Another good one by Nancy Thayer that makes you want to move to Nantucket, hit the beaches, shops, historical sites and of course the Chicken Box to dance and drink. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this novel before publication. The story moves rapidly as the 2 sisters begin new ventures in Nantucket. If you like a feel good book you will enjoy this one.

I loved this story of two siblings struggling with grief and new beginnings on the atmospheric setting of Nantucket. I recommend this book for anyone who likes messy family dramas, reads that take place on a beach but aren't beachy, and books about sisters.

The Summer We Started Over is a delightful story about sisters and family. I love the Nantucket beach setting. Barrett's dream of opening her gift shop is finally coming true so her sister Eddie decides to leave New York and return to Nantucket for a month to help her. There is family drama and romance galore. With the emotional ending, you will need plenty of tissues handy. This book is a page-turner, add it to your reading list. Thanks to author Nancy Thayer, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I have found that when ever I want to read a book that is refreshing, relaxing, and just a feel-good book, I always look to Nancy Thayer. Her books have heart and this is one of my new favorites. Everyone needs a second chance at love and happiness and that's just what this book does. Set in Nantucket (a dreamy place), Barrett and Eddie, along with heir dad find new life one summer after so much loss and heartache. Each are trying to discover what lies ahead in their future and could they reach their dreams. I love the richness of the characters and especially Dinah who blows in like a fresh breeze, so full of life and happiness, like the good fairy in a fairy tale. Add to this, we have the sad dad who discovers that life is not over and what a cute matchup he has. A bit of sadness though reminiscent of the movie Beaches or Fried Green tomatoes, but this only adds to the sweetness of the characters finding what is important in life and the importance of family and love. I would love to have these characters' stories continue. This is a sweet summer romance story that you may enjoy. I did. Many thanks to #netgalley #nancythayer #thesummerwestartedover for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was such a sweet book! I loved the characters, and their love story. The dialogue was realistic and enjoyable.

Eddie Grant loves her life as a personal assistant to famous author Dinah Lavender. She loves the hustle and bustle of New York City and as someone who eventually wants to write her own novel, Eddie finds working for Dinah affords her great opportunities. There are times, however, she misses the sweet air of home, her ex-boyfriend, and her family. When Nantucket and her family call her home for the summer, she decides to go. This choice will forever change her life.

The sweet simplicity of this book is what I truly loved about this book. It reminds us all about the importance of friendship, family, and finding happiness. The Summer We Started Over is the perfect summer beach read. Thank you NetGalley for an arc of Nancy Thayer's newest novel.

Years ago, when I was fumbling my way through a divorce, a new marriage, family (siblings) issues, and moving to a new place, I stumbled onto a book by Nancy Thayer and found it somehow soothing. It had a happy ending, and it just felt like everyone in the story had found their footing and was going to be fine. I guess the genre was romance, although I wasn’t a fan of the “bodice-ripper” romance novels that seemed to be everywhere back then. So I have periodically picked up a Nancy Thayer book when things seemed bleak…and generally enjoyed them.

Ms. Thayer’s latest Nantucket-based story is “The Summer We Started Over,” and it is categorized “General Fiction/Romance/Women’s Fiction.” Frankly, I have no idea what differentiates women’s fiction from the other two categories, but I have been sinking into darkness lately after ingesting way too much news and true crime, so I was happy to dive in to the book when Random House/Ballantine and NetGalley provided a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Like me, Ms. Thayer lives in a resort town on the ocean, and it sounds much like my home town, which is filled with a mixture of locals/longtime residents as well as summertime vacationers from Silicon Valley as well as tons of people who have made a fortune in tech and can afford to pay millions for a house. “The old money people never wore designer clothing or flashy jewelry, unlike the new money people who wore their wealth like blinking neon signs.”

The family at the center of this new book is the Grants: father is a former professor of literature who has moved his two young adult daughters to Nantucket following the death of the son/brother who has recently been tragically killed, leaving behind a baby and the mom, who had been a childhood friend of the two Grant daughters, Eddie and Barrett. Barrett stayed on the island with their father while Eddie went to New York, living with and working for one of the “most famous and renowned romance authors in the business.” Their mother left the three of them before the whole family drowned in grief. After two years without a day of vacation, Eddie goes back to Nantucket to help her sister launch a new tourist-focused gift shop business and care for their father (who is very able but clearly depressed and lonely, having become a book hoarder.

When she gets back, Eddie finds her sister resentful because Eddie escaped and their father becoming increasingly eccentric. Eddie picks up her old romance with a man she truly loved, Barrett’s gift shop is a huge success, and their father…well, when Eddie invites the famous and glamorous author to come stay with them for the summer, I thought “really? The dad will fall in love with the author, Barrett will find a new love, and Eddie will decide to settle down and they will all become one big happy family.”

I don’t do spoilers, but I’ll just say reading this was like a soothing massage for my brain. When a book is well written, it can be very enjoyable even when the reader knows exactly where it is probably going. Being pretty sure there will be a happy ending for most if not all of the characters doesn’t diminish the enjoyment one bit.

For fans of Nancy Thayer, “beach reads,” family stories without violence , and what I guess must be “women’s fiction,” this one is a solid four stars. For fans of “romance,” I imagine it will be five. Whatever, it was nice to escape for a day or two with a reassuringly pleasant book.

An easy summer read about the love of family and the many looks it takes on. Seemed at times too breezy with disconnected thoughts between the characters. I smiled through out the book and cried at the end. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC

The Summer We Started Ov er
by Nancy Thayer
Pub Date: April 23, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Two sisters reconnect and pursue their dreams on the beautiful island of Nantucket, overcoming life’s challenges and finding new love, in this heartwarming and hopeful novel by New York Times bestselling author Nancy Thayer.
Thayer has become one of my favorite writers.
Rating: 5 stars
Brief Summary: Follows a family living on Nantucket over the course of a life-changing summer
What I Enjoyed: The characters were very well developed. The story was similar to an Elin Hildebrand novel or a Debbie Macomber novel. I felt like I was in the story.
What I Disliked: Some of the chapters were a little long

I thoroughly enjoyed this heartwarming story about two sisters, Eddie and Barrett Grant, spending a summer together at their home on Nantucket. Eddie works for famous romance author Dinah Lavender in New York City but returns to the home she only lived in for a year to help care for their father while Barrett opens her dream gift shop. She only plans to stay for a month. Their father, William, has been hoarding books and remaining somewhat of a recluse since his divorce from the girls’ mother years before. Their brother died and left behind Dove and their young son.

A lot takes place during the summer. Barrett is thrilled her new shop is a success and finds herself dating two men, trying to figure out if one is right for her. Eddie gets her father to agree to let her open a used bookshop in their barn to get rid of as many of the books crowding the house as possible and reconnects with her former boyfriend, Jeff. Dinah comes to spend the summer with them after she fears she’s being stalked. Dove and her young son return to Nantucket and Dove shares a secret she’s been keeping. Big changes are in store for the entire family.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Excellent beach read set in, of course, Nantucket. Two sisters are spending the summer with their father while one is opening a shop. The other sister is assiduously avoiding her old boyfriend b/c, of course, she still loves him.

If anyone can take us to Nantucket, it’s Nancy Thayer. Every time I read one of her books, I want to visit Nantucket since I’ve never been. Sounds like a magical place and a place I would love to visit. I could totally work in Barrett’s gift shop or even Eddie and her dad’s barn selling used books. I loved this story. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published April 2024.

You cant beat family drama situations that take place on Nantucket! I am more of an Elin reading when it comes to Nantucket but Nancy Thayer doesn't disappoint. This would be a perfect beach read, or in this case for me, a perfect getaway from cold winter days while I spent my time reading about the Grant family during their summer on Nantucket.
My favorite part was I could just enjoy the escape.

I am extremely grateful to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. My last Nancy Thayer book I thoroughly enjoyed, but this one I found very hard to get in to. The characters and setting were great, but it just seemed to go on without a whole lot of substance. If you are after a predictable, feel-good book, then this one is just that.

I loved the dynamic's of Nancy Thayer's new book The Summer We Started Over.
Eddie Grant tells her boss that she is taking an extended vacation to Nantucket to help her sister Barrett who is opening up her dream store a gift shop in time for Memorial Day weekend and she needs help. When Eddie arrives home she discovers her dad a collector of books has basically become a horder and you can hardly move through the house because it’s so overrun with books.
Their mother was never much of a mom and when she finally left for good their dad William quit his professor job and practically became a hermit shutting himself off from society.
Eddie is a person assistant to Dinah Lavender a famous romance writer who has to have assistance with everything she does and freaked out when Eddie left until the Grant family invited her to the family home while Eddie is moral support for her sister and she gets the house back in order while dealing with other unique drama situations.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for ARC of this book.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Eddie is thrilled to be back home in Nantucket with her father and sister. While hone, she meets her ex boyfriend who she us still in love with. I enjoyed this book.

Eddie Grant loves her life and work as an assistant to a renown romance author. She feels like she needs a break and decides to go home for the grand opening of her sisters gift shop. Eddie, her father and sister moved to a small farm on Nantucket after her the sudden death of her brother and her mother leaving. After escaping to Manhattan, Eddie doesn’t know if she can rebuild a relationship with her family. I love this story of family, tragedy and rebuilding relationships.


Thanks to Nancy Thayer and Random House Publishing-Ballantine

Sweet, family, beachy book. I always think of Nancy Thayer books as really good, light reads that make you want to plan your next visit to the beach - and this one was no different. Her dreamy descriptions of beach-town life are wonderful (and totally remind me of going to Fire Island as a kid). I liked the relationship between the two sisters and also how they cared for their dad. I like that the ending was pretty much wrapped up with a bow. I had a little bit of a hard time believing Dove’s storyline, but besides that the rest was very sweet & I enjoyed the book!

I was delighted to get to read Nancy Thayer’s newest book as I have always enjoyed her writing. I was somewhat disappointed with this one. It is set in Nantucket and the area was wonderfully described and it certainly placed me right in the middle of the lovely beach setting. She is a master of describing the ocean, the town, the homes, and the year round residents. Each of her characters was beautifully introduced and believable but the story did not continue to hold my attention or get me really involved as her books usually do. There were no surprises to it. I did not really find a lot of interest in continuing to read it. But I read all of it. Usually I do not want to put her book down but this is not the case here. I acknowledge that other readers loved it but sadly I am not highly recommending it. I will continue to be a fan of this author.

I wish to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing House - Ballantine Books for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Two sisters reconnect In Nantucket a -lace I love to read about. Eddie is working for Dinah Lavender ,a famous author but glamour is not always what we all think it is. Eddie’s sister Barrett is opening her own gift shop she has saved forever for …and couple use all the help she can. They both come back to the farm even if it’s a sad place. Their brother passed and mom high tailed it out of there but they had there father still who is trying to write a book with no avail. Dinah decides to help and him and she actually makes him happy again and the Eddie and Barrett find their own happiness as well.