love me some Jenny Hale and this book surpassed all of her others. Great characters. Great story. Great writing. So fun!!
Jenny Hale’s An Island Summer is the story of Meghan Gray who leaves her life in New York and moves to her grandfather’s beach cottage she inherited to start her new life. I voluntarily read a complimentary copy of this lovely, feel-good book full of secrets, mystery, love, and friendship. Great read!
Love, friendship, history, and The Outer Banks perfect recipe for a fantastic summer read! I read it in one sitting on my beach day as it was fascinating and yet easy to read.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review
I received an ARC of this novel from Bookouture via Netgalley in exchange for my review. After watching the series The Outer Banks I am craving books in that setting so I was excited to see Jenny Hale’s latest book was set on Hatteras Island in the Outer Banks so I was hooked! This story was the perfect summer beach read. The setting, the angsty characters and a mystery to solve lead to a quick and entertaining story. This is the perfect story to toss in your beach bag!
An Island Summer by Jenny Hale reads like an amazing Hallmark type movie! It was a great summer read and I was able to devour it poolside in a day. It was a sweet, feel good story with some moments that had me in tears.
Meghan quits her job and heads to the house she was left by her grandfather. She befriends an old man who may have Alzheimer's and is very confused. She also meets his grandson Toby but when she begins working at his restaurant she starts to suspect his behaviour.
An Island Summer is a novel about following your dream and moving on from grief, both done with the help of love.
Meghan's emotional journey over the course of the book is huge. She has run out of money and doing a job she hates so she leaves and goes to where she felt loved. Pappy's home is full of memories of the their time together after her parents died. Meanwhile she meets Rupert and his grandson Toby. Rupert thinks Meghan is film star Hester Quinn and Meghan begins to believe that he is reliving his memories rather than having delusons.
There is a spark between Meghan and Toby from the start. However, both are dealing with grief and are in a precarius place emotionally. Toby wants the best for his grandfather and is afraid of Meghan's growing influence over him while Meghan fears that Toby's motives concern money rather than love. This creates a tension between them alongside the spark of romantic interest.
There is also the mystery of Rupert's past and clues about the truth of his relationship with Hester in the past. I liked the way the details are gradually revealed and the impact this has on Meghan and Toby.
An Island Summer is an enjoyable and heartwarming novel.
A sweet, predictable, summer read. I enjoy a book by Jenny Hale because it makes me feel like I'm in a Hallmark movie! I enjoyed the characters and the storyline. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book was a fun, quick read. The characters were easy to love and the storyline kept me intrigued until the end. I love the way the past is muddled but also seems to be dictating the present. Rupert’s mind kept the plot from revealing itself too early. The unraveling was perfectly timed.
Lovely feel good book to read. It was a joy to read. Lovely characters. Great plot. The book was charming. Very well written. I’d definitely recommend this book. As always this author has done it again with another fantastic book
I just finished this beautiful Summer read from Jenny it was absolutely amazing, her writing makes you keep reading enjoying every word, i felt like i was able to set myself in all the places they had in this book. Definitely a great read!
I loved the last book this author did and this one didn’t disappoint. Definitely had all the elements I was looking for in a book. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone
This was a nice read about a girl who returns to the place where she was once at her happiest, her grandfathers home. He lived in a neglected house close to the beach and even though he has passed, he continues to influence her in many ways.
Meghan and Tess were waitressing at a cafe in New York but the owner was less than lovely and neither of them were achieving very much at all. Meghan is an excellent cook but the one time she tried to show her boss what she could do, he was dismissive and that stopped her from trying to become a chef. So, she has come back to her grandfathers home to try and figure herself out. She didn't reckon on meeting Toby though, a man who has his own issues.
Toby is a bit of an enigma, but he is very close to his grandfather, who has Alzheimers. Rupert spots Meghan and thinks she is an actress called Hester. She goes along with it, and she finds herself getting close to Rupert, and Toby as well.
Now, I have a few issues with this story. It is a sweet romance and that part of it is interesting. I don't entirely feel the bond between Meghan and Toby, but that is probably me. My issue is the way that Rupert's Alzheimers is described. He isn't having "fantasies", he is re-living his past. I have a father with Alzheimers and yes, it is very hard sometimes, but when he talks about things, he doesn't realise he is in his 80's, his past is very real and like it happened yesterday.
I also have a bit of an issue with Meghan and Tess. Tess seems like a wonderful friend and she is certainly supportive of Meghan and helps her in all sorts of ways. I think it would have been great to explore this aspect of the story a bit more, it seems that Tess is kind of just left hanging, a bit.
Anyway, a nice, light read for a couple of hours. Be transported to a shack on the beach, I could just about feel the sand between my toes!
3.5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
Delightful summer beach read. A death, a return to a summer cottage, secrets, romance, this one has it all. Loved the characters and just the good feeling of spending time on the beach!