A fabulous summer read, the emotions and flow of the storyline fit together nicely!
Meghan has inherited a cottage full of memories, a mysterious photo and also a new friend Toby.
I love the beautiful message that is revealed, the encouragement and reminder to enjoy life!
A thought provoking read, are Meghan and Toby ready to challenge their beliefs? I felt the character connection, the flow and relatable storyline, very well written!

My sincere thanks to Bookouture, NetGalley and the wonderful Jenny Hale for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Charming and romantic, a wonderful summer read that left me with a feeling of warmth and happiness. Great characters, good backdrop, and the story flowed really well.

Meghan lives in New York and is a budding chef. She works as a waitress in a restaurant and her boss is a jerk and tells her that he cooking is mediocre. She decides that she needs a fresh start and goes back to her hometown where she was raised by her grandfather. Pappy as she lovingly called him left her his house when he passed away, but she hasnt been back in a decade.

Meg takes her best friend Tess back with her, and after getting new jobs at a local eatery Meg reads her grandfathers will, and he leaves her a set of clues that challenge her idea of who she is, leads to a new romance, and has exciting revelations about a famous movie star.

Loved it.

This book we pull at your heart strings and keep you enthralled with finding out how everything that has happened since Meghan came back to the Outer Banks ties together! There is love, loss, family, and friendship all wrapped into one great summer read! Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

I love Jenny Hale books - especially her Christmas books, but her Summer books are a close second. This had the cast of interesting characters, and intriguing story line that kept me engaged. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book!

Meghan return to Hatteras Island to her beloved grandpa’s home, where all her fond memories are. She met Toby and his dementia grandfather, Rupert who mistaken her for his good friend. As his delusional mind become more detailed, Meghan began to believe Rupert’s story. Meghan feel there is undeniable bond with Rupert and those snippet from Rupert turned out to be a secret that has been buried far too long.

This book is about family drama, pasts and present, with a dash of mystery and love. It is a quick and sweet read about Meghan who return to her hometown to find a place that she belong. Along with this, there is mystery surrounding the relationship between Rupert and Meghan.


*review will be publish on 16/7/2022*

A lovely story, easy to read. An intriguing story that made you want to keep reading to find out the truth.

An Island Summer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 6/9/22
Author: Jenny Hale
Publisher: Bookouture
Pages: 283
Goodreads Rating: 4.33

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Bookouture and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: All that Meghan Gray has left of her beloved Pappy is his cottage on the edge of the shimmering Atlantic Ocean. Longing to feel close to her grandfather, she returns to the golden sands of Hatteras Island in the Outer Banks for the summer, clutching the manilla envelope he gifted her tightly in her hand. On her first night on the sun-drenched island, she meets brooding Toby Meyers, a local businessman. When Meghan opens the envelope, she finds a black-and-white photograph of someone she doesn’t recognize. If she can find out its meaning, and why Pappy gave it to her, she’ll unlock a secret that has been hidden for decades. The truth has the power to change everything Meghan and Toby thought they knew about their lives—and it will either bring them together, or break their hearts…

My Thoughts: This is the perfect summer beach read, it is light, has romance, and even an sense of mystery. Hale’s story has an important message to it, discover your happiness, get closure on old wounds, and live your life to the fullest, or at least that is that I got out of it. The story is primarily narrated by Meghan, from her perspective in a third person narration. For me, the chapters were average length and I could read a few at lunchtime or before bed. The characters are well developed with depth, some mystery, passionate, and creative. Meghan and Toby had a connection with great chemistry and the supporting characters really strengthened the story. The author does an amazing job at describing the scenes, so much so, that you feel a part of it and can clearly envision them. The author’s writing style is complex, has some drama, some mystery, and a little romance. I felt the storyline, plot, and ending worked well for this story.

This was a light, fresh read with detailed descriptions of the Outer Banks and beach areas that made me want to visit on a warm summer day!

Unfortunately, a few things stuck out for me and if not for the mystery woven without the story, I would have struggled through it even more than I did.

A couple of the items:

-character inconsistencies: Meghan is so hot and cold about Toby that the romance feels weird and out of nowhere; at one point there is a potential lawsuit involved and she suddenly goes from hating him to missing him and back again, but the romance side is missing depth

-the girls are so worried about having no money but buy copious coffees from the coffee shop and other treats for themselves constantly

-house updates: why does she agree to update Pappy’s house if she’s not totally sure of how she will pay for it? She juggles different options but doesn’t seem to land on anything. It felt like maybe some of the major work could have waited until she was ready.

These are some of the small things that may have been more my opinion vs the writer’s style, but did want to make note of them.

*Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review*

An Island Summer by Jenny Hale

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture and I am leaving this review voluntarily

In the summer, everything feels possible… A heartwarming small-town romance about new beginnings, old secrets and how home is truly where the heart is. Fans of Susan Mallery, Pamela Kelley, and Mary Alice Monroe will fall head over heels for this romantic page-turner.

All that Meghan Gray has left of her beloved Pappy is his cottage on the edge of the shimmering Atlantic Ocean. Longing to feel close to her grandfather, she returns to the golden sands of Hatteras Island in the Outer Banks for the summer, clutching the manilla envelope he gifted her tightly in her hand.

On her first night on the sun-drenched island, she meets brooding Toby Meyers, a local businessman. She might feel lost without Pappy, but looking into Toby’s sparkling blue eyes feels like coming home.

There is something about a Jenny Hale book that makes them a must read - this is no exception. I read this in three very short sittings and each time it was a struggle to put the book down. Full of romance, family and even a little bit of mystery, this was just a lovely quick book to read. Set on the beach this will make for a lovely summer read.

Rating 4/5

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and Jenny Hale for an ARC of An Island Summer in exchange for a reliable and honest review.

An Island Summer follows Meghan who relocates to her late grandfathers cottage in Outer Banks to start anew. This follow encompasses elements of mystery, romance and friendship but also grief and loss. This is a quick, light summer read perfect for a day at the beach.

This is my first Jenny Hale book and I was attracted to the book because of the cover. I rated this one two stars because I didn't feel connected in any way to the characters or the storyline and not much about the story stuck out for me. I literally did not feel anything for the main character, I did really enjoy Rupert's character, Toby's grandfather, who lives in a care home and suffers from dementia. The author handled this aspect of the book very well.

The mystery aspect was a heavy storyline and the romance kind of fell flat for me. The pacing was also quite slow in this one. The plot speeds up a bit in the end but there are a lot of descriptive elements which I felt was quite boring.

Although this was a disappointing read for me, I would definitely conisder reading Jenny Hale's other books!

2/5

Another DNF (as well as late because I was trying my hardest to read it)
Formatting wasn't great on my ARC copy.
Could be personal as I DNFed about 3 that I got around the same time this one included so will try again in the future.

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of An Island Summer by Jenny Hale from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I always look forward to all the must read summer books. This book will make you step away from life and forget all your troubles. This book is absolutely lovely and you will not be disappointed. Clear your schedule as you will not want to put it down once you begin!

An Island Summer is best considered a general fiction novel that would be for fans of like... the book January's character is writing in Beach Read by Emily Henry. Like, maybe fans of Elin Hilderbrand maybe? This book is not for people who like for a book marketed towards romance readers to be an actual romance novel. That's not say this book doesn't have an HEA. It's just to say that these two love interests make literally no sense together and therefore, you need to be reading this book for literally any other reason. I liked the idea of investigating the past timeline situation, but it wasn't woven in quite well enough for me. Honestly, mostly this book just didn't work for me in any way.

Meghan Grey leaves pretty everything behind after the loss of her grandfather. She had a dead-end waitressing job in New York but now she is headed to the ocean to where she remembered the years where she lived with her grandparents after the loss of her parents. It is Hatteras Island in the Outer Banks and Meghan is joined by her friend for the summer and they both find jobs as waitresses, but this is not Meghan’s dream. Her dream is to one day become a chef.

One of the things in her possession is a note from her grandfather Pappy. She was very close to him as a child and longs to be close to him again as he has now passed. He did gift her an envelope with a cryptic note as well as a photo and this leads to her trying to sort out his past. She soon meets a businessman named Toby Meyers and she also meets his grandfather. Toby’s grandfather is suffering from dementia and every time he sees Meghan he calls her Hester, an actress of decades ago.

Meghan feels in undeniable bond with Toby‘s grandfather and starts regular visits with him at his assisted-living facility, and snippets of his past mixes old memories with new. Those old snippets, as well as that photo left to her by her grandfather, a secret that has been buried for several decades starts to become revealed.

This touching story brings together family drama, pieces of the past, a gentle romance and a bit of mystery, all combined to treat readers to a wonderful summer read.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please also enjoy the following YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/YiGPt_ix2Oo

This is another lovely sun kissed summer story from Jenny Hale that left me feeling joy and contentment.
Meghan and her best friend Tess return to Meghan’s home town Outer Banks to settle in her Pappy’s fishing cottage that he left her in his will. Returning here brings up reservations and bravery as the house is just the same as the day he died. It is a big ask for Meghan to face a new start but with the support of Tess she is urged to move on with her life.
Secrets are slowly uncovered and mysteries are solved with the love of friends, and family connections that help Meghan find her place in the world.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture for the digital ARC of this delightful book.

One Sentence Summary: When Meghan fails to achieve her dreams of becoming a chef in NYC, she and her best friend Tess decide to spend the summer at Meghan’s late grandfather’s house in the Outer Banks, where a case of mistaken identity sets them on the trail of a fascinating mystery and a sweet romance.

Overall
An Island Summer is everything I love about Hale’s books: sweet and heartwarming with incredible relationships and sweet, mature romances set against incredible Southern locales that just come to life. In this case, Meghan and her best friend Tess are headed to the Outer Banks for the summer so Meghan can take possession of her late grandfather’s beach house and figure out her next steps after failing in NYC. She doesn’t count on being mistaken for a 1950s actress, nor does she expect the romance of a lifetime. An Island Summer unfolds layer by layer, offering a bit of mystery, a dose of romance, and a whole lot of incredible relationships that just warms the heart.

Extended Thoughts
With her best friend Tess and faithful dog Charlie in tow, Meghan bids NYC goodbye and returns to her late Pappy’s beach house on Hatteras Island. After her former boss deemed her unworthy of ever becoming a chef, Meghan decided it was time to head back to the Outer Banks to figure things out and find her calm. But their island summer becomes complicated when Meghan is mistaken for a 1950s actress by an elderly man who is sinking further into dementia. But, when Meghan and Tess start to make some interesting discoveries in Pappy’s house, Meghan begins to think there might be some truth in an old man’s delusions. Complicating things further, the man’s grandson, Toby, is far too attractive, and far too interested in pushing her away.

After enjoying a couple of Hale’s other books, I was quick to jump on An Island Summer. Her books have never failed to fill me with a warm hope and make me smile. This was absolutely true of An Island Summer. It’s sweet and heartwarming and an incredible women’s fiction novel with a beautiful romance woven through. I adored the friendship between Meghan and Tess, and really enjoyed Meghan’s journey to figuring out her next steps to finding herself and what she wants. This was such a fun, quick read, but it really packed in a fascinating story, blending women’s fiction, romance, and even some mystery in.

Meghan has always dreamed of cooking, of becoming a chef, of sharing her Pappy’s recipes with the world. But that door seemingly slams closed when her former boss at a NYC restaurant refuses to give her a chance. So she quits, and Tess quits with her, to go spend a summer on Hatteras Island. Meghan felt so serious, yet also so compassionate throughout the entire novel. She’s definitely the sort of woman who wants to be able to stand on her own two feet, but she’s a little lost. I really felt her turmoil, her questioning of herself and her abilities. I also loved how she followed her heart and what she always felt was right. Her relationship with Rupert, Toby’s grandfather, was just so sweet and I wanted so much more of them. Meghan was so incredible with him and, really, with every character in this book. There’s a sweet gentleness to her, but she’s also determined.

I loved Meghan and Tess’s friendship. It did make Tess seem one-dimensional, but, whenever she was on page, Tess’s pure joy and enjoyment of life felt contagious. She’s so much more free spirited than Meghan, but has the same heart of gold. I loved how she just wanted to support Meghan and be the best friend she could possibly be. She also had some absolutely wonderful lines, and I seriously found myself missing her when the book ended. She’s sometimes a bit of a pushy cheerleader, but had so much heart in everything she did it was impossible to not forgive her. Whenever I think of Tess, I just think of happiness. Their friendship was incredible and just one of the sweetest things about the book.

The romance between Meghan and Toby is pretty light, not being a main focus of the book. It felt more like it was subtly woven in so the main focus could be on the mystery of how Meghan and Rupert might be connected and Meghan’s journey to figuring herself out. But it progressed and every little motion, every little word, meant so much. I felt some of it was easily missed, but, when seen, really spoke volumes. The reader never gets Toby’s perspective, but what Meghan sees and relates just felt so loaded. It was sweet and heartwarming, and I really liked how Meghan never jumped on anything negative someone said about Toby to create needless drama. Instead, Meghan and her relationship with Toby felt mature.

Finally, there’s the relationship between Meghan and Rupert. This really felt like the focal point of the story as the mystery of how they might be connected unravels throughout the entire story. I really enjoyed the mystery and watching Meghan piece things together, even if I felt impatient with her once or twice when it felt like she’d forgotten some piece of information for the sake of creating more mystery within the story. But everything about it was so much fun and I loved the slow peeling back of layers, of figuring out the line between story and facts. Rupert never really knows who Meghan is, but Meghan clearly adores him. I loved the carefully crafted balance of Meghan truly caring about Rupert and his well-being and her need and desire to get more information out of him in order to unravel the mystery. They were just so adorable together and I wanted more stories from Rupert so badly.

With a summery, beachy backdrop, An Island Summer could not have been more perfect. Hatteras Island as a backdrop for all of the relationships Meghan has was delightfully perfect and I felt like I was there. It creates a small community that just overflows with that summer feel. I loved how the weather played a part, with the humidity pressing down on them, which helped make me really feel like I was there. Hatteras Island sounds like such an incredible place and everyone seemed so friendly and welcoming. Reading this made me feel like I was there, enjoying a wonderful beach vacation myself. I loved that they spent so much time on the beach, and it was just so cute and so much fun to watch Meghan and Tess play with Charlie. He’s one lucky dog to get to live on the beach, prancing in the water and running through the sand. I loved just how carefree and happy he was, and he was just a wonderful companion to Meghan and Tess.

An Island Summer is a story of friendship, love, and finding oneself. There’s also a mystery at the heart of it that was so much fun to work through. It’s not terribly complex, but is heartwarming, and I loved how it drew all the characters closer together. The story of Meghan figuring herself out was a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed all the nudges Tess gave her. Meghan really lost her belief in herself, so it was great to watch her get it back. The only thing I wish? That there were some recipes in this book! So many of Meghan’s dishes sounded so good.

Sweet and heartwarming, An Island Summer makes for a perfect summer read. It’s sun drenched with incredible character relationships, a sweet romance, and so many feel-good elements. I loved everything about this book and was so sad when it came to an end. It’s quick and never stops moving, but there are so many peaceful moments, and I could believe that this story was actually unfolding.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

An Island Summer is the newest book by author Jenny Hale. It’s no surprise that I’m a huge fan of all her books, and this one is no exception.

It checks off all the boxes such as an old house on the beach inherited by the main character (Meghan), her escape from the big city with her best friend in tow, and meeting a handsome entrepreneur (Toby). While the common elements are there, a twist comes to play involving Toby’s grandfather, Meghan’s late grandmother and grandfather, and a glamorous movie star!

What I liked about the book the most was the element of mystery. As little clues unfold, Meghan starts to learn the truth about a family secret that is unbelievable!

True to her style, Ms Hale grabbed my attention from the beginning and all the way to the end. This book is the perfect remedy for the summer blues. My heart swelled and sang throughout the entire book!

This is a beautiful heartbreaking and romantic read. This will have you tearing up but also smiling. Secrets that come that can threaten to break apart her new love.

This was story-telling at it's best! Fans of The Notebook will delight in this story unfolding within a story. I was captivated from the start and was enraptured during the entire audiobook.

A truly beautifully woven tale of lost loves, secrets, and truths. Make sure this is on your summer reading list, it's also the perfect beach read.

This cover was definitely what drew me to the book, I loved it so much, it looks like summer captured in a photo. I just wish I loved the book as much. This was my first book by Jenny Hale, and although the premise sounded right up my alley, it sort of fell flat for me.

Synopsis: All that Meghan Gray has left of her beloved Pappy is his cottage on the edge of the shimmering Atlantic Ocean. Longing to feel close to her grandfather, she returns to the golden sands of Hatteras Island in the Outer Banks for the summer, clutching the manila envelope he gifted her tightly in her hand.

The story was good, but I did feel it started dragging a little in the middle, it was a page turner, but probably not in the good way, I kept hoping something would happen. There were parts that dragged on, maybe a little too descriptive in some places, and it made me lose interest often.
I however did enjoy the characters, Rupert was probably my favourite. Toby was the perfect grumpy love interest. The chemistry between Meghan and Toby was there, I also really enjoyed the friendship between Tess and Meghan.
I personally felt there was this big build up to a reveal, that was really underwhelming in the end.
Will this book make me reach for another one of the authors works? Probably not. Do I regret reading it? Not at all.