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.

This was a dual timeline book that didn't capture me in the present but I was captivated by the past. Trying to put together pieces of the past this one was not quite a thriller but mystery that had me intrigued

Thank you so much for this ARC!

Truthfully, the book was very hard to get into and I decided to try again a year later, on audio. The audio book held my attention much longer.

The setting is amazing, what is not to love about being young, carefree and falling in love in Greece. Aside from that, there is no more razzle dazzle. This book is heavy, serious and very slow moving. The main character is just not a person I cared for - her poor decision making, risking her great life with a wonderful husband for a summer affair in Greece by a man that got her pregnant and didn't care.

Again, I did listen and it was an enjoyable read, however there was no true climax to the story (I was waiting!). The MeToo movement doesn't become truly apparent and discussed until the last 10% of the book.

I'm drawn to books set in Greece because I studied abroad there during college and it was one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to. I really wanted to love this book, but overall I was really disappointed. To me it was marketed as a female empowerment thriller with a #MeToo narrative. That is not what I got.

Rachel and her friend, Caroline, decide to spend a summer living abroad in Greece. This summer is the final one before their last year of school and want to do something that makes them feel a sense of freedom and independence. Rachel takes to Greece really well. She loves it there and befriends a group of girls who bring her into their fold - working at a bar together and attending lavish parties at the mansion of their employer. To Rachel, it all feels like a dream, especially when she meets Alistair. Alistair is older and also employed by the same employer. Rachel falls head over heels for him. The dream slowly becomes a nightmare, but Rachel doesn't seem to recognize it and continues down a path of destruction.

The book is told in alternating timelines - past and present. In the present day, Rachel is 30 and married, but she is still stuck on the past and her obsession with Alistair. This book is dark. I don't mind dark books, however, I feel that there should be some redeeming qualities in a dark book - like characters you can root for. Unfortunately, I found Rachel awful. She was incredibly self-involved, naive, immature, and ignorant. And as an adult, she doesn't get much better. I found it incredibly hard to believe that a seventeen year old was that oblivious to the disturbing things going on around her and that she would continue to staunchly defend abusers.

Although the story kept my interest, I didn't particularly enjoy it. It almost felt like I needed a shower while reading it. The writing itself was good, but I'm not sure if I'd want to read another book by Bishop.

Beware of all of the trigger warnings on this book: Non-Consensual Sexual Relations, Abuse, Substance Use, Grooming, Exploitation, etc.

I tried a few times to get into this book and really struggled. I think the themes of age, consent, and early formative relationships are really important but I struggled with the rambling content and a strong dislike for every character. I didn’t feel much interconnection between the main players and while I’ve had similar experiences, the dark undertones and cheating made me pull back from the content pretty heavily. Overall not for me but I do feel like there were important things to be said here.

While reading this, all I could think is what a good Hulu series this would make for. I am down for books to read in the summer that leave me entertained, connected to friendships and that I am sucked into like a bucket of popcorn. And this did that!

I loved this book! It was well written and transported me to the Greek Isles as the Girls of Summer tells the story of girls who end up working on the island in a local bar. Occasionally they're called up to the BIG HOUSE owned by Henry, and sinister and salacious things happen up there. When a body of one of the Summer Girls is found, an investigation into Alaister and Henry and the girls reveals secrets.

DNF. I can’t do the weak, begging for acceptance thing. I cannot relate and it becomes annoying especially when it’s a grown woman who is whiny and needy.

This is a book that reads more lit fic than thriller. I don't know if I can say I enjoyed this one, but I did feel engaged with Rachel and her story throughout the dual timelines. She's cruel, vindictive.. a lot naive. It makes for an interesting protagonist, even if you're reading because you loathe her. It was a bit difficult to actually connect with her, but the overall story made for a compelling read overall.

This was a sloooooow read for me, took me a chunk, it was easy to get back into when I would pick it back up. If you like to read heavier topics in heavily character driven stories, this one may be a hit for you!

This review may be *slightly* biased because I was lucky enough to read this book while on a trip to Greece, so I was completely immersed in the atmosphere of the story. This book starts off with reminiscing of a dream summer holiday of freedom and youth, and slowly gets darker as the events of the past are brought to the narrator's present under new light. Since this book deals with relationships with an unbalanced power dynamic, readers should be aware of the trigger warnings of grooming, sexual abuse, and suicide. Ultimately, this is a story of healing, but it can be dark and unsettling to get there. Fans of My Dark Vanessa will really enjoy this book, and I know it's one that will stay with me for a long time to come.