3 stars
It didn't feel like all that much happened in this story honestly. I was very excited about this one, and felt very disappointed by the lack of "thrill" from this thriller. An important topic for sure, but didn't feel like a very well-thought-out story. Not one that I would recommend.

Rachel is a 33 year old who is haunted by a traumatic past. When she was just 18, she fell in love with Alistair, a man 20 years her senior, while backpacking on the Grecian Coast. The events of that summer affect her thoughts, her relationship with her current husband, and her stance on major life decisions. The story unfolds in a "then" and "now" timeline that spans the period of 16 years. I really enjoyed how Ms. Bishop managed to seamlessly weave the two portions of the storyline together into one rather cohesive tale.
The protagonist, Rachel, was rather hard to take at times as she was still making horrendous life decisions based on events that she experienced 16 years in the past. However, when I factored in that she likely has PTSD to trauma she experienced in very young adulthood, it helped me become more empathetic in regard to her character flaws.
The narration of the audiobook is wonderful, and it made the 10 plus hours of a slow burn story much more enjoyable. Though I did have minor issues with the main character and the pacing of the novel, its theme is incredibly important. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants an eye opening view of how much progress we've made in regard to protecting and believing female victims in our society but also acknowledges that we still have a long way to go.

*A special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an audio advance readers copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.*

The book had such a good premise! The back and forth between younger Rachel and older Rachel. The secrets. But the main character just bothered me. She was just so annoying that I couldn’t shake it.

It was okay but a bit boring. I feel like I’ve read too many stories were the girl was absolutely obsessed with the guy. It gets tiresome.

I don't normally go for women's fiction, but I've been seeing this going around in campaigns and wanted to give it a try. It started off similar to domestic suspense - a wife with a past and secrets she's keeping in her unhappy marriage. She has rose-colored-glasses on when it comes to the things that happened one Summer she spent on a little island in Greece when she was 17 - especially when it comes to her relationship with an older man in his 30's.
I struggled to connect with older Rachel in her 30's and the decisions she'd made for herself since that Summer. In fact, I found myself frustrated with her and would've preferred a lot less of the present day timeline and more of the past, because that's where I feel the story is most impactful. I, like many women unfortunately, can connect to the toxic influence of older men when I was a late teenager. I appreciated the exploration of this storyline and how it can affect someone for the rest of their life.
I also enjoyed the narration and would recommend this on audio. Keep in mind this can be hard to listen to at times and there are quite a few triggers (sexual assault, abusive relationships, underage drinking and drug use, depression, etc).
A poignant debut from Bishop, and I think if you appreciate heavier fiction novels, you will want to read this.

Short synopsis: Then: Rachel decides to do a gap year and spend some time on the Greek isles. Now: she’s trying to piece together her past on the Islands, and her relationship with Tom her husband and Alistair her teenage lover.

My thoughts: This was not a blow me away thriller, but I did feel it was more contemporary fiction with mystery elements.

I enjoyed the “then” and “now” time frames as we unravel along with Rachel what exactly happened during her 18th year in Greece. We could see the red flags from a mile away, but I can see how she was manipulated into circumstances she didn’t see coming.

I did a mix of audio and physical of this one and the narrator did a fabulous job.

Read if you love:
- books about the #MeToo movement
- Justice
- Then/now timeframes
- Coming of age
- Finding your truth

There are definitely triggers with this one: rape, abortion, prostitution, coercion, manipulation of power, and suicide so beware of those.

I went into this book blind and I honestly had no idea what to expect. I was expecting a cute summer holiday fiction or romance based on the cover and it was not 100% what I got.

I really enjoyed this on audio. The narration was fabulous. It was easy to follow the then and now timelines and even keeping track of the many characters wasn't hard.

I strongly disliked the now version of the MC due to poor decisions. Overall, I really enjoyed the story and how things played out and that it had such an impactful message throughout the book.

Thanks to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio & St Martin's Press for advance copies in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for this alc. It was difficult read with many triggers about older man abusing young woman, girls. And suicide and depending on wrong people. But that is the cruel world and sitiations could really happened unfortunatelly.

I was curious and wanted to know how and could not believed to what I was listening. But I could fear all happened and what Rachelwanted that would happened. Extremly difficult to understand and sad. But maybe at least a part of justice is made but still so many harm had been made. When there is a damage is really hard to forget even it heals or you want to forget. I think impossible. That is why the book was also so good.

Rachel is still obsessed with Alistair. She has been since they were a teen. She is married and still wonders.
They had a summer romance when she was seventeen on a remote Greek island. He was much older than her and she was seventeen. She really had no idea how controlling he was. On this island there were situations that were hard to read, and the other girls on the island did not seem to have a care in the world. Something happens which changes Rachel's life.
As an adult she goes back to the island with her husband, and old memories resurface.
The timelines go between then and now, and you will see how Rachel's life is shaped and how young and naïve she was.
Triggers: Abuse, Suicide, Drugs,

"Girls of Summer" by Kate Bishop is a coming-of-age novel that follows the adventures of Rachel and her best friend Caroline during a summer vacation in Greece. Despite being underage, the girls embark on a journey to explore the Greek archipelago, staying in hostels and immersing themselves in the vibrant party scene.

The novel paints a vivid picture of the carefree atmosphere and the allure of newfound freedom as Rachel and Caroline indulge in late-night parties and alcohol. However, the story takes a turn when Rachel encounters Alistair, an older businessman who captivates her with his charm and sophistication. Alistair's ability to make all the girls feel special becomes a tool he uses to his advantage, ultimately leading to life-changing consequences for Rachel.

The narrative unfolds through dual timelines, with Rachel serving as the main character. The use of this storytelling technique is effective in this particular novel, allowing readers to gain insight into Rachel's growth and the events that shape her life. However, it should be noted that some parts of the story may require reading between the lines to fully grasp the underlying themes and messages.

Overall, "Girls of Summer" offers a unique perspective on the coming-of-age experience, blending themes of youthful exploration, the consequences of making questionable choices, and the impact of encounters with older, influential individuals. Readers who appreciate atmospheric storytelling and character-driven narratives will find this book intriguing, while those seeking fast-paced excitement may find it less engaging.

A beautiful package, stunning cover, and gorgeous setting.


The story, on the other hand… was not for me. Bummer!


I was pretty excited for this book, and read 70 pages in one sitting. Then it got really unreal, infuriating, and eye-rolling.


The main character, Rachel, really pissed me off. I had to keep reminding myself that she was seventeen and people make stupid decisions when they’re seventeen. But the red flags are burning from the beginning, even for someone that age.


Also, it’s one thing to be stupid at seventeen. But at 34, she was not doing much better LOL
Talk about a person who needs professional help.


And, how real is it that a girl is seventeen, goes to Greece to spend a couple weeks with another seventeen year old friend, and then she calls home and says “well mom, actually, I’ll just stay here”. Would your mom let you? Or would your mom be like mine, fly to Greece, and drag me back home, yelling at me the whole way? LOL

Rachel's marriage is on the rocks. She's hiding things, big things, from her husband Tom. They take a trip to the Greek island she lived on as a teenager, where she worked a summer job and indulged in a wild lifestyle with her girlfriends. When she runs into one of those friends and starts reconnecting with others, she's forced to look at things from a different perspective. The man she was in love with during those days, was he really the knight in shining armor she still thinks he is?

So I thought this book was a thriller and I was disappointed to find out that it's not, not really — it's more of a general fiction with maybe a suspense element. But that's my own fault for not looking closely at the genre tags.

The Girls of Summer is an exploration into the life of a teen girl and the rose-tinted glasses she still wears at age 30-something. This is the part that sort of bugged me, the fact that Rachel as an adult woman with life experience and supposed intelligence would look back on her time on the island and not see anything wrong with it. Obviously she does start to see cracks or we wouldn't have this book, but it takes some serious prodding on the part of others to get her to admit this to herself. Trauma response? Maybe. But it wasn't truly believable for me, and I've had similar experiences. I think most women have. I'm curious to see what others think!!

Thank you to Katie Bishop, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for my advance physical and audio copies.

Thank you MacMillan for this audiobook review copy of The Girls of Summer. For me this is a case of a book not working for me, the narration though is excellent so this issue isn't the production (well done), it really is the book. This is what I call one of the fuzzy books, it starts to me in a way that makes me think I should know what is going on and then it takes a while for the main story to unfold (and not in a satisfying slow burn way); as a reader I just don't care for books that are perhaps intentionally disorienting in this way as it rarely works for me as an audiobook. It does not mean that the topics examined and the plot points aren't important, they are, and there was nothing about the story that was problematic for me (outside of the topics explored but the execution was not problematic).

I still recommend it for readers who are intrigued by the premise, just go in not expecting a thriller per se, more of a slow build mystery/study about women's lives and consent and a general slipperiness that can emerge when relationships and experiences aren't fully understood, processed, or healthy.

The most important thing about this book is you very much need to know what this book is before you start it. It's not a thriller or an easy summer read. It's about consent and older men manipulating young women. It's very Jeffrey Epstein, but told from the perspective of someone who thinks she was in love with one of the summer's abusers.

I did know what I was going into so I appreciated the story. However, I found the main character deeply unlikeable, and I wanted more Greece, selfishly.... but honestly the older timeline could have taken place anywhere.

Okay, while I'm so thankful to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, Katie Bishop, and NetGalley, this was just not the one for me. NetGalley had made it out like this was a mystery/thriller to die for, and I just wasn't getting those vibes. There are definitely some triggering subjects such as sexual assault and domestic violence, but I couldn't stay interested in this book.

This book was somewhat mismarketed. I had requested it under the assumption that this was a thriller. However, another reviewer had warned me that this was actually more of a literary mystery. Going in with that expectation helped me review it a bit more objectively, but I think many readers will think they're getting a suspense and be disappointed. The Girls of Summer is a slow burn type of book with then/now timelines. There are dark themes with ramifications years later. I've discovered that literary mystery is not my personal favorite in terms of genres, but I think this was solid nonetheless.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing access to this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

You might see three stars and think to yourself, “Oh, this book must not be that good.” In this case, I would disagree and still recommend you read it! I completed this read via audiobook. The narrator was exceptional in making me sympathize with our main character, even when she was being a naive fool. I felt SO BAD for this girl. I think I was expecting a bit more of an emotional punch from the book’s ending, however. I think there will be a lot of readers who love this book, and some readers who thought it was just okay. It was fun to read a book set in Greece for a change! If you’re looking for more heart-shattering moments, please check out Muted by Tami Charles.

A timely cautionary tale that I think young women should pay special attention to. If you have someone like that in your life, I would consider gifting them this book. It's not necessarily a new story, it's a tale as old as time, but we are seeing it with new eyes in this era and hopefully our girls will learn from the things we weathered. If we can pass something down to the next generation in this way, that would be great.

Rachel's husband Tom is taking her on a romantic getaway to the Greek island she inhabited for the most formative summer of her life. She was only 17.

It has the opposite effect as he intended. Instead of bringing them closer, she's flooded with memories and regrets. She dreams of recapturing the simplicity of her youth.

We soon find out that summer is not as simple and innocent as she may remember. Not long after arriving, she meets Alistair, an older man who woos her and her friends with his nice parties and work opportunities. She thinks they have something special but he disappears after that summer, leaving their torrid summer affair behind him.

As she reconnects with others from that summer, they put the puzzle pieces together and what is laid bare isn't innocent, but rather very ugly and perverted.

Rachel never got over that summer. At a crossroads in her marriage where she should be moving forward, she still chases that fleeting sense of freedom and power that only comes with youth. We only get it once. This made me feel a little long in the tooth myself.

Love, loss, betrayal, consent, grooming. Even as an adult she doesn't know what happened to her but with new times come new views and what was once buried is coming to the surface.

This was a great story. Rachel is not the most likable main character, with her coldness to her husband and her constant vibe of disarray, but that's not the point. It's not that kind of story. I think the flaws were the point and it is supposed to be somewhat uncomfortable and disturbing. You're supposed to internally scream sometimes. It's a warning and a lesson.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the chance to listen and review. The audio narration was wonderful as well.

I really enjoyed the narration on this book- it was read and acted well which supported the story telling.

I found the book a little slow paced and some of the mystery should have been unveiled earlier. Nonetheless, I did think this raised some interesting issues that were handled sensitively and with a good storyline.

Overall, I’d recommend this book.

While the narration in The Girls of Summer: A Novel by Katie Bishop is absolutely top-notch, the execution of the story leaves a lot to be desired. I was expecting something way more fast-paced than this, not a breakneck thriller spread, but it shouldn't take half of the book for the reader to have any real idea of what is going on and what the mystery is. I need any thriller, mystery, or suspense novel I read to grab my attention in the first 20% of the book, and unfortunately, this one just didn't do that for me.