I was expecting something different with this story, but I was pleased with what I got. I liked the way it was written - split timelines.

If you are sensitive, I warn you to check the trigger warnings.

This was a really hard read but a really impactful one. I found the character growth and the journey of the protagonist coming to terms with what had happened to her very compelling. The story was really well written; I liked the structure of the two different timelines. I recommend this book but I fully believe that people should read the trigger warnings first.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press, #partner for the advanced copy of The Girls of Summer in exchange for my honest review.

Don’t be fooled by this gorgeous cover…this is not the romantic, summery read you want it to be. And how it’s a debut it beyond me!

This book, with its lush writing that transports you to Greece, so easily shows the tricks our memory can play on us as well as the lies we tell ourselves just go get by. Told using a dual timeline, we follow Rachel when she is seventeen on a holiday to Greece with her friend Caroline where she meets an older man and starts a secret romance. Now, sixteen years later, Rachel is married to Tom and has come back to the island, only to find out she is still haunted by all that happened that one summer.

This is not always an easy read, with the heavy themes such as abuse, trauma and consent. It’s thought-provoking and very timely and is one that I have not stopped thinking about, even though I read it a while back. Sometimes, it’s easier to lie to ourselves than accept the truth of what really happened.

I did not finish this one. To no fault of the book. I just had a lot going on. Thanks for the advance reader copy,

The cover and synopsis convinced me to read this book and the beginning seemed promising, however the more I read the less I like the main character Rachel and the less the plot surprised me. I was waiting for a big reveal of what happened in the past, but nothing revealed surprised me. I found any "reveal" fairly obvious. The timeline was constantly shifting which could've added to the suspense but only added to my confusion.

Seventeen-year-old Rachel takes a summer holiday to a Greek island and is seduced into an affair with Alistair, a man 20 years her senior.
As a teenager on vacation in an exotic location, she easily falls under his spell. In the present, fifteen years later and married to someone else, she still recalls those carefree days, unable to accept that an older man took advantage of her. While readers see the toxic relationship for what itth was, Rachel doesn't. THE GIRLS OF SUMMER is an exploration of what happens when young girls are exploited by older men. The effect on their self-esteem, friendships, and lives is profound. Part suspense, the story unfolds from Rachel's point of view in the both the present and past with an undertone of impending doom. Bishop does a fantastic job of shining a light on an issue that still exists in today's society.

While I really tried, I just didn’t find myself engaged in this story. I think it just wasn’t for me, but I think many will enjoy.

This book took me by surprise, I did not expect it to turn the way that I did, but we go back-and-forth between Rachel when she was 17 or 18 years old, and the Rachel now who is an adult and a married woman. Her and her husband go to Greece for a vacation, and he takes her around to the places that she used to reminisce about, but somehow she is very uneasy.. then of course we end up finding out that this beautiful island in Greece brings back horrible memories for her, aside from its beauty and the great times that she did have.

This book was a little confusing, because even though we know there are more sinister things going on when Rachel decides to stay in the island and work at a bar, she falls in love with a slightly older man, and somehow she is being brainwashed, and it’s so painful to read. And then, as an adult, what she made her husband go through was horrible, it was hard for me to really like Rachel. I don’t want to give too much away, but I loved the ending of the book more than anything, because the women that were part of her past in Greece, somehow get their voices back, and they are starting to rebuild that was inspirational, but ugh RACHEL!! 😒😒😡😡

The novel's exploration of themes such as consent, trauma, and the female gaze is both timely and relevant. Bishop's characters are complex and multifaceted, and their motivations are often ambiguous. The narrative is gripping, and the suspense builds steadily as Rachel uncovers shocking truths about her past.

The Girls of Summer is a compelling and intellectually stimulating novel that will stay with you long after you've finished the final page.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a tough book. The protagonist is in such deep denial for so long that it was difficult for me not to constantly judge her and want to speed up her moment of clarity. For the reason, I found that it dragged even though I commend the author’s writing and style.

Not a mystery or psychological thriller as I was somewhat expecting at the outset.

The setting of this one is what got me. Greece is a bucket list travel destination! However, once I got into the story, it was just a little too slow for me. I tried a combo of audio and physical to see if the audio would help, but while the narrator was good, I still couldn't get myself into the story, I found myself zoning out both while reading and listening and missing things. Thank you SMP and Netgalley for the ARC though!

This is a work of fiction with dark themes pertaining to when Rachel revisits the island where she fell in love with an older man and the that come back to her in the process. It was a very slow burn and honestly not what I was expecting.

Thank you to St Martin’s Press and netgalley for an arc.

The title and the cover leaded me to believe it was a fun summer book- it kis kinda far from it. Its a slow-paced thriller jumping from timeline pas and present. The topic was dark and scary how easily young women can be manipulated and exploited. I am giving it 2 stars because I just did not enjoy the story. The writing was well done and I will try another book from this author. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was really excited for this one based on the Greece setting and summer-y girl power vibes. But unfortunately this title was a DNF for me. The story was too slow burn and I didn’t feel invested in the characters so I wasn’t getting into it at all. Nothing was wrong with the writing or the audiobook narrator, just not the right book content for me right now. Maybe I’ll try again in the future! Thanks for the copy anyways Katie and SMP!

**Spoilers

This was an engrossing drama that was done well and highlighted how easy human trafficking can occur. What felt like love to a teen girl during a summer spent in Greece was actually far more sinister. It's crazy to think that it can really be as simple as this book made it out to be but I've no doubt it probably is. Hearing how the girls willing participated in partying (and more) without even necessarily realizing what was happening was scary as a mom of girls. Then there was a bit of sadness for me knowing how deeply Rachel loved the one man who was responsible for it happening. How she was still obsessed fifteen years later when she's married speaks volumes about what she thought was going on that summer. Overall, Bishop did a fantastic job of making Rachel a sympathetic, albeit naive character.

*** 3.5 ⭐️ ***

At the young age of 17, on a trip to Greece before starting University, Rachel encounters a world that is too good to be true and, even when the darkness comes, she still believes that all was right and good.

Rachel, with her childhood friend, vacations to Greece before starting University and becomes embroiled in a seedy underworld, all the while coloring it as "young love" and doing everything she can to clear the name of the only important person in her life.

It's hard to describe the feelings of reading different accounts of people involved in the #metoo movement, even under the guise of non-fiction. On the one hand, being enthralled by the attention of older men, while still youthful, might be complimentary and unusual, it is definitely not ok to be taken advantage of (although sometimes it's hard to see the forest for the trees!) and, on the other hand, to be an older version of yourself and recognize the situations that you've been placed in, under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol and at the mercy of your "captors," it has to be a jarring situation to have others continually tell you that it was wrong, and your memories were lies. Rachel was not a headstrong girl; she was easily manipulated, as were most of the other characters in this story (whether by having familial discord, "daddy issues," or trying to find themselves). The men in this story, who knew better, weren't as evilly described as one would have thought - they weren't hideous monsters but men who provided a lifestyle and sanctuary for lost girls. At first, not going into the story with the mindset that bad things were going to happen, it seemed like a story of a girl who fell in love with an older man on vacation. The further into the story, it became very apparent that there was more afoot and, because of the dual timeline, the present tense explained more of what was hidden on the dark side that Rachel had closed her eyes to. All in all, this was a conflicting story with hard truths coming to light.

According to the author, in the acknowledgments: This book is about Rachel, but it is also about and for all women who have not been believed, who endured indignity and disrespect, who have spoken out, and who haven't yet been able to speak out. Your strength and power are beyond measure."

This ARC was provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I'm sorry but this book was not for me. I did end up DNFing after about 30%.

I found the main character Rachel whiny and ungrateful. Pining after a man (much older than her) with whom she had a fling with at the age of 17. 16 years later she has not matured. She's the same self conscious, unconfident person she was then. Now married she still wants a man who was likely predatory. The first time they have sex he comments "you are so young'. Ewww. Sorry. If this was him luring and grooming her, then I would have sympathy. She wanted him and did everything she could get him, from the moment she met him. 16 years later she seeks him out despite the fact that I am assuming he was caught up in illegal behaviours based on the little information that had be given thus far.

I don't mind a slow, atmospheric burn, in fact I quite like them. This was boring, frustrating and the main character was very hard to sympathize with, listen to, and root for. This was not for me.

Never judge a book from it's cover. I learn this time and time again, and this book is the latest reminder. To me the cover suggests a carefree summer - maybe with a bit of sneaking around - but the actual story underneath is dark, uncomfortable, and thought provoking in a post #metoo era. The Girls of Summer is a slow atmospheric read, not a fast paced thriller. Overall the story lacked excitement, drive or mystery. Even even with alternating between past and present timelines, things progressed slowly. That said a fair amount of the trauma experienced by the main characted is thought provoking and showed how easily a vulnerable young woman can be manipulated or exploited.

I'm middle of the road with this one. While it wasn't a bad read, I wasn't as invested as I like to be with reads like this. I found there were places the story dragged for me. I did love that the setting was in Greece (a long time goal of mine to visit) and that added to what I liked and kept me reading. It has a theme of how easy it is to be taken advantage of and also just how manipulative teenagers can be. With a then and now approach it's nice to see the before. Overall a good read.

An atmospheric book set in Greece where a group of young women are taking their gap year to enjoy the culture. They work at a bar where the drinks flow and they dance with the tourists. They live rent free in a house owned by their boss, but they quickly find out that there is a dangerous underbelly to their employer.