Member Reviews
All the Days of Summer is a fun, Nantucket beach read. Like most of the books of this genre and by this author, the main characters have a conflict and then head to Nantucket where they still struggle but they are in Nantucket, so life is good. This story follows the woes of Heather, an unhappy wife, and mother of a son in a relationship with a woman she isn't too sure she likes. There is family drama, unhappiness, choices made, self-exploration, and of course, sand, sun and Nantucket. It is what you would expect for this genre. Most things work at in the end, there is heart ache, and growth with the backdrop and drama of Nantucket. My only complaint is I felt like the story arc with Evelyn and her emotions at different points did not align at earlier points.
I've never had the pleasure of being in Nantucket but thanks to beautiful books like All the Days of Summer by Nancy Thayer, I feel like I have been!
Heather is at a crossroads in her life. She realizes she no longer wants to be married to her husband and her son is graduating from college and infatuated with his girlfriend. Heather gets an offer to move to Nantucket for the summer.
I enjoyed reading All the Days of Summer by Nancy Thayer. The story and characters are wonderful. Happy reading!
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
This was a slog fest. I have enjoyed other books by Nancy Thayer, but this felt much longer than it needed to be. There were lots of repetitive scenes in the book, it was over-descriptive, and the writing sometimes felt very juvenile. I really did enjoy the story idea, but one of the main characters was quite unlikeable, which became a distraction throughout the book for me. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
This is a great story about a woman who finds herself again after a marriage no longer works out. I enjoyed the different points of view in this book. Going back and forth between Heather and Kailee. I formed an opinion at the beginning of the book about these ladies and by the end I saw and felt a different side to that. There is a love story in here but really it is about two women who are finding their footing in the world.
I haven't read very many books by NancyThayer and All The Days of Summer didn't disappoint. It was a easy ready and kept my interest until the very end. Heather and Wall have been married for 23 years when Heather asks for a divorce. Wall and Heather started a hardware store together, Willette's Hardware. It was the plan for Ross, their son to help his father at the hardware store until he breaks the news that he is moving to Nantucket to work with Kailee's father. Kailee is from Nantucket and her father owns a large construction company on the island. All the Days of Summer is a great beach read. Lay out that big beach blanket and settle in for a great read. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and NetGalley for the free copy to read. I am leaving this review on a volunteer basis in return for a free ARC book. #allthedaysofsummer, #NetGalley, #randomhousepublishinggroup-ballantine, #happilyeverafter, #romantic
It’s almost summer, so time for my annual Nancy Thayer book, set in, of course, Nantucket. I enjoyed the book and felt the characters were relatable, particularly Heather. The eventual letting go of your children as they grow and move away resonated with me. When Heather files for divorce from her husband, Wall, she rents a small cottage on Nantucket. Her son Ross has just graduated college, and is moving in to his girlfriend’s house, and working for Kailee’s father. At first, Heather and Kailee are at odds, as Kailee is jealous of Ross’ close relationship with his mother, and is wary of Heather renting a cottage on her home island. Heather’s attempt to become independent after her divorce and make a life for herself was also at the heart of this book. Highly recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
This was my first Nancy Thayer book.
I have never been to Nantucket, but this book made me feel like I had. Such atmosphere in the descriptions of everything, I could just imagine what all the places and people look like. I got lost on the story and enjoyed how it unfolded...everything lost is found is my favorite wording from the book. I very much look forward to reading more by this author!
Thank you #Netgalley and Random House for thus ARC!!
If you are have read Nancy Thayer's books, you know exactly what you are getting and this one is no exception. For those of us who could never afford to vacation on or live on Nantucket, there is certainly a vicarious thrill to be able to feel like you're there. Thayer never disappoints, and there are the typical gentle twists and turns as we reach a happy ending. Oh, if only life really worked this way!
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. It was a great getaway!
I've read several books by Nancy Thayer in the past and have enjoyed them, so when I saw this one I was excited to read it... but I must admit I really struggled to get into it. Right from the beginning I felt a disconnect--- perhaps it was the idea that someone would spend $10,000 a month on a vacation rental that was in desperate need of love. But honestly, while that certainly had me scratching my head wondering who does that, I think it was just the characters that I failed to connect with. Heather is only a little over 10 years older than me, but for whatever reason seemed much older to me... which isn't necessarily bad, but perhaps one of the reasons I failed to connect, being in a completely different stage in life. Kailee also wasn't a super likeable character. While her ability to bring you to a beautiful place through her words can certainly still be seen in this story... overall, I just really couldn't find myself getting into it.
**Complimentary copy received for consideration. All thoughts are my own.
I always love Nancy Thayer’s books, and this is a great story of young love, friendships, and family. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy!
I really enjoyed this well written book by Nancy Thayer. The plot was strong, with realistic characters. The struggle between daughter in law , and mother in law and their complex relationship was believable. I enjoyed watching these characters relationships develop and grow. A great beach read !
Thank you to NetGalley for being able to read this heartwarming and cozy story! This is my first read by Nancy Thayer and won't be my last! It's a great summer book set on an island! It was an enjoyable quick read and I highly recommend it!
Nancy Thayer's All the Days of Summer is an exceptional book. Every reader will find something that relates to their life in this book. This might be Thayer's best book
I’m between 3 and 4 stars and it’s all because of Kailee!
This book has all the great summer book qualities. It’s even set by a beach in Nantucket. And Nantucket is one of my favorite beach book locations thanks to Elin Hilderbrand and Nancy Thayer.
There are lots of wonderful, happy, almost carefree summer days spent eating ice cream and reading.
Heather divorces her husband when their son Ross graduates college.
Heather falsely assumes it’s a given that Ross will move back home and work for the family.
Heather rents a sweet, quirky little beach cottage in Nantucket and plans to restart her life on her own.
Then Heather finds out that Ross and Kailee are actually moving to Nantucket.
When Heather finds out, she makes the mistake of asking Ross not to tell Kailee yet (but when Heather? What was your plan about when to tell Kailee?).
And then awful Kailee runs into Heather and accused her of moving to Nantucket to spy on her and Ross.
Kailee is really unpleasant through most of this book. Around 50% in something happens that requires Kailee to stop being so selfish, but I still wouldn’t claim it made her lovable.
I definitely enjoyed this book but I’d have enjoyed it a good bit more if Kailee was a good bit less.
I read an early ebook edition from NetGalley. Thanks!
All the days of smart is a thoroughly charming beach read by the Queen of Nantucket books, Nancy Thayer! More surprising than predictable, sweet with just a touch of irony. A fresh start for Heather now that her only child has graduated college. A new phase of life for her son and his soon to be fiancé as they graduate college and move fully into adulthood and all that entails. And the unplanned and unexpected twist that brings them both to Nantucket for the summer. Unexpected twists and turns mesh nicely with the predictable and anticipated sub-story lines, and the beautiful island descriptions will leave you wanting to plan your visit. I really enjoyed this story, could easily see where there could be a sequel to it, and would recommend this book to kick off your summer reading 📚😎👍
Really enjoyed this heartwarming, action packed adventure filled with engaging charters, witty dialog, heart racing twists and emotional turns. Highly entertaining and emotionally thrilling journey that is all about family from beginning to end.
Entertaining read for summer. I actually enjoyed this novel by Nancy Thayer more than I've enjoyed her previous ones. The story is a family drama full of twists and turns, the main character Heather is very likeable, although the character of Kailee was annoying and unrealistic. Some of the things she says can be a little cringy, but overall it was a good story with nice descriptions of Nantucket. An easy carefree summer read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.
Review will be posted on 5/18/23
Heather Willette has spent the majority of her life working at her family's hardware store in Concord, Massachusetts, raising her son, Ross, and going through the motions in her less than stellar marriage. After Ross graduates from college, she realizes that her marriage is truly over and she decides to do something for herself for once. She rents a cottage on Nantucket for the summer during her divorce. All of her plans fall into place until Ross announces that he isn't moving home for the summer to help his dad at the hardware store, but instead will be moving to Nantucket with his girlfriend, Kailee, and working at Kailee's family's construction business. Cue the drama. This was especially problematic, because Heather didn't know that Ross would be on the island and she didn't want to seem like she was stalking her son. To complicate matters further, Heather has never really hit it off with Kailee and it is clear that Kailee doesn't really want Heather interfering in the slightest. Whether they are ready for it or not, changes are coming for both Heather, Ross, and Kailee this summer on Nantucket and there's a second chance in store for Heather, too, in All the Days of Summer by Nancy Thayer. It's the Hallmark movies of beach reads that begs to be read on vacation.
I enjoyed the character of Heather from the start of All the Days of Summer. I was desperate for her to get out of her marriage, because it was obvious her husband didn't care. While I questioned her finances and the logistics of leaving her life and moving to Nantucket ($$!!) of all places for the summer, I went with it. I mean it is a beach read, so let's not read into it too much. While there, Heather has a second chance at happiness. She walks the beach, helps out in the town, gets involved with a church, starts seeing someone, spends evenings with a good book, and even picks up a part-time job. It seemed everything was falling into place for her (a little too easy if you ask me), but I was rooting for her. However, her interactions with her future daughter-in-law were cringe worthy. Both of them are at fault for this, but this brings me to Kailee.
I did not care for Kailee from the start in All the Days of Summer. She was manipulative, boring, whiny, insecure, and downright rude. I mean the only reason why she even has a job at the successful Nantucket construction company is because she is an Essex, which is Nantucket royalty. Cue my eye roll. She is the very definition of nepotism and I didn't like how she roped Ross into working with her family for the summer. I questioned whether she even really cared for him at all or just liked controlling him. Needless to say, she was annoying pretty much the entire story, but towards the end she does redeem herself slightly.
My favorite aspect of the novel was the Nantucket setting. Thayer lives there and knows Nantucket well, so it was really brought to life. The restaurants, the beaches, the untouched parts of nature, and the downtown atmosphere were all well done. It made me want to plan a trip immediately and I was dreaming of my own Nantucket cottage vacation. My only issue with All the Days of Summer was the dialogue. I felt like Thayer had a difficult time capturing the dialogue of recent college graduates. The banter between Ross and Kailee did not feel authentic; in fact, I can guarantee people don't talk like that in their twenties. It felt like my grandmother wrote the dialogue.
Nonetheless, All the Days of Summer was a solid beach read about second chances and, ultimately, it was a feel-good read by the end. Fans of Thayer's light beach reads will definitely want to throw this one in their beach bag this summer. So, are you a fan of Thayer? Is this novel on your TBR list?
A lovely story of Heather's new beginning after her marriage ends and her son is starting his new life after college. A summer in Nantucket seems like the perfect getaway at just the right time. This is a delightful read that I highly recommend!