First, thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. Nancy Thayer again visits Nantucket and this time involves the reader in the lives of two sisters who are looking for happiness. Their lives turned upside down when their mother divorced their professor father and their brother was killed in an accident. The sisters moved with their father to the island. One sister leaves the island to become a personal assistant to a romance author while the other stay to start small store. However, each sister struggles with the way to find happiness in life and family. A good, relaxing read.

Who wouldn’t like some time in Nantucket during the summer season? Nancy Thayer will take you there. After a somewhat fraught beginning, I enjoyed relaxing into the rhythm of Eddie’s and Barrett’s lives as they rebuilt their family, found love and followed their dreams. Highlights included the titles of the books discovered in the house and the discussions between romance author Dinah and Romantic poets expert William. Pop this into your vacation bag - or give yourself a mini-vacation read. This is sure to be in demand. Recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

A character driven summer read full of heartbreak and hope. I enjoyed this family saga centering around two sisters and their father as the face new directions in life and find happiness again.

Reviewed by Comfy Chair Books/Lisa Reigel (March 19, 2024)
ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley

Review will be posted on 4/23/24 https://comfychairbooks.com/

I love Nancy Thayer books and in the last few years the books that she has published, I feel this has a much better storyline and is very interesting to read. Less repetitions. Fun and likeable characters, I really enjoyed reading it. This was definitely a 5 star read for me.

Lovely story. Eddie is an assistant to a romance writer who is quite dependent on her. Eddies sister calls her and asks doe help with their father and the opening of her new store in the small town they live in. She comes home for a month and is shocked by the state of the house. It is literally filled with books. Their father keeps buying them and they are everywhere. She gets help from her old boyfriend to build shelves in the barn to try and sell them. Then she gets a frantic call from her author and invites her to come visit. There is romance, friendships being made and a new direction of several of their lives

A very good story

I got this book from netgalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

THE SUMMER WE STARTED OVER was a delight to read. The story drew me right away and put a smile on my face. Every year I can count on a good story from Nancy Thayer and that's why she will always be one of my favorite authors. This is a perfect book for the summer that I can highly recommend.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for my gifted ARC>

Life hasn’t been easy for the Grant family. Sisters, Eddie and Barrett have moved with their father, a former Professor, to Nantucket CT. After college, Eddie can’t wait to leave Nantucket and moves to NY as an assistant to a romance writer. Barrett, on the other hand, loves living on Nantucket and dreams of opening her own shop. This is a heartwarming, feel good story of two sisters. Barrett who knows exactly what she wants and the other, Eddie, who thinks she has everything she could ever want. That is, until she comes back to Nantucket to help Barrett open her shop.
I loved this heartwarming book and all the characters, even the horse! Taking a chance on success and love is not always easy, but the author made it an enjoyable read.
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Ballantine Books for an early copy. This review is my honest opinion.

The Summer We Started Over by Nancy Thayer is an amazing read about two sisters, Eddie and Barrett, who reconnect when Eddie returns home to Nantucket for the summer months! I loved reading about the island settings, such as Barrett's shop, Nantucket Blues, and the bookshop established in their father's barn. Also the characters, especially Eddie's boss, Dinah Lavender, the best selling author of romance fiction. When the two sisters meet up with their childhood friend, Dove and her son, life really gets complicated, but sure does built into a beautifully, heartfelt saga well worth a readers time!

The Summer We Started Over is summer vacation in book form. It’s languid, meandering, and undemanding. The Nantucket setting is woven into the story and Nancy Thayer transports the reader there with her descriptions of its landmarks and lifestyle.

This is a slow moving, character driven family saga full of heartbreak and hope. It centers on sisters, Eddie and Barrett, their father, and their life on Nantucket after a family tragedy. There are elements of romance and pursuing one’s dreams. It’s about putting the pieces of a broken heart back together and learning to welcome happiness.

The things that make this book a terrific addition to a beach bag are the same things that made it easy to put it down. I never connected with either of the main characters and found my mind wandering as I pushed myself to finish the book. My timing in picking up this book may have contributed to my lukewarm reaction to it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love books set on Nantucket and this one did not disappoint! Eddie decides to return to Nantucket to help her sister Barrett while she opens her store. Their father William is a book horder and Eddie attempts to remedy this by opening a bookstore in their old barn. Eccentric Dinah who is Eddie’s employer joins them and makes things very interesting. Add in a few hunky guys and some long lost relatives and the book has a bit of everything from romance to a mystery to sadness. Can’t forget to mention Duke the dog and Duchess the horse !! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a heartwarming tale of love and loss amidst a backdrop of sun-drenched beaches and summery evenings. The author's vivid descriptions allowed my senses to experience this beautiful beach town from the comfort of my own home. You can feel the chemistry between characters, and I was immersed from page 1. Keep them coming, Ms. Thayer!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

The perfect book for summer. Spring is almost over and if you need that book to read on the beach or lake, this one is it. You won’t regret it. I loved this writers style of putting words on to paper.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC of The Summer We Started Over.

This book was first and foremost about family - it was a great story to showcase the complexity and love of family and also how to find yourself amongst your dreams and challenges. It was a heartwarming story and Nancy Thayer’s descriptive writing really makes you feel like you are on the beach in Nantucket. I did find the style of writing to be a bit choppy with the characters switching so frequently but overall it was a cute summer beach read with a good variety of characters and emotions to draw you in.

As an avid Nancy Thayer reader, this book was harder to get into. It started very slow and i had a hard time really getting into it. Once i finally did, the book took off and I couldn’t get enough! It’s definitely worth sticking it out because the ending is amazing!

I always look forward to another visit to Nantucket through reading Nancy Thayer’s books. As a resident of the island, her writing about the setting is always a strength in her stories and keeps me coming back. I don’t always identify with the characters or storylines in her books, finding the characters at times immature, lacking growth throughout the story, or their actions unrealistic. I did find those things in this book, but unlike some of her more recent releases, I didn’t mind these frustrations as much. The Summer We Started over is a sweet and heartwarming summer read set in one of my favorite locations. If you like stories set on Nantucket, this book will provide you with the reading escape you’re looking for.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballentine for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a nice beach read. I loved reading about Barrett's new shop and the making of the Book Barn that the family put together.
The writing to me seemed a little bit cheesy and predictable which isn't something I usually find in Thayer's other books and this is the reason I am not giving it a full five stars. But I enjoyed it for the simplicity of it none the less.

This is a sweet summer story set in Nantucket. Eddie Grant returns briefly to the island that her family now lives on to help her sister Barrett launch a business. She quickly runs into the one-that-got away and Barrett herself finds a suitor or two. There is low level drama and the sisters tackle family issues and a long lost friend. It's the perfect beach read and you will enjoy it!
#thesummerwestartedover #nancythayer

Nancy Thayer's, The Summer We Started Over is much more than a beach read. It's a novel about hope, loss, finding happiness and love, and second chances. Each member of The Grant family has had their share of misfortune and loss. Eddie and Barrett are 2 sisters reconnecting and living again with their divorced father. I loved Eddie and how she evolved and was able to open her heart to love. One of my favorite quotes from the book is "She's read that no matter the question, love was always the answer, but how far could love stretch?". Another quote that touched my heart, "Misfortune, craziness, and madness could happen. But so could kindness, optimism, and courage." This is a feel-good book. I was to say good bye to The Grants when the book was over. Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Publishing for the ARC!

The Summer We Started Over, by Nancy Thayer, is a heartwarming story about two sisters: Eddie Grant and Barret Grant and their father, William. Five years ago, their brother was killed in a motorcycle accident and their mother (who had never been motherly in the least) deserted the family to do her own thing. William packed up the family and moved to Nantucket, where he horded more and more books while unsuccessfully trying to write his book on the romance poets. Eddie, who had been working as a PA for bestselling romance novelist Dinah Lavender for two years goes back to Nantucket to help Barret get ready to open her dream shop.

This is a predictable novel, but predictable in the way that you know you are going to love a nice hot fudge sundae or some other sinfully delicious dessert. It was the perfect read for when you just want something that makes you feel good inside. This is my first book by Nancy Thayer, but it certainly won’t be my last. Thank you Net Galley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC. My opinion is my own.

This isn’t just a book of romance. This is a heartwarming story of family members who have experienced difficult times coming together to support one another. And just maybe they will open their hearts to romantic love along the way! Loved this sweet, touching story, and the adorable characters!