The setting is beautiful, the writing is beautiful, but character development fell short. If you're a fan of historical fiction and espionage with a touch of romance, this novel will scratch that itch.

The story was suspenseful and heartbreaking. I loved Shep and was so happy that Emilia ended up with him. I do think it was odd that Shep was constantly described as big and other synonyms which became overkill.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Summerly bounces back and forth between the summer of 1946 and Spring 1954. The tale is set on the fictional Winthrop Island, located in New England. It is a tale of the haves and the have nots. The rich New England families that summer on the Island and bring along the outside world. WWII has ended and people are returning to their normal lives. Summers on the island, while grieving the dead, but celebrating that they are alive. One of the newcomers this summer is Olive Rainsford. She is the aunt of the families on the island and has come to summer there with her three kids. Rumors abound about her children's lineage and why she is there. Emilia Winthrop, family named for the island even though they no longer own any part of it, works for Olive in the cottage taking care of the kids. As Emilia spends time with her, Olive shares her world and political views, some that are quite racy for that time frame.

Then, Sumner Fox appears on the island. His cover story is that he is a writer, trying to finish his novel. However, Emilia quickly learns that he is an FBI agent, in need of Emilia's help, that Olive is actually a Soviet spy and sending secrets back to Russia. The story weaves back and forth until the ending that is quite shocking.

Nothing of interest happens on this book. I found it so boring and kinda all over the place. It just wasn’t for me.

I really love Beatriz Williams books and The Beach at Summerly was another great one! I mostly listened to the audio version and enjoyed it so much. Saskia Maarleveld is one of my favorite narrators so of course I eagerly picked it up whenever I had time to listen. I quickly became immersed in Emilia's life and those on Winthrop Island. I love the whole Soviet spy angle and couldn't listen fast enough so I could find out what happens!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 27 June 2023

This wasn't my favorite, but I think that historical fiction lovers might like it. To me there were too many characters, and I literally closed the book and though I don't get it. Also, I personally don't like books that switch back and forth between time periods. I did like the element of mystery. I liked the setting. And the characters were intriguing.

I found this book to be very confusing and hard to get into. The main character isn't very likable. There are also a lot of other characters that don't really add anything to the story.

Emilia Winthrop has lived on Winthrop Island forever. Many visitors, when they realize she is one of "the" Winthrops, do not realize that being that family has come to mean a life of servitude to the wealthy Peabody's who now own much of the island. Emilia has always been good friends with the Peabody's - her first crush being Amory and her best friend forever being Shep. After the War and the loss of her own brother, the Peabody brothers and their family return to the island battered, shattered and different. Emilia and the Peabody's try to navigate their new realities after the losses they have endured. The Peabody brothers' aunt, Olive Rainsford, joins the family on the island and hires Emilia to watch her children while she works. As Emilia becomes closer to Olive, she is drawn into a government mission to break up a spy ring.


I love Beatriz Williams, and this latest offering did not disappoint. I love the setting - immediately after the war, and I like how it there were flashbacks, but these installments were only about 10 years apart instead of a lifetime apart. Page turner of a historical fiction book - highly recommend this book and this author if historical fiction is your genre!

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC. This was better than some of her more recent ones I’ve tried to read but sadly her books don’t seem to reach the level of A Hundred Summers, Along The Infinite Sea and Tiny Little Thing for me anymore. Maybe it’s me!

The Beach at Summerly is historical fiction set across two decades, with a beautiful beach house set as a backdrop.

This was a fascinating story of espionage, with a dash of romance, and I loved the New England island setting.

I love Beatriz Williams books. They are always verry well written, she has a way of pulling you into the story. This was another excellent book! I loved it.
I just reviewed The Beach at Summerly by Beatriz Williams. #TheBeachatSummerly #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

Beatriz Williams is one of my favorite fiction writers, and her books always hit the mark.
I have to say, unfortunately, that The Beach at Summerly was not my favorite. The book is not bad, but it feels that the characters don't reveal themselves to us fully. We truly don't get to know them enough to truly care for them. They seem flat and there seems to be a distant feeling to them where they truly never connect with the reader.
Williams as always is a fantastic writer, and this book is not exempt to her writing talents. But the characters and the story felt a little bit rushed.

This was an awesome read- a mix of political intrigue, betrayal, a beautiful island setting...what's not to like?

The Beach at Summerly by Beatrice Williams is a captivating read that combines elements of politics, history, and intrigue to create an engaging story. Set in a historical backdrop, the book weaves a rich tapestry of characters and events, drawing the reader into a world filled with secrets and suspense.

One of the standout features of the book is its well-crafted political intrigue, which adds depth and complexity to the narrative.

The historical setting provides a vivid backdrop that enhances the storytelling. Williams' attention to historical accuracy allows readers to immerse themselves in the time period and gain a deeper understanding of the characters and their motivations.

Overall, "The Beach at Summerly" is a highly enjoyable book that combines political intrigue with a historical setting to create a compelling story. If you appreciate well-developed characters and a richly detailed world, this book is definitely worth a read. Beatrice Williams has delivered a gripping narrative that will keep you hooked until the very end.

Beatriz Williams does what she does best in the Beach at the Summerly, bringing to light a lesser-known historical event in this post-WWII home front novel. The novel flashes back between the present date 1953 where Amelia Winthorpe is a professor of American history at Wellesley College and 1946 when she is young adult living on Winthorpe Island working as a nanny for Olive Peabody a rich mom of young children. Olive is keeping a secret, which Amelia is forced to uncover. Operating in the background is the relationship between the wealthy Peabodys, owners of Summerly, and the other residents of the island, much less wealthy including the Winthorpes whose ancestors for whom the island received its name, but now work in service to the Peabodys.

I liked that this story was told in layers, as all good stories are, so you see the different pieces of the puzzle but you don't know how the pieces are interconnected until the book progresses quite a bit. Behind the basic plot line, the novel asks us important questions about: 1) how different people recover and move forward from war; 2) how war impacts how people from different classes interact; and, 3) how far people will go for their ideals even when they compromise their personal circumstances. At times I was frustrated with the choices the characters made, which is perhaps the sign of a well-written story. The plot line kept me guessing until almost the very end of the book, which is something I always enjoy.

Overall, I give the Beach at the Summerly, 5 stars!

Thanks to Net Galley and William Morrow for this book. I will post this review on Goodreads, Bookbub and Amazon.

Once again Beatriz Williams succeeds in writing an interesting and engrossing story with complex characters, an intriguing plot, and an endearing setting. But what I found different about this book is that she also deals with a piece of history that I did not not know much about (I found her notes at the end of the story helpful). I was so afraid at one point in the story that she was going to kill off a major character (some of the clues seemed to lead that way) and I was trying to steel myself to accept that break of trust from her, but thankfully she resolved everything at the end and stayed true to her style of story.

This was a good historical fiction that takes place in the post WWII and Cold War era on the same island as The Summer Wives (my favorite book by Beatriz Williams) takes place with some overlapping characters as well. I read it quickly and was immersed in the period!

As much as I wanted to love this book, I simply couldn't get into it. The beginning was slow and the characters felt a bit too distant for me.

I was inventorying new releases this morning and this cover caught my eye. I thought I’d just take a peek and read the first chapter with my morning tea to check it out. Big Mistake! Next thing I know an hour had passed and I can’t put this book down. It’s got an engaging plot, likable characters and all the summery, beachy vibes.

Aside from the dual timeline of 1946 and 1954, the book is a combination of Cold War intrigue , along with a story of family relationships. Emilia is the daughter of the caretaker of the Peabodys’ summer home, Summerly, on Winthrop Island. Always close with the sons of the Peabodys, Emilia has a strong relationship with Shep. When Olive, Shep’s aunt, moves into the cottage on the grounds, everything will change for Emilia. I enjoyed the Cold War aspect of post WWII America, as well as the family dynamics. Recommended for a very satisfying read. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

The Beach at Summerly – Beatriz Williams

Beatriz Williams does it again in this tale surrounding two families with seemingly nothing in common but location. Wealthy families, including the Peabodys, arrive on Winthrop Island each summer brining energy to the otherwise quiet lives of the locals, including the Winthrops and their children. When war comes, families stopped visiting and the fancy homes remain boarded up for years. When the war is over, the Peabodys and Winthrops find themselves together again. However, nothing will be the same. Filled with love, loss and secrets, The Beach at Summerly is a page-turner.